13 Finest White Elephant Presents (2025): Espresso Pot Mug, Legos, Sushi Magnets, and Extra

Honorable Mentions

• These days Hashish Infused Beverage beginning at $40: Bringing a bottle of booze is a white elephant basic; my husband’s work workforce virtually completely exchanges bottles of liquor as a protected wager for enthusiasm. I believe you are able to do higher, although, and convey a THC spirit as an alternative. This spirit is mild and a bit of fruity, sitting someplace in between the flavour profile of a floral gin and a candy sake. My associates and I attempted it blended right into a pomegranate cocktail as an alternative of tequila, which was implausible, and we additionally beloved it with seltzer as a THC twist on a gin and tonic. It is scrumptious alone, too. I would skip this for a piece celebration or any group that may not be green-friendly, although.
• Booze typically: That is at all times a protected decide! You might additionally deliver a bottle of nonalcoholic wine when you needed an choice that everybody can have.

What To not Carry to a White Elephant

This is what was the least fought over on the white elephant events I attended final yr, or essentially the most inappropriate concepts our workforce has heard of:

• A primary, single candle. No person wants a candle they may decide up on the retailer. Until there is a enjoyable theme that you just’re sure appeals to the group attending, just like the D&D candles above for my fellow nerdy associates or book-themed candles for e book lovers, skip bringing a single candle to a white elephant trade. Or make the candle a part of a present basket; our favourite tomato-scented candle goes nice with some kitchen or backyard equipment.
• Puzzles. I believe puzzles are arduous to randomly reward—true puzzle fanatics will need a whole lot of items, whereas novices will need a better one. For those who select a puzzle with too particular a theme, the receiver may not prefer it as a lot as a real puzzler or fan of that theme would. As a substitute, I am gifting enjoyable paint-by-number kits.
• Reside animals. Look, you should not give child chicks at Easter, and also you should not give something even remotely related—together with a mouse, fish, or something alive.
• Intercourse toys and lingerie. I’ve truly been to a intercourse toy-themed reward trade, and I would suggest it to the proper teams of associates. However in any other case, except you are good associates with your entire group and are fully sure it would not be inappropriate (and no children will probably be in attendance), it is safer to purchase these to your important different as an alternative. It is definitely inappropriate for a piece reward trade.
• Precise trash. I did not assume I needed to write this one down, however at one reward trade I went to, somebody actually wrapped up a chunk of rubbish as a joke. As the one who unwrapped the trash reward, I urge of you: Do not do that.

Guidelines of a White Elephant

For those who’re headed to your first white elephant reward trade, this is a fast explainer on what’s about to occur.

Everybody will deliver a wrapped reward (usually underneath a sure value, like $25) and place it right into a pile or central spot. Then, every particular person will draw a quantity that signifies their place within the gift-choosing order. When your quantity is named, you possibly can both select and unwrap a present from the pile, or steal one which has already been unwrapped by somebody. Most exchanges can have a restrict of how usually a present could be stolen—often round 3 times—so when you’ve got the most effective reward in your palms when it is time for another person to decide on, there is not any assure you may get to maintain it. In case your reward is stolen, you possibly can both unwrap a brand new one or steal a unique reward (no take-backs, sorry).

These guidelines can fluctuate based mostly on the host and their home guidelines, so ensure to ask what the foundations are in the beginning of the sport. Completely satisfied exchanging!