Is it proper to give gifts to people who help at Birthdays?

by Victoria
(Fremont, CA, USA)


My sisters and I gave my mother a 75th surprise birthday party. In the invitation we asked that in lieu of gifts, please share a photo or endearing story about our mother to be put in a keepsake book. Some people offered to help in anyway since they were not giving a gift. One niece handed out the Trivia game sheets, another handed out pens for the games. They also helped pour the apple cider. I feel that their helping was their gift of love to their grandmother since they did not give her a gift. My sister on the other hand felt that we should give them a gift card or gift to thank them for their help. Is their any etiquette on giving gifts to people who offered their help at a party. I feel that giving them a gift for their gift of love to my mother would maybe make them feel uneasy.
Please let me know if this is proper to give gift cards to people who want to help when are told not to give gifts to the birthday person.
Thank you for your response.

Comments for Is it proper to give gifts to people who help at Birthdays?

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Consider Motivation ...
by: Ms P Etiquette

Dear Victoria,

Please consider the motivation of those who gave their time to your mother's celebration. This is not a gift like the others. You need not respond in the same manner as you would to a more casual giver. Please send a personal note describing what thier actions meant to you and you mother.

Thank them from your heart.


Kind regards,
Ms Practial Etiquette

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Miss Manners.







Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Search Our
Family of Sites




Translate the Page




Find Your Roots

Meet Your Ancestors



Follow Us on
Twitter




Become a
Facebook Fan