Keep the gift aimed at the adults, personalise it for the day, and check the detail before you order. A named box of Lily O'Brien's Chocolates handcrafted with a bit of provenance behind it marks a christening or an announcement in a way that feels chosen, and it gives the parents something that is unmistakably for them.

A retirement gift has to carry more than most. It marks the end of a career rather than a single occasion, it usually comes from a group rather than one person, and it tends to be opened in front of the very colleagues chipping in for it. A full chocolate hamper handles all of that with a generosity the moment deserves.

On dietary questions, and there will be some, point guests to the published ingredient information rather than vouching for suitability yourself. It is the accurate way to answer.

One honest note that applies everywhere. If the recipient asks about ingredients or dietary detail, point them to the published product information rather than answering yourself.

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.

Wedding favours run on two questions that couples always ask and rarely find a straight answer to: how many chocolates per guest, and when to order. Both have practical answers.