The holidays are a time to pull out all the stops. This year, whether you are hosting hundreds or just a few close friends, we invite you to take the leap and elevate your hosting style. Below are five tips to take any event to the next level. Make them your own and get ready for a holiday season you won’t soon forget.
1. Plan Ahead
As a host, you want to be able to spend time with your guests while also making sure every detail is perfect. The only way to achieve both is through planning ahead. If you really want to have the least to do the day of your big event, plan your menu around things that can be made ahead of time. Think freezer-friendly soups, sauces, frozen cookie dough, and maybe even a casserole main course that can last in the fridge.
If you’re ordering your favorite wines directly, make sure to do so at least two weeks in advance to guarantee they’ll make it to your table. If you’re purchasing from the store, it’s also a good idea to go early to ensure your favorites aren’t sold out the day of.
2. Ask for Help
Even the very best hosts know they can’t go it alone. Map out your tasks in advance and then delegate, delegate, delegate. This doesn’t have to mean just giving everyone chores. If you have kids who are old enough to be in the kitchen by themselves, put them in charge of making the cookie dough or rolling out pastry dough for pies. Or invite a few girlfriends over to help you make name cards for the table and assemble decorations. Making it a collective effort will take the stress off of you and help others feel included.
3. Make a Timeline for the Big Day
No matter the size of your event, it’s a good idea to have a general idea of what needs to happen and when. For example, if you have a roast that needs to be in and out of the oven for hours on end, know when you’re going to start and at what points in the day you need to pay attention to it. When do the candles need to be lit or the carpet vacuumed for a final time? Planning everything out will also help you get to all the little details.
4. Don’t Forget the Little Things
Sometimes, the evening is made through the details. Some things to consider—do you have a good place for guests to place coats and purses? If not, a coat rack is a good investment. What is the lighting in your dining area like? If you’re stuck with overly bright fluorescents, consider buying candles to cozy up the space. Trust us—thinking through small details like these ahead of time will serve you well.
5. Make it Personal
No matter if you’re having 50 of your colleagues or just your immediate family over, you want the event to feel intimate and personal. If you’re doing a seated dinner, make name cards for everyone at the table and be thoughtful about who is sitting where. If you want to go the extra mile, create a photo booth area or have polaroid cameras out on the table. Not only will people love taking photos in their holiday best, but it will also give them something tangible to take away from the evening. If it’s a group that doesn’t know each other well, plan introductions or have conversation cards on the table for those who might be on the shy side.
