Are gifts appropriate for adult birthday parties?

[Sabine]

A friend I met through my "mommy''s group" is throwing a 30th birthday party for her husband. I''ve only met her husband a time or two, but he kinda works with my dh, although my dh doesn''t know him all that well or like him really. My husband is working the night of the party, but my friend still wanted me to come to the party.

Would a gift be appropriate in this situation? And if so, any ideas on what kind of gift for a guy I don''t really know?

As you can probably tell, I''m not all too excited about this party. To make it worse, it''s superhero themed and she wants us to dress up as superheros too! Ugh!

 

[purselover]

I would probably bring a really nice bottle of wine

 

[Girlrocks]

Date: 3/26/2010 1:21:10 PM
Author:Sabine
A friend I met through my ''mommy''s group'' is throwing a 30th birthday party for her husband. I''ve only met her husband a time or two, but he kinda works with my dh, although my dh doesn''t know him all that well or like him really. My husband is working the night of the party, but my friend still wanted me to come to the party.

Would a gift be appropriate in this situation? And if so, any ideas on what kind of gift for a guy I don''t really know?

As you can probably tell, I''m not all too excited about this party. To make it worse, it''s superhero themed and she wants us to dress up as superheros too! Ugh!

Umm, ok....ugh is right!

A bottle of wine or a gift card to a local pub or restaurant.

 

[monarch64]

Break out the sexy Star Wars costume (that''s a superhero, right?) and bring him a bottle of Patron.

 

[Haven]

Date: 3/26/2010 1:26:29 PM
Author: purselover
I would probably bring a really nice bottle of wine

I think this is a great idea, especially since you don''t know them really well.

As for what is appropriate, I feel like it totally depends on the person. We have some friends with whom we always exchange birthday gifts, and we have other friends with whom we never exchange gifts. Whenever I''m not sure where I stand regarding gifts, I always just bring something generic like a bottle of wine.

 

[kama_s]

Is the party at their house or at a restaurant where you have to pay for your own meal? If it's at their house, def bring a bottle of wine. If it's the latter, no gift is required. Maybe a card if you're so inclined. Your presence and paying for your meal (plus I assume costume) is plenty.

I don't exchange gifts with any of my friends. I take them out for dinner/dessert on their birthday. I'm not a fan of adult birthday gifts, unless it's immediate family.


ETA: Forgot to mention, if it's at home, the reason you're bringing a bottle of wine is because they're hosting a party with food and alcohol that you will be consuming. I, personally, wouldn't go to someone's house party empty handed.

 

[Girlrocks]

Date: 3/26/2010 1:36:51 PM
Author: kama_s
Is the party at their house or at a restaurant where you have to pay for your own meal? If it''s at their house, def bring a bottle of wine. If it''s the latter, no gift is required. Maybe a card if you''re so inclined. Your presence and paying for your meal (plus I assume costume) is plenty.

I don''t exchange gifts with any of my friends. I take them out for dinner/dessert on their birthday. I''m not a fan of adult birthday gifts, unless it''s immediate family.

Wait...I''m changing my answer if they are making you dress up as superhero''s AND GO OUT IN PUBLIC!!!

 

[kama_s]

Date: 3/26/2010 1:48:07 PM
Author: Girlrocks

Date: 3/26/2010 1:36:51 PM
Author: kama_s
Is the party at their house or at a restaurant where you have to pay for your own meal? If it''s at their house, def bring a bottle of wine. If it''s the latter, no gift is required. Maybe a card if you''re so inclined. Your presence and paying for your meal (plus I assume costume) is plenty.

I don''t exchange gifts with any of my friends. I take them out for dinner/dessert on their birthday. I''m not a fan of adult birthday gifts, unless it''s immediate family.

Wait...I''m changing my answer if they are making you dress up as superhero''s AND GO OUT IN PUBLIC!!!

LOL. I guess it wouldn''t be at a resto then! Haha, I dunno what I was thinking! Although, they could book off a private room I suppose?

 

[charbie]

Date: 3/26/2010 1:31:08 PM
Author: monarch64
Break out the sexy Star Wars costume (that''s a superhero, right?) and bring him a bottle of Patron.

agreed. that''s the only way you could get me to rock that outfit.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Six pack of high-quality beer maybe? It''s always good to arrive with something in hand.

 

[Sabine]

I definitely should mention that they don't drink. Boo. My only hope of enjoying the night just went down the drain along with that gift idea. It's at their house.

How bad would it be if I got him a cheesey super hero watch or tee shirt or something?

 

[monarch64]

Date: 3/26/2010 5:02:04 PM
Author: charbie

Date: 3/26/2010 1:31:08 PM

Author: monarch64

Break out the sexy Star Wars costume (that''s a superhero, right?) and bring him a bottle of Patron.

agreed. that''s the only way you could get me to rock that outfit.

Hahahahaha! Charbie, my sentiments exactly! Storm Patron-ooper! Shots all around out of my laser gun!

Sabine, I think a superhero shirt or something silly would absolutely be appropriate since they don''t drink. Heck, you could even do an action figure or toy. And hey, you can just stop by, chat/mingle for 30 minutes, and be on your way having made an appearance. I definitely understand why you''re not looking forward to it but it''s really nice of you to do so anyway. I have those types of acquaintances as well, and while I''m always glad I attended something like that I''m just as happy to have it over with and be on my merry way.

 

[swingirl]

I think I'd have headache that night. I don't like attending parties for people I don't know AND have to play along with a theme and wear a costume (who wants to spend money on a costume).

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 3/26/2010 10:11:07 PM
Author: swingirl
I think I''d have headache that night. I don''t like attending parties for people I don''t know AND have to play along with a theme and wear a costume (who wants to spend money on a costume).

Ditto!!!

 

[Hera]

I think a small gift would be appropriate. Being you don''t know him too well, maybe a gift card to the movies or something.

 

[swingirl]

But if you do go how about this for a gift.

 

[PumpkinPie]

Date: 3/26/2010 1:36:51 PM
Author: kama_s
Is the party at their house or at a restaurant where you have to pay for your own meal? If it''s at their house, def bring a bottle of wine. If it''s the latter, no gift is required.

this!

 

[whitby_2773]

hi sabine

i have a standard gift for this type of party. find a topic he''s interested in, then get him a book on the subject. i dont do joke gifts - i''d rather get something useable than something that only provides a 10 second chuckle. re wine - i dont give that as a gift either, as it looks too much as tho you''re turning up with something for you to drink - like a BYO situation. i know you mentioned they don''t drink, so this isn''t really an issue. you can get a reasonable book for between 10 and 20 dollars, and that''s about how much i''d want to spend on this. if a book doesn''t work, try a pair of movie tickets tucked into a card. and i wouldn''t be dressing up - your excuse being that you''re "only staying an hour, i''m sorry!" this way you put in an appearance, don''t need to dress up (*nobody* bothers to dress up for a 45 minute drop in) and give a small but acceptable gift.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

I''d take a box of really good quality chocolates and maybe a superman t-shirt.

I would not be dressing up though - or how about borrowing a suit from DH and saying you''re Superman before he changes. (Sorry, I''m not well up on superheros, I don''t know what he''s called that that point...)

Or just wear your regular clothes. You''re a mom to a fairly young baby - to be up for going to a party and putting thought into a gift as well as caring for an infant makes you a superhero in your own right in my book!