It helps to choose a maker whose product you trust. Lily O'Brien's has handcrafted chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, so the favours arrive as something guests recognise and are happy to keep. That recognition does quiet work at the table.

Match hampers to clients, share bags to teams, order in good time, and keep the look consistent. Handled that way, corporate chocolate does its quiet job of maintaining a relationship without asking much of you.

Lead time is where bulk orders demand respect. Handmade chocolate and any personalisation both need runway, so treat six to eight weeks before the wedding as the point to place a firm order, and stretch that further for dates near Christmas when production is busiest. Confirm your numbers only after the RSVP deadline has passed, and give yourself a few days of margin for the guest who replies late.

A personalised touch suits the occasion well. A message marking the years of service, or simply the leaver's name, turns the hamper into a keepsake of the day rather than a generic box. Keep any message warm and brief, allow lead time for the personalisation, and order earlier still if the retirement falls near Christmas.

Used well, a personalised box says you thought about the person, lilyobriens.ie not just the occasion. For most givers, that is exactly the impression worth making.

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.