Going to a friend’s house for Christmas Day… what to take?

[Itisallgoingtobeok]

This year my marriage failed spectacularly, and so this will be my first Christmas alone. A work colleague who I have known for years has invited me to join him, his new partner and her two daughters who are in their early to mid 20s. I am so touched by their kindness. Of course I know him very well, but I don’t know his partner or the daughters at all. I have offered to help cook, or bring some food, but they have said no (nicely!). I’d like to take something with me, either presents for each of them, or I wondered about a hamper. The hampers I have seen don’t look great, so all ideas for what I could take with me are gratefully received!

Flowers for his wife and a couple of bottles of good wine.

I’m really sorry about the breakup but it sounds like a great Christmas

if they really don’t want you to, say, sort the cheeseboard, then I’d probably take a great selection of wine - being clear it’s for the future. Or a lovely set of scarf and gloves each (everyone loses them) and um, a board game (if they do that) and some great chocolates.

Not flowers. Last thing you need when trying to cook Christmas dinner.
A few bottles of decent wine and maybe a bottle of bubbles. Quality chocs too.

2 of the following:

• good champagne
• really nice chocolates
• flowers

I'd order a nice cake or a fancy chocolate Yule log from somewhere. And as it's all adults maybe a couple of bottles of prosecco/other drinks.

Champagne
Flowers

Not flowers. Last thing you need when trying to cook Christmas dinner.

Never bothers me. I plan ahead and have a vase ready when I'm expecting guests

I would do a drinks & nibbles hamper, or maybe offer to do a cheeseboard with fruit!

Wine, plus mix of chocolate.

I had flowers bought for me one Christmas Day , red Amaryllis they also bought a vase as well to put them in which was a lovely idea

I wouldn't bring flowers, I hate flowers personally, just find they get in the way, always having to move them to use a surface. Then the smell stinging my eyes and nose. Of course if they like flowers, bring them. I'd find out what alcohol, if any, they drink, no point getting wine if they don't drink it or many don't like prosecco, that gives me awful heartburn, getting their favourite bottle(s) would be lovely and I'd bring a really nice cake, something fancy or as others said nice chocolates.

Flowers in a glass loss, so they're ready, wine and chocolates. All bases are covered then. Ask them if they would like you to bring a dessert.

Flowers and some plonk.

I'm taking these two things to someone's Christmas Day invitation.

The drink for the day and the flowers will still be there for a week looking lovely after all the chaos is over.

I like the idea of a nice cake and some wine. It is really hard buying for three people you have never met!

I offered to take dessert, but they politely declined. Flowers will be tricky as they don’t have much room.

I don’t know much about wine. What would be a reasonable type to choose? Red? White?

What a lovely offer. ☺️
Dessert and cheese board ( depending on dietary requirements).
I like the scarf/glove set idea but could get expensive- I’d choose this option if money isn’t a factor.
Champagne, wine, do they drink?
Seems to be a chocolate obsession- we get a ton of unwanted chocolate. We aren’t fans.

I would take a small but impersonal wrapped gift (eg chocs) for everyone and a bottle of champagne and nice wine and maybe a a contribution to the meal that could be enjoyed another time if they already have stuff? (Eg a nice cake or something). You could send flowers afterwards if you wanted to do that. You sound like a lovely guest!

A small wrapped gift like chocs sounds like a great idea. I had wondered about books, but it is so hard to buy for people when you don’t know them.

I’m doing my best to be a nice guest! :)

@Itisallgoingtobeok go to Tanners and ask them to select one of each of the nicest within your price range.

Definitely wouldn’t take cake- don’t most people have a house full at Christmas? Wine and chocs would be good as they can be put away for another day. There is a nice Fortnums gift set- https://www.fortnumandmason.com/champagne-chocolate-gift-box?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiApaarBhB7EiwAYiMwqpY79u49TW8myve1V0bQ5y9Dkdb3_joOIt7ZCoq0Gn0GrwPeX6fOaBoCAmUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It depends on budget and circumstances obviously- but the one year I was taken in as a waif and stray (my family were all away staying with a dying relative and I had to stay back to look after all the animals). I took:

Champagne
Red wine
Some soft drinks for me (I was driving)
Posh chocs
A little present each for the kids (there were two primary age there).

And afterwards I sent a thank you card and some flowers.

They made a rotten time very bearable and I was very grateful.

Not suggesting that is necessarily expected but was within my budget as I was doing naff all else that season.

I would take a box of chocolates/mini bottle of Prosecco or wine in a bag for everyone.

For the hosts I would take a plant/flowers and a vase as well as a box of chocolates to share and a bottle of whatever you drink to share.

Could you get a cheese board made up?

A Christmas game ? So many on amazon.
A voucher for a meal for them as a family at a different point.?

Drink and chocolate...baileys?

What about making this?

I think that might be the best thing I have ever seen!