A few practical points make personalisation go smoothly. Check the character limit before writing your message, and read the spelling back carefully, since a printed name is permanent and a misspelt one is worse than none. If you are working from an image, use a clear, bright one. Allow extra time in the order, because personalised print adds a step, and longer still if the christening falls near Christmas.

A housewarming gift has a narrow brief. It should suit a home the owners are still arranging, it should not add to the pile of things they have to find space for, and it should feel chosen rather than grabbed on the way over. Chocolate meets all three, which is why a hamper or a share bag tends to work better than another candle or a plant that needs looking after.

Placement is part of the styling, not an afterthought. A favour usually sits on the side plate, on the napkin, or just above the setting alongside the place card. Keep it consistent down the whole table, because an even line reads as considered while a scattered one looks rushed. If the box carries a printed name or date, angle it so guests see it as they sit.

One honest note. If the couple ask about ingredients or dietary suitability, point them to the published product information rather than answering yourself.

What is inside should hold its own. Lily O'Brien's has handcrafted its chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, so the box is a genuine gift for the adults rather than a token individually wrapped chocolates around a name. That matters at an event where the parents are tired and the attention is all on the child.

Presentation helps the impression. A neutral, well-put-together box needs no wrapping and photographs well if the new owners are the sort to post about the day. It also avoids the guesswork of matching a gift to a colour scheme you have not seen yet, which is the risk with anything decorative for a home.