Hosting an event at home is usually a lot of fun, and it lets you share great times with family or friends on a special day or over the holidays. However, planning the event can be a bit stressful as there are lots of things you have to take care of. And beyond the specifics, you have to ensure that you and your guests have a great time and create cherishable moments.
If you plan to host a home dinner or party, we’ll share five important hosting tips.
Set the Mood
When your guests come in, the vibe you’ve created will tell them what kind of an event they can expect. Start this with the lighting and décor. Your lighting will be quite crucial to creating the ambience you want. You can use playful string lights to evoke the atmosphere you want to create, whether festive, cosy, or elegant. You can also use an elegant chandelier with dimmable or frosted light bulbs. This will do most of the work for you.
The décor should then set the overall tone. You can first decide on the theme you’d like to use depending on the type of event you are hosting. From there, get into details such as textures and colours. Ensure you complete the mood with suitable music.
Arrange Comfortable Seating
The seating will determine how comfortable your guests will be, so you have to put a lot of thought into it. If you are hosting many people, your regular seating space may not be enough. As such, you need to rearrange the furniture in such a way that people can move freely. You can integrate different types of seating arrangements to complement your usual sofas and offer people comfort choices. Some can be cosy armchairs, floor cushions, or even bean bags.
While at it, ensure that your seating arrangement also promotes social interaction. And if possible, position the seating around a focal point, such as a fireplace or coffee table. The whole idea is to ensure that your guests are comfortable, but the space is also practical.
A Menu with Variety and Balance
The food is arguably the most memorable part of most events, so you need to put some extra effort here. Ideally, come up with a menu that offers a variety of familiar favourites and some adventurous dishes. These can be spread across courses, that is, appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts. But while at it, ensure that you consider the dietary restrictions of your guests. If you don’t know all of them well, ensure you have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or nut-free options where possible.
Don’t fail to complement the food with a well-rounded selection of drinks. You can start with a signature cocktail/mocktail to set the tone if you are up to it. But most importantly, ensure you have a selection of both red and white wines on your wine rack, as this will be the most popular option.
Engaging and Memorable Activities
Simply having a meal is not enough to create memories that will last a long time. To make it all engaging, come up with games that you can play with your guests. This will help you interact better, foster relationships, and laugh more. The games you choose should depend on the type of guests you are hosting.
In most cases, you can’t go wrong with board games and card games as they are timeless classics. You can also organize other activities, such as a themed trivia session or a friendly competition based on the type of event. A good example is holiday-themed Pictionary.
Leave Room for Flexibility and Adaptability
There are always unexpected situations that arise when you are hosting an event. As such, it’s good to have backups and be flexible. For example, if you get a guest whose dietary restrictions haven’t been considered, you should be able to come up with something at the last minute. If a game you planned isn’t going well or isn’t as entertaining as you thought it would be, quickly suggest an alternative. Keep an open mind, knowing that the goal is to ensure everyone feels included and valued. However, don’t get lost in everything and forget to enjoy the party.
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