In this post, I’ll help you determine whether it’s ever okay to tướng show up to tướng a tiệc nhỏ empty-handed, things to tướng bring if you’re unsure, and how you can secure future invitations by being a great guest.
It’s uncool as a host to tướng tell a guest, “there’s no need to tướng bring anything, just yourself.”
But it’s even worse to tướng be told this and then screw it up.
Whether you received a dinner tiệc nhỏ invitation because you crack good jokes or because there was nobody else to tướng invite, it doesn’t matter. You were invited.
If you want to tướng secure an invite back, and if you generally care about being a decent guest, start by making a good impression.
When a host tells you, “there’s no need to tướng bring anything…just yourself,” think first about the relationship you have with them, whether or not you actually want to tướng show up empty-handed, and then explore useful things to tướng bring that the host will use and enjoy.
Follow these suggestions and you’ll be well on your way.
Determine Your Relationship With the Host
Is the host a close friend or family?
Your friends and family know you well enough to tướng give you clear instructions without feeling awkward or bad. If they say, bring nothing, and if you decide to tướng come empty-handed (which is fine!), show up and be helpful.
Offer to tướng help pour drinks, clean up dirty plates or empty bottles, or wash and put away dishes. Even though you’re not bringing anything, you’re contributing by helping them enjoy the tiệc nhỏ they’re hosting.
Is the host a new friend, colleague, or acquaintance?
Just lượt thích going to tướng a new restaurant that recently opened up in town, getting an invite to tướng a new acquaintance or friend’s place for a dinner can be super exciting. To make a good impression and increase your odds of getting a future invite, I highly advise not showing up empty-handed. You don’t need to tướng bring much and you don’t necessarily need to tướng bring anything physical, but by giving something small, it shows that you’re not just freeloading.
Is the host a complete stranger?
If you’re heading to tướng someone’s place you’ve never met before, I suggest not showing up with just yourself. Instead, bring something you know the host will enjoy and use. Try giving them a low-maintenance plant or some treats from your favorite bakery to tướng enjoy after the tiệc nhỏ. It’s the thought that counts.
Cultural Gift-Giving
Gift-giving and exchanging are critical parts of many cultures. Sometimes people are just too polite to tướng ask you to tướng bring something, so sánh they say, “oh nothing.”
My mom is Japanese, and I know first-hand that even when she says don’t bring anything, if you show up with nothing, she might resent you for it.
When in doubt, go along with their game and say, “I know you said not to tướng bring anything, but I can never come empty-handed. So, here you go.”
Some people don’t need more stuff: One commenter suggested, some people mean it when they say there’s no need to tướng bring anything. A thẻ with a handwritten note inside that promises a future dinner tiệc nhỏ or meal on you, is a thoughtful way to tướng show you care without adding more clutter to tướng a hosts’ trang chủ.
Gifts to tướng Avoid
Don’t create more work for your host by bringing something that requires them to tướng drop what they’re doing to deal with your gift. Especially, when they tell you there’s no need to tướng bring anything. Try and avoid:
❌ A Dish
Avoid overshadowing the hosts’ cooking and stepping on their toes by bringing a dish you expect them to tướng serve that night. Your host has already thought long and hard about what to tướng help, and having something extra to tướng serve will throw them off. Now is not the time to tướng show off how good your cheesecake is. Leave that to tướng the next dinner tiệc nhỏ you host.
❌ Flowers
Flowers may seem lượt thích a thoughtful gift, but don’t bother unless you bring them in a vase for them to tướng put directly on a table. It takes time and effort to tướng find an appropriate fitting vase, trim the stems, and creates unnecessary mess in the sink and on the counters.
❌ Anything That Requires Fridge Space
Many of us live in small apartments and houses, and our fridges don’t have unlimited space. With all of the drinks and dinner prep in there (not to tướng mention the hosts’ own food), there will be little space for a bulky six-pack of craft beer.
Be an even better guest by bringing your own drinks with a small cooler box. Or keep it simple by bringing red wine.
❌ Anything Scented
People have very different tastes and preferences so sánh avoid buying something that they could potentially be allergic to tướng or just toss the moment they get it. This means avoiding gifts such as heavily scented candles, perfume, and room spray.
Gifts to tướng Give
You can be a respectable guest and bring something nice, without spending a fortune. Here are some ideas your host will appreciate even if you were told there’s no need to tướng bring anything, just yourself:
✅ A Bottle of Good Olive Oil or Vinegar
It’s safe to tướng assume your host enjoys cooking. Give them something they can use for an upcoming meal and might not purchase for themselves. Head to tướng your local deli and ask them what they recommend. Your local farmer’s market is also a great place to tướng find some local brands of olive oil and vinegar while supporting local. Or, if you’re strapped for time, buy this online.
Just know that olive oil isn’t lượt thích wine and doesn’t age with time. So if you gift a bottle of olive oil, tell them to tướng open it up and use it right away!
✅ A Foreign Surprise
If you’re from out of town and are lucky enough to tướng be invited to tướng a dinner tiệc nhỏ, bring something from trang chủ that they almost certainly cannot find there. For example, smoked salmon from Vancouver, coffee from Medellin, a mole spice mix from Mexico City, or an authentic Dukkah spice mix from Cairo.
Or if you live in another part of the thành phố, bring something from a cafe or deli that’s special to tướng you.
✅ Maldon Sea Salt
A high-quality salt is something you definitely can’t go wrong with gifting. Maldon sea salt has a light, flaky texture to tướng it and although it’s technically less salty kêu ca other salts (who knew?), it’s slightly sweet tastes lends itself to tướng be a perfect finishing salt.
Trust má, everyones appreciates good sea salt.
Tip: This Maldon sea salt will 100% be appreciated if you’re looking for a good quality one you can buy online. If they hate it, please comment and let má know.
✅ Dessert Wine
A bottle of wine is always appreciated, but why not step it up with a dessert wine or port. The two aren’t necessarily more expensive kêu ca wine, and your host would be less likely to tướng buy for themselves.
✅ Breakfast
With your host in mind, bring a couple of freshly baked goods from your favorite bakery or a loaf of fresh sourdough for your host to tướng enjoy the morning after. Thanks to tướng Cupcakes and Cashmere for this tip!
✅ An I-Owe You
If you’re not into bringing a material gift because you’re unsure the host will lượt thích it or have space for it, try giving a thẻ and including an I-Owe-You inside. It could be a simple message saying, “I’ll get dinner next time,” or “a dinner tiệc nhỏ at mine in the next two months,” or an evening of babysitting so sánh your friends can finally enjoy an evening out!
Now You Know
Just to tướng summarize what you should bởi when a host says, “there’s no need to tướng bring anything, just yourself,” follow these steps:
- Assess your relationship with the host.
- Be weary of cultural gift-giving.
- Don’t bring annoying stuff that will make the host more flustered.
- Give useful, thoughtful gifts to tướng be consumed or enjoyed after (not during) the tiệc nhỏ.
A Final Request
When you host a dinner tiệc nhỏ, please don’t say, “oh there’s no need to tướng bring anything.” Even if you really don’t want anything, ask for something small and specific. You’re doing them a favor by saving them worry.
Do you have any other tips? I’d love to tướng hear from you.