The 10 Best Things to Ask Guests to Bring—If They Offer

1. A game

Traditional hostess gifts tend to fall into three categories: food, wine, and decor. So, why not switch things up by asking folks to bring an activity?

"Instead of the usual, I ask friends to bring their favorite board or card game," says Jaye Harrison, owner and founder of Parties Made Personal. "It's a fun way to break the ice and see what games everyone enjoys."

You could play the game at the party or tuck it away and host everyone again for a dedicated game night. Don't forget to write a thank you note saying how much you enjoyed playing.

2. A song for the playlist

Cassie LaMere, founder and creative director of the luxury event planning company Cassie LaMere Events, says, "This is a charming way to enable guests to contribute to the atmosphere."

"I love suggesting that guests send over a favorite song in advance to add to the evening’s playlist," she shares. "It sparks conversation and adds a deeply personal element to the ambiance. You’ll hear a track and automatically connect it to the person who picked it."

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3. Dessert

"Most people love contributing something to the table, and dessert is a crowd-pleasing, flexible category," says Genevieve (Jenny) Dreizen, COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry and host of the Jenny Says So advice podcast.

"You can say something like, 'If you have a favorite bakery nearby or a dessert you love making, we’d be so happy to try it!,'" she suggests. "It creates a sense of community without interfering with the main meal."

4. Wine... Sometimes...

It never hurts to have guests bring a bottle of wine, whether you plan to serve it at the event or indulge afterward. However, Jodi Smith, etiquette consultant at Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, says there's one time this is an especially good ask.

"When I know someone has a discerning taste for wine, and they offer to bring something, I will let them know what I am planning to serve and allow them to bring wine to pair," she shares.

LaMere adds that you can never go wrong asking a guest to bring a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne.

"Whether it’s served during the event or tucked away for a post-cleanup toast with your inner circle, champagne always feels celebratory—and never goes unused," she says. "It’s a timeless gesture that turns the after-party into a celebration in itself."

RELATED: 6 Items You Need on Your Bar Cart Before Guests Come Over, According to Mixologists.

5. A specialty cocktail mixer or garnish

"For cocktail-forward gatherings, request that guests bring something unique that contributes to the bar like candied ginger, blood orange slices, fresh herbs, or their favorite cocktail mixer," suggests La Mere. "It’s festive, functional, and lets guests feel like they’ve added a flourish to the experience."

This works just as well with mocktails, too, so everyone can be included.

6. Their signature dish

Some of your friends and family members are likely known for certain dishes.

"If I know they have a specialty that will fit with the menu I am planning to serve, I will gladly ask them to bring their signature dish," says Smith. "A childhood neighbor is a master of the pickled salad; a friend makes French-level macarons; another friend has an asparagus side dish I have yet to duplicate."

You could also ask visitors to bring a dish or beverage that represents their culture or background. "You'd be amazed by the flavors and stories that come out when everyone shares a piece of their history," says Harrison.

However, be mindful of whether this dish will require assembling or preparation once it gets to your home.

"You don’t want extra people in your kitchen, taking up space preparing their dish, and creating more dishes to wash up," points out Jo Hayes, founder and etiquette expert at EtiquetteExpert.org.

RELATED: 10 Best Things to Serve for Brunch, Experts Say.

7. A salad

Offloading the salad course to a guest can allow you to focus on other tasks at a dinner party.

"Vegetable platters, green salads, fruit salads—they all need to be prepared the day of and take time to wash, cut, and prepare," says Smith. "It is incredibly helpful while I am cooking, baking, cleaning, and setting to have someone make a fresh salad."

Give clear instructions if you're expecting something specific.

8. A souvenir

If a future guest is traveling soon, you can ask them to bring a quirky souvenir.

"It adds excitement to the party and sparks conversations about unique experiences," says Harrison.

If they don't have any trips planned, consider asking them to go local: See if they can bring a favorite regional delicacy from their neighborhood or hometown.

RELATED: 6 Items You Should Always Have in Your Living Room When Guests Come Over.

9. Bagged ice

"Yes, really," says LaMere of her advice to ask guests to bring ice.

"It’s not glamorous, but it’s always in demand—especially in the warmer months," she points out. "Recommend guests to swing by with a bag or two of ice to keep beverages perfectly chilled and supplement the freezer stash. It’s the kind of thing that’s never top of mind until it’s suddenly urgent."

10. A toast

"Sometimes, the most powerful thing a guest can bring is their voice," says LaMere.

"I love asking guests, especially at birthdays, anniversaries, or milestone dinners, to come prepared with a short toast or memory to share. It creates a moment of warmth and celebration that no gift, material or otherwise, can match," she shares.

RELATED: 6 Best Wines to Serve at a Dinner Party, Etiquette Experts Say.

It's also okay to ask for nothing.

Sometimes, the best gift is the guest's presence itself!

"I love for guests to ask and offer, but they need to be respectful if I decline," says Smith. "This can be for a number of reasons; I may be having the event catered, or I may have guests with allergies or dietary restrictions."

Whatever the reason, don't feel obligated to allow guests to bring something. It's your event, and you make the rules.

But there's one thing never to ask for.

Rick Newman, event planner and the CEO of UCON Exhibitions, says there's one thing to avoid asking when a guest asks what they can bring.

"Avoid the classic 'bring whatever' trap. It sounds polite, but it shifts the mental labor onto the guest. Now they are overthinking it, texting others, or arriving with random extras you do not need," he explains. "Instead, have a go-to list of five items and let them pick. Everyone wins, and no one brings six loaves of bread."