We’ve all been there, scrambling around the internet and any family etiquette books (is that just me?) trying to figure out how to be the perfect dinner party host.
Whether your hosting a small party or even a larger, more corporate affair, it is completely normal to be getting stressed out by the occasion because, after all, these people aren’t family; with family it is completely different, you can be yourself, you can relax mid preparation, for a dinner party it is completely different.
So how can someone be a great party host? How can we all achieve zen like states of calm and deliver an evening which will have tongues wagging for years to come? We did a lot of asking around, searching on the internet and even turned to our own commander in chief, Alex to give us some great party hosting ideas.
A great host makes their guests feel relaxed
Yes, you may be a bad of nerves but you can’t have that stop you from being a great guest, so the important thing here is; you relax. A relaxed host will see the art of hosting come to them in slow motion; when you are stressed, you get tense and from there things can start to go bad.
“One way of making sure you’re relaxed is by making sure you’ve tidied up. It sounds simple, but it’s one less thing to think of and you can focus on the other, more important things.” Alex Lawlor.
Planning the event and making sure that you have a checklist for the party, whether it is at home or at an office means you can take care of the finer things on the day, this in turn will make you relaxed and you can make your guests feel truly comfortable.
Guests will feel like they’ve been looked after
We’ve all been to a party where we’ve had to wait ages for a drink or we couldn’t find a coat, we may have even been somewhere where they served food that we can eat. It happens.
A great host then is someone that creates an environment that looks after those very things. “The food is key, and if you’re serving larger crowds make sure you have variety as well as dietary requirements covered off before the event” Alex.
The great hosts will be ready for everything. They will know where to put your coat as soon as you enter, there will be someone ready to take a drink order and they will even get things like introductions sorted so that their guests aren’t sat by themselves or worrying about getting someone’s name wrong.
Hosts will make sure that a glass is never empty
Let’s admit it right now, going to someone’s house or office where there isn’t enough wine/beer/prosecco or even soft drinks for the evening can be a bit of a buzzkill, especially if, as the guest you are looking to let your hair down.
A great host then will be prepared. Now there is something to be said about etiquette; a good host will plan for a half bottle of wine per head, or two beers per guest, then again, at more corporate events bar services will be stocked up for those looking to enjoy more than usual.
Home parties however are a little different. Etiquette would dictate that no one got overly drunk, unless your host has also accommodated for a room for the evening or a taxi to take you back so you want to also drink sensibly. Starting the evening with a prosecco should see you through to the main course and as for dessert, a great host will introduce a liquor or dessert wine to go with the course.
Hosts will make sure that everyone has been fed… well!
Too much drink and not enough food? We’ve all done it, but sometimes it’s because we’ve been at a dinner party where the host has completely forgotten about the food, or simply, it wasn’t enough.
“Think of the summertime barbecue. It is so much fun, but you don’t eat for ages and you get very little when you do.”
So what would a great host do? “Planning ahead on the food front is key. Whether you are getting your party catered by someone like ourselves or you are self-catering, planning is going to be essential in making sure there is enough for everyone.”
You can get a lot of food preparation done before hand. Tray bakes like lasagne and mexican enchiladas are great to prepare for large groups. Snacks, dips, charcuterie can also be done well in advance. From there you can start to make an approximation if there is enough of everything and like other great hosts, you can feel a little smug that you’ve covered off enough, including dessert.
A great host is never rushed, not even at the end
You’ve moved from the wine to the cup of tea, you’ve moved your taxi booking back by an hour and you are totally chilled, but what about your host? You notice no signals from them, you ask for another brew and breathe a sigh of relief…
A great host is never rushed, not even at the end and this matters. A host will know when it is time to take a seat and enjoy the company of everyone else – basically, make yourself a good cup of Yorkshire Tea and take a seat, you’ve earned this.
