For an early anniversary, a first or a second say, the register is warm and unshowy. A mid-size collection, perhaps with a short printed message or the date, says you remembered and you made a small effort, which is precisely the tone those years call for. It is a gift between two people rather than a public statement, so restraint reads better than grandeur.

Provenance helps here, because a gift with a story behind it is easier to give and easier to receive. Lily O'Brien's chocolate O'Brien's has handcrafted its chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since Mary Ann O'Brien founded the brand in 1992, and it holds BRC Grade A+ accreditation for its production. That is the kind of detail a recipient notices and a sender can mention without overselling.

Some couples prefer to share a small box between two settings for couples seated together, which trims the count but complicates the table plan. It works, but it asks more of your stationery and place cards, so only choose it if the saving genuinely matters.

If you want to lift it further, a personalised message or his name on the box turns a generic present into one addressed to him. Keep the message short and let the collection do the talking. Allow a little extra time for personalised print, and more in the run-up to Christmas when orders stack up.

Corporate gifting has a low ceiling for effort and a high one for judgement. Send nothing and you look indifferent. Send the wrong thing and you look like you did not think about it. Chocolate sits in the safe middle, provided you match the format to the recipient.

Choose a hamper for the occasion or a share bag for the casual version, lean on a maker with real provenance, and keep the presentation simple. The gift will read as considered because it is.