“Anyone can Host!”
I have hosted my fair share of events: holidays, birthdays, parties and dinners. And since I don’t often toot my own horn, I will say many a friend, family member and peer have deemed me the Hostess with the Mostess! I used to be afraid to host any sort of get-together, but once I realized it is simpler than once believed I haven’t been able to stop and actually enjoy doing it.
No skills required just follow these basic steps to host (literally) anything:
Save the Dates:
Even for a more casual event I like to text my guests with a date to save for their calendar. As adults we get so busy and I’ve found that throwing out your date a month prior is helpful for attendance and for ease of planning.
Follow Up (With Details):
About 2 weeks out I will send a follow up text with more details. If I am planning on making the whole menu I will state what we have planned for food and the general itinerary. If it’s a holiday style get-together I like to share what main dishes I will be providing and ask my guests to bring a side dish or dessert to share, it helps take the pressure off of you for a bigger event.
Set Up:
This depends on your event and your home’s layout. I have two tables; one seats 6 and the other seats 10. For casual events my guests are told to enjoy their meal wherever they are most comfortable (even our couches and arm chairs are safe). In more formal settings I will make place cards to take the guesswork out of it for my guests.
I typically start setting up for my events about a day in advance. This way I have plenty of time on the day of to focus on food and hosting.
I also like to have either water pitchers on the table or a drink station near the food for my guests to fill up as needed.
Food:
I take the stress out of my events by making anything I can, a day or two ahead of event day. Some things you have to make day of, but any casseroles that get put in the oven or crockpot meals that just need to be dumped in I will take care of ahead of time.
I also try to ask (especially for new guests) if there are dietary restrictions/allergies to work with when planning my meals.
Buffet:
I like to set up our events in buffet-style. Our IKEA tables aren’t wide enough to comfortably seat our guests and food. Especially if we have a full house and a load of apps, snacks and meals around. This also allows for smoother transitions to relax after the meal. If you have a banquette near your table that could work beautifully, otherwise we just use our kitchen counters.
I make sure to draw out the layout ahead of time. Then the day before, after the tables are set, I like to place post-it notes in the areas I’m thinking I’d like a dish to be placed.
Greeting:
It’s the big day! I like to make sure the dishwasher is clear for a full load later and I do a sweep of bathrooms and main entertaining space and get it tidy. 30 minutes before guests are set to arrive I make sure to empty trash bins as well. Once the guests arrive we will welcome our guests at the door, taking coats or dishes from their hands and inviting them in. It is here that you can place their dish in your designated spot.
This is also where you can offer a beverage as people start arriving. If hosting without a partner you can always tell your guests to help themselves to apps and drinks, that way you are set to help newly coming guests.
Event:
During your event you are the host and the conductor of your evening. Your guests will be looking to you to see when the festivities can begin. This can always feel a little nerve wrecking, but once everyone has arrived your direction and instruction will make everyone else feel more comfortable.
Obviously you want to make sure you are socializing with your guests, make sure everyone (even the kids) feel seen by asking about their life right now.
Clean Up:
Using disposable has been an option for me as of recently, especially with casual events and one’s where close friends are present. Disposable makes for easier cleanup, but make sure you are checking on the trash bins every so often in case they need emptying.
Otherwise if you opt for a more formal setting, I like to keep a container filled in my sink with warm soapy water. You could also plug up 1/2 of your sink as well. This is where I like to toss any silverware. This allows for dishes to be stacked neatly in the sink on the other side, so that when it’s time to load the dishwasher it takes seconds!
If your guests brought a dish to share this takes a heap of the cleanup off your plate. I always clean everything up and wipe everything down before going to bed. I find if I push through while I’m still tired it feels so much better waking up to a clean house the next morning!
