Family & Friends

You really don't know these 21 dinner gifts yet

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Original 21 dinner gifts that go beyond the standard photo book or calendar: surprising, personal, and creative ideas for an unforgettable evening.
There comes a moment when your calendar suddenly fills up with 21-dinners. La Dolce Vita, enchanted forest, and winter wonderland: every Saturday you sit down again for a three-course dinner (starting with tomato soup and carpaccio, of course), a speech from the parents, and an ABC. But as fun as a personalized calendar or photo book is: after the fifth 21-dinner, you've seen it all and you just want to give something original. With these five substitutes, that mission is guaranteed to succeed.

Friend book

In elementary school, everyone had a friend book, and it's actually strange that we ever stopped doing that because it was so incredibly fun. That's why an updated version is such a hit as a 21-dinner gift. Let everyone fill out a page about their favorite color, favorite animal, and what they want to be when they grow up. Extra cool if you leave space in between for polaroids or a festival wristband from that time she was really too drunk. And bonus points if you keep a few blank pages at the back so everyone can fill something in later in the evening, after a few drinks. A real enthusiast can even track down her old friend book and stick in the answers from back then, so you can literally see how your best friend has grown.

@marilou.korte

Who are you giving it to as a gift? ✨ #21dinner #birthdaydinner #birthday #vriendenboekje #vriendenboekjevoorvolwassenen #fotoboek

♬ original sound – henrique

Book stamp

If you have a best friend who loves reading a lot, a book stamp might be a good idea. It's a small device that leaves a print in every book she's devouring. Not only does her bookshelf immediately look a lot nicer, but everyone also knows right away who the book belongs to when she lends it to that one friend who forgets to return everything. You can incorporate her initials into the design, but also her pet or birth flower. Actually, anything goes.

Favorites memory

Okay yes, technically this is again a photo book, but at least this one has a different twist. The idea: each friend chooses her favorite memory with the birthday girl, sticks a photo on the left, and writes the story on the right. Who, what, where, when, and especially: why this is the best memory ever. Two memories per person is also fine: she's just that fun.

Tea box

If you have a tea lover as a friend, give her a personalized tea box. You can make the box as beautiful as you want, but the coolest part is in the tea bags. You know how some of those questions are on the label? That, but more: ‘Do you remember when you made your own kebab shop at four in the morning behind the counter?’ Or a photo that makes her laugh immediately in the morning.

@fayhoukema

So grateful for this friend ❤️❤️‍🩹

♬ What Was I Made For? (Epilogue) [Instrumental Version] – Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt

Personalized games

With a personalized game, you can never go wrong. For example, make a version of 30 Seconds with names of her old side jobs. Or a Hitster variant with songs that were played at her first party. Or Who is it?: that works with photos of people she loves, or boys she kissed when she was fifteen. And remember that you can turn literally any game into a drinking game.

@contentbytaj

These are the best personal gifts I have given 🎁✨ I find it increasingly fun to give personal gifts. For example, I once made a personalized 30 seconds game, a photo book, and an illustration 🎲✍️ What is the best personal gift you have ever given? ✨ #gift #giftinspiration #personalgift #personalized #21dinnergift

♬ original sound – Taj | UGC Creator

@joyindybosz

DIY birthday gift idea! #21 #21dinner #vlog #diy #gift

♬ Body Language SpedUp – REALEST R&B

Next Saturday it's probably that time again. Only this time you have a super fun, super original gift on your lap. It may not be a competition, but this way you still win the 21-dinner gift cup.
Image: ashtonwood