A few weeks back, I had planned to do a fun “end-of-summer” picnic with my friend Kendra. Okay back up. Kendra is my husband’s cousin, so she is like my cousin-in-law. We just refer to each other as cousins. We are close like that. Any who, on the day of the picnic it ended up pouring and we decided to bring our gathering in, invite some more family, and have a cozy, Fall dinner party super last-minute.
I’ve always loved hosting. I love planning dinner parties, setting the mood, doing the shopping, buying the flowers—the whole thing. I also love going to bed tired with the sound of the dishwasher, the smell of burnt out candles, and the fridge full of leftovers. Over the years, I’ve had plenty of last-minute dinners where we’ve had to throw something together and these simple things have always helped me to stay calm and host on.
- Before anything can be planned you first need to set the menu. First, think about any allergies that your guests might have. Will this be a gluten-free evening? Then, think about what seasonal foods you would like to use. Once those are set, ask yourself, “Do I have a protein, carb and vegetable?” Tada! Your dinner menu is set!
- Make a list of the things you need from the store. Besides the food, you will also need to think about flowers, and if you have enough trash bags. I cannot tell you how many times I go to the store and forget trash bags or dish soap. Make a list.
- Time it out. How long will it take you to make your menu? When will your guests arrive? Then, plan backwards. I like to have the majority of the cooking done by the time they step foot in the door. That way, I can pay as much attention as possible to my guests when they show up. That’s the point of it all!
- Before you start cooking, make sure the house is in order and light scented candles. Leave the scented candles to the living room and bathrooms. Never on the dinner table. Make sure the guest bathroom has clean hand towels and soap, and that there will be enough seating in the living room. Also, this is a good time to hide all the mini candy wrappers that are around your house. Just me?
- Set the table according to the menu. Think about what utensils and plates your guests will need. We wanted to do something a little fancier and a little girly, but even if it’s just a plate, cup, napkin, and fork, then it’s crossed off your list and you can focus on the food. Kendra set the table for our meal and she did such a wonderful job. Seriously, how Fall is that table?
- Be present. A happy host makes a happy party. The main part of the evening isn’t about you, it’s not even about your food or how clean the house looks or how lovely the smelly candles are. It’s all about cultivating a moment where your guest can come in and relax. A time when they feel no pressure to clean up or try and help you because you look flustered. It’s all about creating moments where you can be together and laugh about stories, and feel like time just stops for a bit. If you are happy and content, your guests will feel it too.
So, those are my tried and true tips for hosting. If you stick to these guidelines, it’s no longer stressful when something pops up last-minute. Or when your husband’s boss and his wife are coming for dinner. Wait, that got extremely 1950’s real quick. Like I said, it’s not about you. It’s not about what you make. It’s about enjoying yourself and the process. It’s not about perfection—it’s about being together.
Now go checkout Kendra’s new blog SagebrushRoads… it’s absolutely as beautiful as she is.
