Provenance suits an occasion built on longevity. Lily O'Brien's has handcrafted its 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.

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.

Thank you is the most common thing a gift has to say and the easiest to get slightly wrong. Too small and it reads as an afterthought. Too large and it puts the recipient under a strange obligation. A mid-size dessert-inspired chocolate collection collection or a share bag sits in the right register for almost every version of the occasion.

One honest point that applies to any recipient. If he asks about ingredients or dietary suitability, point him to the published product information rather than reassuring him yourself.

Get the count right with a sensible buffer, place each favour consistently, and order well ahead of the day. The etiquette looks after itself once the logistics do.

A last practical point. Recipients occasionally ask about ingredients or dietary suitability, so direct those questions to the published product information rather than answering on the brand's behalf. It is accurate and it protects you.