With the holiday season officially beginning, expect to receive a lot of dinner and party invitations in the next few months. From dinners to drinks nights, dances and more, there will be many opportunities to gather—and much need for hostess gift ideas! 

Of course, no one wants to arrive at someone’s home empty handed. But last-minute invites—or forgotten engagements—will happen. What’s the solution? Take advantage of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that are starting to roll out, and stock up on gifts to thank those hosts and hostesses for sharing their holiday cheer.

Want to score the best hostess gifts without falling back on overdone ideas like wine or liquor bottles? From hostess gift ideas for dinner, to a last-minute Thanksgiving hostess gift or an over-the-top, luxury hostess gift, here are the purchases to make right now.

Whether heading to a Friendsgiving gathering or a low-key Ugly Sweater party, bringing the gift of a game is a great way to take some entertaining duties off the hosts’ shoulders.

This wooden playset with gold-hued pieces instantly elevates a classic game from kids’ menu pastime to adult enjoyment territory. Even better, the set is elegant and understated, meaning it can do double duty as coffee table décor once the party ends.

When looking for hostess gift ideas for gatherings with different friend groups, try bringing a party game to help guests get acquainted. Got an adults-only crowd? Grab this ‘grown-up’ Table Topics set, and watch strangers become best friends as they navigate questions—ranging from silly to racy—that are guaranteed to fuel fasting bonding.

Heading to a party with a less adventurous crowd? Not to worry. Show up with this conversation starter dice game, guaranteed to help hosts break the ice without bringing blushes to their guests’ faces.

When hosts open up their homes, bringing something that makes home life easier—or more beautiful—makes perfect sense.

With bottles popping at many holiday gatherings, bringing an extra corkscrew will make hosts’ lives that much easier. Bonus? This gold-and-black bottle opener is decorative and super-simple to use, opening bottles in just five turns. Even better? It’s lightweight and just 6-inches long, making it one of the best hostess gifts to bring when traveling for holiday gatherings.

For a hostess who prefers craft cocktails to vino, showing up with this stylish stainless-steel mixology kit is sure to bring a smile to her face. The 10-piece set includes laser engraved cocktail tools and access to an eBook with 30 adventurous cocktail recipes.

Bringing warmth and ambiance to any holiday gathering, this scented soy wax candle set is one of the best hostess gifts. Including three popular aromatherapy scents, hosts can split up the four candles for use as dinner table and buffet décor. Or, the candles can be placed strategically in powder rooms to keep the night smelling fresh and fragrant.

When someone’s hosting Thanksgiving, they’ll be spending lots of time in the kitchen. Show appreciation with hostess gift ideas that make moving through the space a bit more enjoyable. And add thoughtfulness to the gift by dropping it in advance of the holiday, for easier use at the Thanksgiving meal.

Every meal tastes better with an extra dash of spice. And, with the gift of this elegant refillable salt and pepper shaker set, hosts can easily allow guests to season dinner dishes to their tastes.

Help hosts put their signature stamp on every cocktail with this personalized, monogrammed, ice cube tray. Just file this one in the books for next Thanksgiving—or for Christmas parties—because it will take a little time to prepare and deliver this custom order. 

With so many dishes on the menu, hostesses may be scrambling to display all that mouth-watering food. That’s why bringing pieces like this three-tiered dessert server is one of the best hostess gift ideas: it’s practical, and guaranteed to reduce stress surrounding the meal.

Looking for a luxury hostess gift that won’t break the bank? Grab this set of marble serving bowls, complete with a mango wood tray and golden salt spoon. The ease of passing the platter around combines with a high-end design to make this set one of the best hostess gifts for the holidays.

For the host who has everything, go for a product that people don’t see every day: this elegant-yet-practical spoon rest. It features a sleek-and-shiny stainless-steel design with titanium gold noble plating, meaning hosts will happily keep it on display even when the kitchen is quiet.

The three pieces in this gorgeous Acacia wood serving set are endlessly practical, while remaining enviably eye-popping, thanks to their generous sizing and unique wave design. When not in use at a meal, the bowl makes a fabulous centerpiece for the dining or coffee table.

After throwing a holiday shindig, hostesses deserve some extra TLC. Help them out with spa-worthy, luxury hostess gifts.

Allow the hostess to recover from all that stress with this luxurious Korean beauty face mask, infused with lavender, lemon peel and rosehip. Designed to rehydrate and strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier, this makes a great hostess gift for someone who’s daily beauty ritual took a temporary back seat to holiday prep work.

Can’t decide on just one beauty product for that luxury hostess gift? There’s no need: grab the Lovery Spa Gift Set, packed with shower gel, bubble bath, a full-sized Eau de Parfum, bath salts, body scrub, massage body oil, mud mask, a 100% Quartz Gua Sha Stone and a quartz jade roller. The set is even wrapped in a handmade decorative tub formed in a festive shade of holiday red. And it comes with a customizable note card, so the hostess will know exactly who to thank for her gift.

What are your go-to hostess gift ideas? Will you mix it up and try something new this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!