For clients, a hamper reads as considered. It arrives as an occasion in itself, it shares around an office, and it carries a professional message without tipping into extravagance. Choose one with a neutral presentation rather than anything overtly seasonal, so it works whether it lands in March or in the week before Christmas. A restrained box travels better across industries and personalities than a novelty one.

Find out more at Lily O'Brien's Ireland chocolate hampers.

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.

Choose a hamper for the occasion or a share bag for the casual version, lean on a maker with real provenance, and keep the presentation simple. The gift will read as considered because it is.

Keep the presentation neutral and consistent. A uniform look across every gift you send reads as deliberate, which matters when clients compare notes or when the same box appears on several desks. Avoid anything that dates quickly or ties you to one season if the gifts will go out over several weeks.

Some couples prefer to share a small box between two settings for couples seated together, which trims the count but complicates the table plan. It works, but it asks more of your stationery and place cards, so only choose it if the saving genuinely matters.