With the lockdown era being a bygone past, social gatherings are back on the menu. While it’s fun to see what the outside world has to offer, sometimes there is something quite intimate about inviting everyone to your home and holding the party right there.
Hosting a gathering at your place creates a more relaxed and personal atmosphere, partly because your guests get to see what brings you comfort after a long day of work. However, there is always the concern that a single mistake could make some of your guests feel unwelcome.
Whether it’s a simple get-together or a festive celebration, here are a few thoughtful touches you can make to ensure a memorable experience for everyone, including yourself:
Think Carefully About Your Guests
Any party starts with the guests. The first thing to consider before anything else is whom you trust enough to invite into your space. It’s always nice to have guests over, unless they make you, the one living in your own house, uncomfortable.
Moreover, your comfort is just as important as the comfort of your other guests. Keep in mind that there needs to be a balance of personalities, especially when inviting different friend groups. Common interests are a good rule of thumb, but consider the full range of their personalities to determine who will get along well with whom.
Plan The Date
Scheduling is not as easy as it used to be when you were younger and had fewer responsibilities. Adult friendships are much harder to manage because everyone has their adult priorities to attend to—but don’t let this get to you! This only emphasizes the importance of checking the availability of your prospective guests before finalizing a date.
As such, it is inevitable that some friends might be late or completely unable to make it. In such moments, it’s better to pick the schedule with the most availability than cancel the gathering altogether. There will always be another reason to meet again.
After the date is set and the time is finalized, be sure to ask for a response from the guests. Knowing who among the invitees will be attending and how many will help you determine the quantity and variety of your menu, ultimately reducing the chances of food going to waste.
Cater The Menu To The Guests
The thought of serving food to a number of guests can seem daunting, which is why the key is to start simple. You don’t need multi-course meals, and your guests will definitely miss your presence if you’re frequently leaving your seat to prepare the next dish. A beautifully plated combination of an appetizer and a one-dish meal will satisfy your guests without overwhelming you.
You can lean on recipes that you really want to serve; just make sure they align with your guests’ dietary preferences or aversions. If you don’t cook, ordering from a local restaurant and replating it on your own serving dishes will do the trick.
Crowd-Sourcing The Food
Chances are, your guests would love to bring something to the party. When they offer to contribute to the meal preparation, accept their offer! However, rather than just assigning them the task of bringing wine, give it some thought and consider how they might best contribute.
If there is a particular dish they’ve made that you want to try again or share with your other guests, you could suggest that. Everyone who insists on bringing something should bring something different. This way, you’ll avoid ending up with more than one tray of the same food! Furthermore, you could factor in your guests’ backgrounds when deciding what food they should bring. If you know a guest is often late, don’t ask them to bring the appetizer. A more punctual friend would be happy to do that for you!
Opt For Simple, Fresh Decorations
Flowers are great options for any gathering’s centerpiece on the table. Nicely arranged fresh flowers are enough to make a statement. However, you might want to keep the arrangement low for easy viewing by your guests and choose unscented flowers to avoid triggering allergic reactions. No one wants a guest sneezing constantly. If flowers are not really your thing, colorful candles and vibrant cloth napkins will bring the same charm to the table.
Make Dining Special For Kids Too
If some of your guests are bringing their kids, don’t forget that they are part of the fun! You can either reserve a spot at the table for them or set up a separate table just for the kids. You can also make it more interactive for them by providing cute straws, leaving tabletop games, or offering books and crayons.
Just as you enjoy connecting with your guests, your kids might also make new friends with the other children at the party! When your guests’ kids love coming to your house, you’ll have more reasons and opportunities to bond with them.
Keep The After-Dining Fun
Ensuring a great dining experience is only half the challenge of hosting. The other half is company, and that could be a puzzle when all the food is served and enjoyed. After dining, engaging activities or entertainment will keep the enjoyment going and ensure that your guests leave your home with fond memories. This could be anything from a cupboard of games for all ages and personality types to a cozy couch with props for charades, or a movie night with popcorn and blankets.
If your guests have different interests, prepare a variety of enjoyable after-dining options. Who knows, maybe one of the guests will surprise you. In any case, a welcoming atmosphere that extends to after-dining encourages guests to linger and fully enjoy the rest of the night, even if it’s just the simple pleasure of good company.
And that’s the last serving! Beyond these tips, there are many ways even an intimate party could go wrong. On the, optimistically, slim chance that it does happen, remember: the ‘unexpected’ parts can make for fun memories to look back on. The most important tip you could carry is to not overthink party planning, and make yourself part of the fun rather than the stress.
