I love to invite friends to my home and am confident in my hosting skills, but there’s always something to learn from people, like event planners and hospitality experts, who entertain for a living. What hacks do they swear by to make gatherings feel a bit more special and stress-free?
I decided to tap some of the best frequent entertainers I know to find out. Below, these pros share 10 tried-and-true tips to elevate any party and ensure that both you and your guests feel comfortable and full of cheer all night long.
1. Always Serve a Welcome Drink
Make guests feel right at home from the moment they set foot in your living room by offering them a beverage. “I love the ritual of welcoming someone with a drink as soon as they arrive,” says Gareth Banner, the group managing director at The Ned. “Whether it’s a perfectly made martini, a glass of champagne, or a thoughtful mocktail, it immediately sets the tone for the evening.”
It’s also fine to choose just one signature option to hand to everyone as they arrive. “It doesn’t have to be their drink of choice, since they can always swap it as the evening goes on,” says Sarah Wetenhall, the owner & CEO of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and The Hedges Inn in East Hampton. “It’s just a simple way to help everyone settle in and start enjoying themselves right away.”
2. Elevate the Everyday
I’ve long been a proponent of serving a mix of both homemade and store-bought delicacies at my own gatherings—the trick is to really master your presentation, and guests won’t be able to tell the difference.
Tracy Taylor Ward, an event planner and the founder of Tracy Taylor Ward Design, agrees. “The easiest way to elevate dessert is to serve something familiar in an unexpected way,” she says. “Store-bought ice cream feels completely different in vintage coupes with a few beautiful toppings, and bakery cookies look wonderful stacked on a cake stand.”
3. Assigning Seats Is a Winning Move
Taking the time to create a seating chart for at-home gatherings can completely change the party vibes for the better, explains Kelly Jeanmaire, the founder of The Main Event by Kelly, a luxury wedding and event planning company. “I love a place card,” she says, noting that going this route at home isn’t too formal—it’s thoughtful. “Separating couples or placing someone next to a guest they haven’t met yet can completely change the energy of the table and create conversations that might not have happened otherwise.”
Jeanmarie also appreciates the personalized touch a place card offers, and Linda Dower, the founder of Mirbeau Inn & Spa and director of interiors, agrees that thoughtful elements of this nature are a key component of any gathering. “It’s often the smallest, most personal details that make an evening feel truly considered,” she says. “A handwritten place card, a menu featuring a custom illustration, or another unexpected detail immediately communicates that thought and intention went into creating the experience.”
Wetenhall likes the idea of using charger plates as place cards. “You can have a calligrapher write out your guests’ names or, for an even more personal touch, do it yourself at home with oven-safe ceramic markers and bake them to set the design,” she says. “The only catch is choosing chargers you’re willing to part with, since they double as a takeaway gift.”
4. Mixing up the Guest List Is Fun—Activities and Games Help
In addition to seating people together who you suspect will hit it off instantly, don’t be shy about hosting a range of friends all at once in your space. “Mix up the guest list so everyone meets someone new,” suggests Keith Meacham, the founder of Reed Smythe & Co. “The greatest compliment, I think, is when new friendships (or better yet, new romances) are struck up at a party I'm hosting.”
Board games serve as an excellent ice breaker at parties and can keep guests occupied as you great individual arrivals, adds Megan Trottier, CEO and founder of Oh My Mahjong. “Set it out before people arrive, add a bowl of snacks and drinks nearby, and you’ve instantly created a place your guests will naturally gravitate toward.”
5. There Is Such a Thing As Too Much Prep Time
While it can be tempting to continue to tweak every element of your space and tablescape until the first guest rings the doorbell, Jeanmaire recommends that hosts give themselves a hard stop 30 minutes before their event is set to kick off. “There is nothing that makes a party feel more effortless than a host who is actually present when you walk through the door—and not in the kitchen, still cooking half of the meal,” she says.
6. Juxtapose Items on Your Tabletop
By no means does your tablescape need to be matchy-matchy, multiple experts say. Dower is a proponent of mixing old and new. “Try pairing heirloom silver or ornate vintage china with sleek, modern glassware,” she suggests. “The contrast makes each piece feel more interesting and gives the table a sense of personality.”
Interior decorator Jonathan Adler expresses similar sentiments. “Your table doesn’t need to look like you bought everything in one fell swoop,” he says. “Use the plates you already own, mix in different glasses, and then add one slightly bonkers element, such as a surreal little object, an unexpected color, or even a fabulous bowl filled with supermarket fruit. That bit of creative tension is what makes a table memorable.”
7. Silver Can Do No Wrong
Anything looks better when displayed on a silver platter, notes Tori Mellott, the creative director of Tuckernuck Home. “Fast-food chicken fingers, grocery-store ice cream sandwiches, potato chips—it doesn’t matter,” she says. “Put practically anything on a silver tray or in silver Paul Revere bowl feels instantly chic”—these types of pieces are best found at vintage or antique stores. Silver plate options work just fine, Mellott adds. “Just remember that certain foods can tarnish or damage silver and silver plate, so quickly check the internet before plating.”
8. Scented Candles Must Be Blown Out Before Dinner
Mellott is a major proponent of curating a sophisticated lighting scheme during a party. “Dim the overhead lights and use plenty of candlelight—a mix of votives, candlesticks, and candelabras makes a room feel instantly festive and inviting,” she says.
That said, she notes that there can indeed be too much of a good thing when fragrance is involved. “Scented candles are wonderful in an entryway or powder room, but keep them far away from the food,” Mellott says. “No one wants a side of ‘Balsam Forest’ with dinner.”
9. You’re Never Too Old for a Party Favor
The best part about childhood birthday parties? Heading home with a goodie bag in tow. Well, it turns out that there’s truly no age limit for handing out favors. “I love giving guests a final little surprise as they leave,” Ward says. By no means do you need to go all out, she explains, noting that simple treats are are A-OK. “A warm cookie wrapped in parchment or even a flower clipped from an arrangement feels personal and extends the hospitality for just a little bit longer.”
10. Most Important of All, Remain Calm
Last but not least, be mindful to keep a positive, carefree attitude when hosting, urges Mellott, “Just like children and dogs, guests can sense fear and panic—and that’s the last energy you want them to pick up on,” she says. “The oven may be on fire, you may have burned every last morsel of food, and you may be on the verge of a full-blown meltdown, but remain calm! A relaxed host makes for relaxed guests.”
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Country Living. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.
