Under the lid, the chocolates are the same handcrafted collections Lily O'Brien's chocolate hampers O'Brien's has made in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, so personalising the outside does not mean compromising on what is inside. That balance is the point. The recipient gets something that looks made for them and tastes the way the brand has always tasted.

If you want to lift it further, a personalised message or his name on the box turns a generic present into one addressed to him. Keep the message short and let the collection do the talking. Allow a little extra time for personalised print, and more in the run-up to Christmas when orders stack up.

New babies and christenings bring a run of gifts aimed squarely at the child, which is lovely and also slightly misses the people doing the hard work. A chocolate gift, especially a personalised one, quietly addresses the parents and the wider family at a point when a small kindness lands well.

A message box leans occasion-led. A name, a date or a short line such as "thank you" or "congratulations" turns a standard box into something addressed to one person. It is the safer choice when you are not sure a photo will land, for corporate gifting for instance, or when you want the chocolates themselves to be the centre of attention.

A share bag suits the smaller, easier version of the same idea. It is right for a casual drop-in, for a flat rather than a house, or for a friend who would find a full hamper too much. It still says you thought about it, and it disappears happily over an evening rather than sitting on a shelf.

Quantity is the next decision, and it is where couples tend to overspend or come up short. Work per table rather than per head at first. A round of ten guests usually wants ten individual favours, plus a couple spare for the top table and any late additions. Order roughly five to ten per cent over your final count. Chocolates keep, so a small surplus is never wasted, whereas a shortfall on the morning is a genuine headache.