5 Ways To Be The Best Host (Ever)

As hosting (in some form or another) has become an integral part of many of our lives, more often than not we find ourselves stuck in the hosting hole. That realisation halfway through the evening that you've spent 60% of the time rushing around, missing half the conversations, and leaving a scene of chaos in the kitchen. There's nothing better than gathering your favourite people together for a dinner party, a garden party, or just an evening (or perhaps a day) of catch-ups, delightful food and drinks, and the odd game of Charades. With this in mind, we've put pen to paper (keyboard to page?) to share how to host in a way that means you, as the host, get to enjoy the evening just as much as your guests.

Choose A Feeling, Not A Theme

This is by no means saying don't host a themed dinner party or brunch, because we know only too well how wonderfully hilarious they can be. But choosing a feeling often goes further than a theme. What do we mean by a feeling? Remember how you felt sitting on the veranda of an Italian restaurant on the Amalfi Coast, or the beautiful vibe of a corner seat in a cosy winter pub, fire roaring. That's what we mean by a feeling, creating a sense of calm, or delight, more than overdecorating. 

Translating that feeling into something real can truly be a lot simpler than it sounds... it usually comes down to whatever it was that made you feel it in the first place. The roaring fire, the candles left to flicker rather than sit unlit, the music playing quietly enough that you could still hear each other, flowers you actually noticed on the table, or even just the topped-up glass in your hand and how good it felt to hold. More often than not it wasn't one big gesture doing all the work, it was two or three small things, chosen properly, sitting together. 

The Effortless Table

The tablescape is one of the 'feelings' we can put into action here, and a perfect example of how putting some real thought into the table ahead of the brunch or evening, can give you as the host, time to thoroughly enjoy the event.

One caveat we've noticed to some of the beautiful tablescapes we ourselves have created, is that they look sensational when guests first arrive, however, by the time food comes, we've got a plate needing to go where the candle is, and Harry's glass has been knocked over 3 times in the table rejig to home the family feast we've spent the day creating. 

So pick your two or three solid concepts for the table, is it going to be the matching glassware, place cards or the flower arrangements? You can keep it as simple as a beautiful linen table sheet, or a runner down the centre. Whichever you choose, make them considered, and sometimes less really can be more (sorry Harry, we'll do better next time). 

Let Guests Help

We know, we can't believe we even uttered the words 'let guests help'... but most guests genuinely do want to help, and ultimately, it gives you time to be with your guests and not feel the overwhelming urge to run around trying to do everything yourself. It is your event as well, after all. 

Now, don't hand out a list of chores each guest needs to complete, that isn't what we're advising, but rather, if a guest says they'll help fill up glasses, or bring the empty plates to the kitchen, or even relight a few blown out candles, let them. This may not be revolutionary, but when it has been instilled in many of us that we are the hosts, therefore a guest doesn't lift a finger, it can end up with the host, how can we say this politely... frazzled? Exhausted? Done for the evening? 

To elevate this further, creating an attractive and engaging “top yourself up” station for guest drinks or nibbles can be a wonderful way to ease your load and increase their engagement.

When Your Guests Are Still Getting Acquainted

We often assume hosting is about inviting friends and family to a gathering to catch up or celebrate an occasion. However, we are seeing more and more people hosting as a way to meet new people, and they're not alone in it. Platforms built entirely around bringing strangers together over dinner have now seated millions of guests worldwide between them. Meeting a partner's friends for the first time, a group of individuals all living in a new city, a social group, there are a number of hosting opportunities that can sometimes be a little nerve-wracking because the guests don't really know each other.

What we'd suggest is creating that initial warm welcome. Handing a drink to guests, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, gives people something to do with their hands and something to talk about before conversation's properly started. Preparing that welcome drink ahead of guests arriving is a sure-fire way to set the tone from the moment they walk in.

Open space, if your house or venue allows for it. Arranged seating or cute little nooks can seem like a good idea, but can often alienate people who don't have a natural group to sit or stand with. Keeping things open and flowing allows for easy movement and lets conversations form naturally.

And lastly, one that ties into our earlier point, let them help. Feeling needed and useful in a new environment can lessen social anxiety for both you and your guests, and it keeps you part of the interactions rather than standing apart from them.

(The Naked Margarita 6 Bottle Case / 42 Serves)

Prepare Smart, Less Tidy Up

By this point, you've chosen your feeling, set a considered table, let guests help, and made strangers feel welcome. The final piece to make sure you avoid the hosting hole altogether is preparation. And before food is considered, having a station for rubbish and used crockery/glassware is a strong starting position to have. A neat corner of a non-focal area amongst the gathering that guests are made aware of reduces the accumulation of discarded glasses and snack debris. 

This one's fairly self-explanatory, and probably something many of us already do. Food prepped the day before or morning of, playlist ready to go, the space cleared and tidy before anyone arrives. Anything you can do ahead of time is time you get back on the day, and that's ultimately what lets you actually be part of your own evening, not just running it. There are platforms and recipes books stuffed full of workload-busting recipes – our favourite search: stress-free but beautiful dinner party recipes. 

It would be remiss of us, at this point, not to mention The Naked Margarita. Created with the host in mind, The Naked Margarita is a luxury, ready-to-serve margarita housed in a bespoke glass bottle. Crafted with our own ultra-premium 100% agave tequila, each bottle offers seven serves and comes with a glass stopper for those moments when glasses are already sufficiently full. 

No preparation required, no shaker needed, no mess to clean up, just you and your guests indulging in a bar-quality margarita, whenever and wherever suits you.

We hope this has been just the advice you were looking for, and we would love to hear about any of your hosting events. A moment to truly bring people together is a beautiful way to connect, and enjoy the delights of good company, food and (of course) drink. 

Secure your bottles for your next hosting event here with 15% off when you join our House List.