Gift Idea for Male Cousin Turning 60 Who Asked for No Gifts on Bday Invite

I hope I don't come across as rude, but for the life of me, I fail to understand why people can't honor a no gifts request. People don't day that unless they really mean that, and I think it shows disrespect when guests go against their wishes.

I'vd been to parties with a no gift request, and have seen how uncomforable the guest of honor was when people brought gifts anyway. It also makes those of us who are respectfuk of the request feel awkward that we didn't bring anything.

Please don't create an awkward situation for the host and other guest by bringing a gift. Even bringing a bottle of wine looks like a gift.

yeah I think if they say "no gifts" then he really doesn't want or need anything. But you could still give him something that's not really a gift. Like bake him a batch of his favorite cookies, a bottle of wine, you could make up a goody basket with nice cheese and crackers, some fancy bread or muffins, some nice chocolates etc. I think that would be nice and thoughtful.

Whenver my husband and I are invited to a 50yr, 60yr old party and the invite says 'no gifts' I just cant bring myself to go empty handed so we usually end up buying a bottle of wine and scratch off tickets.

Honestly...I think the appropriate thing, would be to honor his request for no gifts.

How about "honoring his wishes?"

one of the issues with being older is that you get tired of "stuff". So, no matter how much YOU want to give, please honor his wishes.

& if you can't resist, give him a box full of lottery scratchers. Old people love lottery tickets! (OMG, I just typed that because my DH is looking over my shoulder & he'll be 58 this summer! AND he LOVES lottery tickets!).

No offense to one & all! But scratchers are fun....& my DH won big on one. Paid off his heart surgery!

Some nice alcohol. You won't show up empty handed and it's not technically a birthday gift.

Honor his wishes for NO GIFTS! Then, at a later time, you could send a gift card to a restaurant you know he likes,take them out to dinner, make a donation in his name to his favorite charity, bake cookies, brownies, pie, etc. that you know he likes. But taking a gift when the invitation specifically states no gifts will be embarrassing for everyone.

Just bring a nice bottle of wine.
That way you have something to "give" him but it's not really a gift, so to speak.
A beautiful birthday card with a personal, handwritten message would be nice, too.

Mail it to their house.

No Gift.

Maybe you could just invite them to dinner sometime.

Offer to take them to dinner? Donate to a charity in their name?

If he asked for no gifts, I would honor that - maybe at 60 years old, they don't feel the need to get any more "stuff."

But some other thoughts would be a gift card to a favorite restaurant, or tickets to an event they would enjoy - something they can use and get some pleasure out of. Or perhaps make a donation to a favorite charity in their name.

I guess you shouldn't bring anything to the party (other guests will feel uncomfortable--although I'll bet you a dollar he gets gift!).

Why not send a wine basket/steaks/nuts&snacks to his house BEFORE the party?

I think it's nice that you want to do something and yes, you're right, if it seems he's always buying for your kids--time to even the score a bit. (But work around the invitation specifics!) It's always nice to honor a generous, thoughtful person and sometimes the "giver" needs to be the "getter"!

Homemade brownies yummmmy

If your kids are young, have them make him a card or some "art".
After all, a priceless treasure beats a gift any day.

My dad doesn't need anything, but he likes Omaha Steaks, so I order that for him. It ships to him and he can eat it whenever :)

If he said no gifts, don't bring/send a gift.

A donation to your cousin's favorite charity!

I say get him............

NO gift. he is 60. Theres a difference in buying for your kids. Their kids.
He doesnt want a gift, there might be co workers, and all differetn types of peole there, this is a big b-day, so NO gift

Bring over some steaks or a dessert.

Bring a bottle of champagne. Surely that doesn't count as a "gift," right?

It's ok to bring a hostess gift to the party. How about a bottle of 60 yr old wine.

Donate to charity in his name if you must give him a gift of some sort. Typically people say no gifts because they mean it.

bottle of wine? fruit basket?

Have your kids make him a card, draw him a poem, write him a letter or whatever. If you must get something, I like the idea of sending some party mix or something ahead of time so they can share it at the party if they wish.

Something appropriate in this situation would be "no gifts." Really, is that such a difficult concept? It would NOT be inappropriate for you to gift him ANYTHING no matter what you call it. No host gift, no pre-party bottle of wine, no dessert to share with other guests, no side dish, no donation to a charity in his name, nothing. People don't put such a request in writing if they don't mean it and you put them in a horribly awkward position when you don't honor the request. It's rude.

If you can cook, make him his favorite dish or dessert. Something they can freeze for later maybe.

If you are crafty, make a nice little scrapbook.

If you're neither a chef nor a crafty type, buy a bottle of wine.

If he doesn't drink, then buy him Omaha steaks.

If he's a vegetarian, then make him a chips and veggie dip platter LOL!

If he is a wine drinker or whatever his adult beverage of choice may be, buy him a moderate or nice bottle. You can get him a gift certificate to a restaurant or better yet, a card letting him know that at a later date, you and your husband would love to take him out for dinner. I understand what you mean with wanting to get him something...there are those special people that you just feel that need to shower with love because they are always making others feel special. Think of his personality and likes and go from there if you maybe wish to do something a little more personal.

Just wanted to add after reading all of the other posts...not to go against the grain, however most of the time when people put no gifts its because they don't want people to feel obligated and simply their presence is gift alone :) However, this person seems like the type that in no way would be offended by your bringing a little something to celebrate who he is in your famiy's life.

We just had this too. My husband is an artist, so he drew a picture of the girlfriend on skis (colored pencil drawing), we got a frame and then brought the picture to the party with an appropriate pen for every one to sign it. Then it went into the frame. The husband, from the party, also had something similar (that we did not know), so he had a collage of photos of her and then with sides open for people to sign. She has put one up and home and brought one to her office.

I am late chiming in on this one but my opinion is if he has said "no gifts", the most respectful thing you can do is give no gifts. This is not about how you want to get him a little something. It's about his birthday and what he wants. Which is nothing except your good wishes and attendance at his birthday. If you are compelled to reciprocate for gifts given to the kids over the years, maybe you can take him out to a nice dinner sometime. Please respect his wishes.

If they have asked for no gifts I would not bring a gift. Having said that lol I would if possible put together a book with photo's of the family (his) from the time he was a child until now and maybe have other family members write letters to put with it.

Since he wants no gifts maybe make a donation in his name to a charity.

I agree with the home made treats or have the kids make something special for him

I would take a bottle of wine the day before and they can serve it if they wish or drink it themselves the next day.

I feel awkward accepting gifts so I always say on my birthday invites--gift ideas: wine, chocalates or desserts. That way I can serve it along with my own dishes and it is not like I am getting a 'gift'.

I'd say honor his wishes with no gift. However, if you just can't stand it, how about either sending him a nice card telling him how much he has meant to you and your family over the years or take pictures during the party, put them in a scrapbook, and send it to him afterwards. It would serve as a nice reminder of his milestone birthday.

Have fun!

L.