Being a good hostess or host is something to which many newlyweds aspire. A good hostess or host longs for dinners, where guests go home smiling and wishing for another invite. A good hostess or host enjoys putting out the finest china or finest paper plates and gathering friends and family. And a good hostess or host wants to enjoy the festivities while still pulling off a stellar get together. Here are some ways to impress your guests as a good hostess or host:
Put out a good spread.
The key to being known as a good hostess is satisfying the hunger and thirst of your guests. Whether you are a top-notch chef or the kind of person who gets take out everyday, you can still provide for your guests. If you’re a chef, whip up whatever you fancy. If not, buy whatever you fancy. There are so many shortcuts available out there – from biscuits in a can to cakes from a box. Of course, there’s also always pure catering, where someone else does the work and you take the credit. Can’t beat that.Create a signature cocktail.
Putting out a nice bottle of wine or your guest’s favorite beer is a good start. But to really impress them, you can create a signature cocktail and have it ready and waiting as people enter the room. You can even give it a fun name, such as Peggy’s Purple Passion or Mickey’s Margaritas. Use pretty glasses and display them nicely on trays. You can even jazz up
the bar with signs describing the drink and colorful cocktail napkins.
Design a lovely tablescape.
The first thing your friends and family will see when visiting is the table or buffet. Be sure to set them up with this in mind. Decide whether you want a formal or casual table and plan accordingly. For a formal table, you’ll use chargers, your best china, and cloth napkins. You might also want to design place cards and designate where your guests should sit. The place card design could match your dishes or the theme of your party or dinner. A casual table might mean using less fancy plates or even using paper (which is a smart idea for buffets for more than 12 people). You might also use more colorful décor. Mixing and matching china patterns is another way to get that wow factor.Create a centerpiece.
The most important part of your tablescape is
the centerpiece. You can think beyond flowers, although they are sometimes appropriate. Using a single kind of bloom – say roses or carnations – in a single color and cut low in a few vases is always an easy fix. But you can also get more elaborate by putting out a cornucopia for Thanksgiving or putting out a full-fledged floral arrangement.
Hand out favors.
Guests always appreciate it when you send them home with something special. It doesn’t have to be anything costly either. You can pick up a little trinket – even at the dollar store – and wrap it nicely and put it near each seat. Or you can make something. If you’re crafty, you can make a trinket yourself, such as an ornament or paper fan. You can also bake cookies or cupcakes and put them in individual containers and wrap them nicely. Again, the packaging can match your theme or dishes.Be gracious.
Help your guests mingle. Ask them periodically – and without hounding them – if they need or want anything else. Be kind to them. Fill in the gaps in conversation. Say thank you if they bring hostess gifts (which you should also be sure to put out if it is something to eat or drink) or if they try to help you in the kitchen or clearing the table. Kindness goes a long way to making a good impression when
entertaining.
