It’s that time of year again when family and friends gather. The fall brings football parties, bonfires, more barbecues and before you know it, the holidays are here. Over the years I’ve learned plenty about hosting a fun and stress-free party, for everyone including the hostess. These party hosting tips will have guests feeling warm, welcome and equipped with everything they need to kick back and enjoy themselves.
Label Your Coolers and Mixed Drinks
What’s in your coolers? To answer that questions, simply cut out the logo and clear tape it to the corresponding cooler. You can always make signs on your Cricut or by hand, but the cut outs are the fastest way a person recognizes what you’re serving.
Similarly, make sure you’re very clearly labeling mixed drinks, especially if some are spiked. You don’t want the kids accidentally getting into the boozy punch, nor do you want anyone to have an allergic reaction. Labeling ingredients is key because it will keep guests from tracking you down mid-party hosting to ask.
Have Single Use To-Go Containers Available
I hate wasting food, but there is such a thing as too many leftovers. Have gallon sized baggies or plastic food containers on hand to send home with guests. This way, you don’t have to worry about collecting your good food storage containers back later, either!
Gallon baggies are good for things like cookies, finger foods and dishes that are all one piece. For example, if you’re planning to serve finger sandwiches, pies or food with toppings, a plastic food storage container that sits upright would help the leftovers travel better.
Account for Food Allergies in Advance
Does anyone have food allergies? It’s polite to have 1-2 items a guest with even the most severe food sensitivities can enjoy. Some easy ideas include a basic dinner salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomato and onion with dressing on the side), Bruschetta or a build your own taco bar. Allowing guests to add their own ingredients is a sure fire way to avoid feeding them something allergy-inducing.
There’s also dietary restrictions to consider. Chances are you know if anyone attending is on a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diet, for example. So, take an inventory of your guests in advance of planning the menu. If you have anyone bringing a new plus one, ask your friend in advance if they need any known accommodations.
It can be hard to accommodate every single guest but an attempt is always appreciated. When all else fails, be sure to have some of those basic allergy-friendly dishes available for grazing.
Have Mini Serving Cutlery for Party Hosting
One of my favorite, crazy inexpensive purchases has been this mini cutlery set from Amazon. It’s labeled as an espresso spoon but I use them for condiments, garnishments, dessert trays, charcuteries boards and more. The forks are great for pickles and sport peppers (for my Chicago hot dog bar fanatics).
Below is a party hosting tips TikTok I made on some hostess and lifestyle creator essentials. You can see some of my favorite pieces on display in this quick video.
All items were either Amazon or Target and under $25 at most, many less. They’re fantastic essentials to add to your wedding registry, Christmas list or birthday list in the future.
The items in the video are listed below:
Bonus: Thanksgiving Dinner Hosting Checklist
Pin this checklist to your Thanksgiving Pinterest board to reference in the future! It also applies largely to Christmas dinner or other dinner parties with a few minor adjustments.
Which of these party hosting tips was your favorite? Anything catch you by surprise? I think the mini utensils have been my favorite party trick. You don’t see those often and they’re the perfect size for so many uses when hosting.
