Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving Hostess Gifts That Beat a Bottle of Wine

The best Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving hostess gift is a small, finished flower arrangement: a compact centerpiece for the table, or a short vase the host can set on the buffet or the kitchen counter. It's ready the moment it arrives, it fits a busy table, and it gives the host one less thing to think about. Here's how we help people choose a hostess gift at Milano's UpTowne Florist.

What to Bring When the Host Has Everything

A small centerpiece is always a nice choice. A traditional centerpiece, with a candle or without one, becomes a feature of the table setting. If the table is already spoken for, a compact design in a nice short vase works on a buffet or the kitchen counter. A shorter, more compact arrangement can also sit right in the middle of the table without getting in the way.

There are a lot of options. The right one depends on the style you like and where the flowers are going to be used.

Send It Ahead or Carry It In?

It depends on the situation. In Jeff's family, his father-in-law's wife always sent the holiday centerpiece a day or two ahead, so it was already on the table when everyone arrived. Our local flower delivery makes that easy. That makes sense with family, because the table is usually set before guests walk in.

If you don't know the host well, for example you're going to a Friendsgiving with a friend, carrying the flowers in with you is more appropriate than sending them ahead. With family, or when the table is already set, people are usually happy to make room.

Size It to the Table

A holiday table is crowded: plates, glasses, silverware, condiments and dishes to pass. That's why sizing matters. You want something not too big and not too small.

• A table of five or six: you can go a little smaller.
• A table of 20: you want something a bit bigger, maybe a piece that sits at the counter.
• A gathering of 30: there will probably be several tables. Don't bring four centerpieces. Bring one taller vase arrangement instead.

Why Flowers, and Not Plants or Candy

Plants and candy can make nice gifts, but for Thanksgiving the most traditional thing to set out is a centerpiece of some kind, with or without candles. You can't put a plant or a box of candy in the middle of the table, and candy you can pick up anywhere. Flowers become part of the meal.

Jeff's Favorite Thanksgiving Style

Jeff used to be a traditionalist: a nice centerpiece with candles you could light at dinner. These days he prefers a centerpiece of flowers in a fall Thanksgiving palette, with the oranges, the yellows, the deep purples and the magentas. Mums fit right in; read more about November's birth flower, the chrysanthemum.

Everyone has a different style, though, and some people don't want all that color. It depends on the size of the table and where the arrangement is going, but for hostess gifts it's mostly compact designs.

A Little History: The Horn of Plenty

The classic Thanksgiving centerpiece traces back to the cornucopia, the "horn of plenty," a symbol of abundance that goes back to ancient Greece. It was traditionally filled to overflowing with fruit, nuts, grains, gourds and often flowers, and by the late 1800s it had become a familiar part of American Thanksgiving decor. A horn full of fall flowers is still a lovely way to bring that tradition to the table.

The One Mistake We See Most

Bringing a loose wrap of flowers. Jeff puts it this way: it's like bringing all the groceries to the host and asking them to cook, instead of bringing the finished dish. The host is already doing a lot. A loose bunch means one more job: find a vase that fits, cut the stems, arrange them.

It's a kind gesture, but a finished arrangement is better. They're hosting you.

Order Early

It's always better to order earlier rather than later, so we can make sure we have everything your arrangement needs: the flowers, the containers, and the candles if you want them. People celebrate at different times, too. Some hold Friendsgiving the Friday after, or the weekend before Thanksgiving, so plan around your own gathering.

This year the shop is closed Thursday, November 26 through Saturday, November 28. Please order early so your flowers arrive in time.

Help Your Centerpiece Last

As with any arrangement, keep it watered. A centerpiece in a low tray won't last quite as long as flowers in a vase of water, because the foam doesn't have the same staying power.

Here's a tip we see customers use a day or two after Thanksgiving: take the stems out of the centerpiece, recut them, and put them in a small vase. That can give you another week or two of flowers. For more tips, see how long cut flowers last and how to help them last longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good hostess gift for Thanksgiving?

A small, finished flower arrangement: a compact centerpiece for the table or a short vase for the buffet or counter. It's ready to set out and doesn't add work for the host.

Should I send flowers ahead or bring them to Friendsgiving?

For family, sending a centerpiece a day or two ahead works well, since the table is usually set before guests arrive. If you don't know the host well, bring the flowers with you.

How big should a hostess gift centerpiece be?

Size it to the gathering. Go a little smaller for five or six people and a bit bigger for 20. For 30 or more, bring one taller vase arrangement rather than several centerpieces.

Is a bouquet of loose flowers a good hostess gift?

It's a nice thought, but it gives the host another job. A completed arrangement is the better gift, because it's ready to enjoy right away.

How can I make a Thanksgiving centerpiece last longer?

Keep it watered. A day or two after the holiday, pull the stems, recut them and move them to a small vase for another week or two of flowers.

Looking for the right hostess gift? Browse our Thanksgiving flowers or call us at (614) 889-1001, and we'll help you pick something that fits the table.

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