Holiday parties and dinners are upon us. I love to entertain and have picked up quite a few tips for hosting guests along the way. Whether this is your first time or you’re a seasoned pro, I’m sure there’s always something to be learned. At the end of each event, my husband and I sit down and discuss what we could do to make it even better for next time. We love to have people over and will think up any reason to celebrate. So, with that, I give you my best:
Tips for Hosting Guests Over the Holidays
- Utilize every kitchen appliance you have. There’s more than one way to keep your food warm as everything finishes cooking. Crockpots and Instant pots have warm settings, so does your roaster from Thanksgiving. Stovetops can be set to low and so can the oven. If you host often, you might want to invest in buffet chafing dishes.
- Use paper plates and napkins, but real utensils. Plastic silverware breaks easily and can be difficult to use with a paper plate. Plus, it adds a little fancy back to your paper dishes.
- Use disposable cups and have people write their names on them. Keep a sharpie next to the stack of cups. This way you’re not cleaning up a million cups at the end of the party!
- Repurpose your pretty Christmas decorations for a nice tablescape. Bonus tip: as much as I absolutely love the drama of a tall centerpiece, it is difficult for guests to converse when trying to peak through a gorgeous flower arrangement! Good conversation is always better than beautiful centerpieces so opt for shorter decor and save the tall, statement pieces for the buffet table or your entry way.
- Utilize a fun conversation starter game during dinner. Often Christmas guests are people who don’t know each other well or only see each other a few times a year. To avoid awkward conversations that start with, “So, what’s new this year?,” try a game. Place a jar with fun conversation starter questions on the table – you can find good questions on Pinterest. Things like: What’s your least favorite household chore? What’s your favorite birthday tradition? What’s your best elementary school memory? Etc. Once everyone sits down to eat have each person grab a question and answer it. Depending on how many people are at your table you can have each person answer the question or just the person who drew it.
For more tips on hosting a holiday party, check out this post on my blog! Be sure to share your best tips for hosting guests in the comments. I know you’ve got some good ones!
