The holiday season is upon us and it’s time to start thinking about hosting. Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner or hosting guests for a few days, there is always so much to get done.
When hosting guests during the holidays, starting prep as early as possible is going to make hosting easier and less stressful. The most important things to think about are your guest list and any house prep that needs to be done. Then as it gets closer, you can check things off your to-do list and pick up any last-minute hosting must-haves. Today, I’m sharing my tips for hosting holiday guests this season.
Tips for Hosting Holiday Guests
Finalize Your Guest List in Advance
Don’t leave planning to the last minute! Finalize your guest list as soon as you can so you can get a head start on planning your menu. For Thanksgiving or a special holiday dinner, your guest list should be finalized about a month before the big day. This way, you’ll have plenty of time to plan out dishes and order any new items, kitchen accessories, or linens.
Once you have your final guest count, you’ll be able to plan out your dishes ahead of time and gauge and how much of everything you’ll need. Often times, main entree items like turkeys require advance ordering, so knowing your count will allow you to order the turkey or roast size that you’ll need for dinner.
Take Inventory of Your Serving Dishes
Once you have your guest list finalized and your menu planned, take inventory of your serving dishes. My number one dinner party hosting hack is to add a sticky note to each dish for what it will be used for. This will make plating on Thanksgiving or Christmas extremely easy.
This is the time to determine if you need additional serving dishes. There’s nothing worse than struggling to find a platter to plate an appetizer when you have a house full of guests to entertain. If you’re short on serving dishes, you’ll have time to order extras before the big day!
Make Appetizers Ahead of Time
When it comes to hosting, the more I can get done ahead of time, the better. Give yourself one less thing to worry about when holiday hosting and make your appetizers ahead of time. You can do this as far as a month in advance, too! Simply make your appetizers, freeze them, and reheat them day of.
Need appetizer ideas? This appetizer book is one of my favorites year-round, but especially during the holidays. It is filled with so many quick and easy appetizers that can easily be prepped beforehand!
If you don’t want to worry about making appetizers from scratch, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods both have great frozen appetizer options that are delicious.
Dress up a Store-Bought Veggie Platter
Veggie platters are always a fan favorite at holiday gatherings. To make your life easier, pick up a store-bought veggie tray and dress it up so it feels homemade.
Start by scooping any store-bought dips into small bowls, and discard any plastic packaging. Put the bowls on a nice board, then start placing your veggies around the board, breaking up colors into various piles.
To dress up the store-bought veggie platter just a little more, add in extra veggies and a second dip, like hummus, and top with olive oil and paprika.
Your guests will love the spread, they’ll never know it was put together in a flash, and you’ll have extra time to entertain!
Make a Seasonal Batch Cocktail
The holidays are the perfect time to take advantage of seasonal flavors. By batching your seasonal cocktail ahead of time, you can focus on cooking and hosting instead of playing bartender all night. Plus, it makes it easier to serve guests quickly!
My go-to seasonal cocktail is a spiked apple cider fall sangria. It’s delicious and easy to make!
Plan for Last-Minute Hostess Gifts
If you’re headed to someone else’s house this holiday season for any sort of gathering, don’t forget to bring a hostess gift! Even a small gift is a big gesture.
My favorite hostess gift hack is to buy a couple of gift sets at the beginning of the holiday season. These are easy to break up and mix and match, and this way you’ll always have something on hand. If you don’t get through all these tiny gifts, they also double as great stocking stuffers.
Add Special Touches to Your Guest Room
If you have guests staying with you through the holidays, add a few special touches to your guest room to make them feel at home.
I like to add a small basket on their nightstand filled with any essentials they might need during their stay. Items like basic toiletries, spare toothbrushes, and eye masks are always great to include! And don’t forget to leave a card with your WiFi information.
If your guests are staying with you for more than a few days, clear out closet or drawer space so your guests can unpack and feel at home.
And don’t forget to leave clean towels out for your guests!
Curate a Cozy Home
One of the easiest ways to make your guests feel more at home is to curate a cozy home.
Use on lamps instead of overhead lights, or if you are using overhead lights, utilize a dimer.
In the areas your guests will be spending the most time in, light candles and play ambient music. In the evenings, light your wood or electric fireplace. No fireplace? No problem! Play this fireplace on your TV. It’s moody and even crackles!
Don’t forget to add in cozy blankets and pillows to guest rooms and common spaces. When your guests are lounging, this will ensure they’re as comfortable as possible.
Incorporate a Signature Home Scent
Don’t underestimate the power of scent! It can unlock a special memory and remind you of people or places that you love.
Light candles or use a diffuser to incorporate seasonal scents into your home. Some of my favorite home scents during the holidays are Autumn Plum and Holiday, and I love diffusing Frasier Fir. Or, see more of my favorite holiday candles here.
A seasonal simmer pot is also a great, natural way to add scent to your home without lighting anything. Drop in a few seasonal ingredients and let it simmer all day. Yum!
Chill Wine in a Flash with a Wet Paper Towel
In a rush to chill wine or want to try whatever Judy and Bob brought to your house?
Run a few paper towels through cool water, shake off extra water, and wrap the towels around the wine bottle. Place in the freezer for 15-20 minutes for a perfectly chilled bottle of wine. Set a timer so you won’t forget about it.
Stock up on Tupperware
Don’t forget to stock up on disposable Tupperware before the holidays. This will not only allow your guests to easily take home leftovers, you also won’t get stuck with a ton of extra food! These to-go boxes are a great affordable option.
Incorporate Special Touches into Your Table Setting
When hosting guests for a dinner party during the holidays, I like to set the table a little more elegant than I normally would. It’s my chance to use nice place settings and name cards and incorporate in special greenery and candles to elevate the experience.
When setting each place setting, make sure everything is set up properly. Start with a placemat or charger before placing your dinner plate, salad plate, and napkin on top. Your silverware will be placed in the way you use it; from the outside in.
Your forks will go on the left side of your dinner plate, and your knife and spoon should go on the right. Start with your smaller fork on the outside and the dinner fork closest to your dinner plate. Your knife will go on the right, closest to your dinner plate, with your spoon on the outside. This blog post talks more in-depth about how to set a table for Thanksgiving, and it also works for any formal setting.
PRO TIP: Set the table the night before hosting! This is always a pre-hosting task that gets put off and is rushed through more often than not. By setting your table ahead of time, you’ll have one less thing to worry about day of, and can take your time with any other last minute little details.
Holiday Hosting Essentials
