Gifting

Gift giving is so much more than just handing someone a wrapped object — it’s the way we communicate with one another. It’s how we tell someone “I’m happy for you,” “I was thinking of you,” or “I hope this makes you feel better.” But the rules of gift giving aren’t as rigid as they may seem. Across all cultures and decades, the way we express our love and gratitude through gifts is different. Looking back just a decade or two ago, below are a few of the most extreme ways we’ve changed the way we give gifts.

More Meaningful

Today more than ever, people want to see that there was thought behind a gift. Perhaps the bouquet you get for someone’s birthday is filled with the flower that corresponds to their birth month. Or maybe you give a loved one a personalized gift at their housewarming party, like a sign or blanket. You could even have jewelry personalized with important names or dates.

You Don’t Need an Occasion

It used to be that you gave and received gifts only on important days — your birthday, anniversary, or the holidays. Today, gift giving isn’t quite so structured. In fact, people tend to appreciate gifts more when they’re not necessarily required, but just because their loved one was thinking of them.

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You can never go wrong with fresh flowers. They’re beautiful, meaningful, sentimental, and most importantly — they fit every occasion. From celebrations to more sorrowful events, flowers have the ability to touch the lives of every person who receives them and, regardless of the situation, put a smile on their face. Whether you already have an occasion in mind that you need to get a gift for or you feel like making someone’s day brighter, just because, below are a few reasons why fresh flowers are always the right gift choice.

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For the thousands of students heading off to school this month, it’s probably the first time they’ve ever been away from home. So needless to say, they’re going to need a little bit of help from mom and dad. Enter: care packages — the foolproof way to let your loved one know you’re thinking about them.

Whether it’s their first year or their last, here are a few care package ideas that will help any student survive the school year.

Home Goods

It can be hard to make a dorm room feel like home, so personalized items are a must! From welcome signs to wreaths and picture frames, add some character to your home away from home.

Flowers

Since most dorm rooms and apartment complexes won’t let you paint the walls or hang anything up, students have to find other ways to add some color to their bedrooms. That’s where flowers come in! Even a small bouquet can add new life and a pop of color to any room. Continue Reading…

Few moments are more exciting than moving into a new home. Every empty room marks a fresh start and promise of new adventures. So it’s only natural that everyone christens their first night in a new house with a housewarming party! Whether you were the friend helping out on move-in day, are the new, next-door neighbor, or a long-time family member, these are a few gifts that will land you the title of ‘best guest ever.’

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Whether or not and where to have their gift registries are two of the thousands of decisions that engaged couples need to make before their big day. There are some rather amazing gift-registry choices for couples today. Everything from mutual funds to island honeymoons can be tagged as gift possibilities. But what’s appropriate and how should guests be made aware of your gift suggestions?

The whole point of registries is to make gift selection convenient for guests, especially those who have little time for shopping or don’t know a couple’s tastes. Note the following: Continue Reading…

Parties are usually held for milestone anniversaries: first, tenth, fifteenth, twenty-fifth, fiftieth and seventy-fifth (congrats!).

The couple’s children and their families often host anniversary celebrations; however, it is perfectly fine for close friends to host and arrange the shindig; and many couples host their own parties (you certainly get exactly what you want that way!)

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According to Peggy Post and Peter Post, co-authors of The Etiquette Advantage in Business, the following suggestions will help you when celebrating co-workers’ and clients’ birthdays.

If you have not recognized a colleague’s birthday in the past, consider doing so for a milestone birthday (we all know them! Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty-five).

Two things determine the appropriateness of a business gift: its cost and how personal it is. It’s always safer to err on the less personal side. Some ideas for office gifts: food, a desk accessory (picture frame,) something related to the recipient’s hobby interest, or a book. And never spend more than you can afford, regardless of what others are doing.

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We all have those moments of overwhelming appreciation for a friend, teacher or colleague; moments of intense love for our significant other, parent or child. Why do we wait for a birthday, anniversary or holiday to write a heartfelt note or give a gift? Why don’t we move on the moment and show our gratitude when we feel it…on a Tuesday?

“Etiquette is about enhancing relationships,” said Peter Post, author of Essential Manners for Couples. “The status quo of a good relationship is always comforting – but every now and then, a pleasant curve ball is in order.” A surprise gift doesn’t have to coincide with any particular day and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Remember: gifts are about giving, not about value.

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No matter if they’re deployed for two months or two years, they are a family member or stranger, or they are in the U.S. Army or Marines – our service men and women are doing some of the hardest jobs imaginable. And while they’re overseas, they’re sure to miss the comforts of home from time to time. Since it can be hard to communicate via phone or video chat, a care package is a great way to stay connected and show your support.

Thanks to our international shipping, you can skip the post office and send everything you want to over 195 countries right from 1800Flowers.com. While specific products may be limited by the recipients location, here are some ideas of gifts you can send:

Salty Snack Baskets

If your special someone is a salt lover, send them a basket filled with snacks to satisfy their cravings including popcorn tins, nuts, chocolate covered pretzels and more. Plus, most of these gift baskets won’t spoil right away so they can be enjoyed for quite some time!

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