Skip the flowers, choose a large mixed collection, and add his name if you want the personal touch. It is a practical gift that suits almost any man and almost any occasion, which is precisely why it works when the usual ideas have run out.

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.

What lifts either above a last-minute grab is what is inside and where it comes from. Lily O'Brien's has handcrafted its chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since Mary Ann O'Brien started the brand in 1992, so a hamper carries a bit of provenance you can mention as you hand it over. A gift with a story behind it always feels more considered than one without.

Provenance suits an occasion built on longevity. Lily O'Brien's has handcrafted its share bag chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since Mary Ann O'Brien founded the brand in 1992, so there is a continuity to the gift that quietly echoes the anniversary itself. A maker with a long history behind it fits a celebration of years together.

Lead times catch people out more than anything else. Handmade stock and personalised print both need runway, so treat six to eight weeks out as the sensible window for a firm order, and longer if you are ordering in the run-up to Christmas when demand is heaviest. Confirm your numbers after the RSVP deadline, not before, and give yourself a buffer for the inevitable late reply.

One honest note that applies everywhere. If the recipient asks about ingredients or dietary detail, point them to the published product information rather than answering yourself.