Are you planning to host gatherings this fall? If planning parties gets you a little worked up, like it does for me, take a deep breath, keep in mind people enjoy spending time with you, and check out these entertaining insights from our previous home tours. Here’s the scoop…
HOSTING IN SMALL SPACES:
1. Relocate your furniture. “The secret to throwing large parties is moving the furniture. Before everyone arrives, I tuck everything into the back room. My aim is to make the living/kitchen space feel like a grand dance area.” — LaTonya Yvette
2. Opt for a buffet setup. “I prefer arranging a buffet in the kitchen, where everyone can serve themselves. This way, I avoid feeling like I didn’t have a genuine conversation with anyone by the end of the night!” — Maggie Pouncey
3. Or ditch dinner altogether. “I enjoy having guests over, but only two can sit around my table. So, I invite friends for drinks and snacks, letting them spread out in my place. It’s more about gathering people and having fun than the food itself.” — Christina Bryant
EASY MEALS:
4. Try a new spin on roast chicken. “My dependable, mom-taught recipe is Chicken Marbella. It’s a delightful sweet and savory chicken from the 1980s cookbook The Silver Palate. You marinate the chicken overnight with prunes, bay leaves, parsley, capers, and green olives. It’s visually appealing, and I love serving it alongside rice and a big salad.” — Hopie Stockman Hill
5. And cumin-glazed salmon is simpler than it seems. “When friends visit for dinner, I prepare salmon with a cumin brown sugar glaze, paired with sautéed spinach, golden raisins, and pine nuts, which is always popular. It’s not very complex. I found the core recipe years back and adjusted it to suit me. — Julia Leach
FUN THEMES:
6. Organize a talent showcase. “My friend and I host a yearly concert at my place. We invite folks over, then we play guitar and sing six tunes. Our favored style is murder ballads, like Caleb Meyer by Gillian Welch. We both have a quirky sense of humor, and it’s not meant to be serious, just an excuse to gather.” — Corrie Beth Hogg
7. Arrange a tomato (or apple or pumpkin) fest. “In summer, I’m fond of anything tomato-related. My friends have historically hosted an ‘annual tomato fest’ each August — it’s a dinner party with every dish featuring tomatoes.” — Taylor Swaim
8. Set up a taste experiment. “Currently, India is creating some of the finest gins globally; I bring back four bottles every trip. A fun party trick is bringing them all out and hosting a taste test with friends. My top pick is Pumori — it features a strong cardamom flavor.” — Sana Javeri Kadri
OVERNIGHT GUEST TIPS:
9. Test out the guest room yourself. “I wanted our guest room to be an ideal space, so I tried sleeping there myself. People often use guest rooms for items they don’t want to see frequently, but I turned that around and filled the room with things we truly love.” — Justin Reis
10. Keep the refrigerator stocked. “We ensure the fridge is filled with milk, beer, and champagne since guests frequently stay over, and we want everything to be self-service and efficient. Anything in the fridge is fair game.” — Heather Ross
SETTING A RELAXED VIBE:
11. Practice an open-door policy. “Weekly, we have friends over for dinner. Often, they’ll let themselves in before we arrive home, so when we do, families are already playing and enjoying popsicles outside. It feels incredible.” — Hannah Haehn
12. Stock up on favorite beverages. “I strive to anticipate the drinks guests will want. Within easy reach, my brother-in-law can grab a Pellegrino, because he goes through several each night. My friend Annie favors Coors Light, and even though I never previously purchased them, now I buy them consistently. My husband finds it amusing as I continually stock up on her preferred drink. It’s all about making guests feel appreciated and considered.” — Heather Taylor
13. Engage with every attendee. “Last Christmas, I taught the boys how to socialize, an unforgettable parenting moment that still makes me chuckle. Before our adult friends arrived, I explained to the boys that guests naturally form smaller groups (‘How do you already KNOW that?’ Toby asked, wide-eyed), and initially, the host’s role is to move between groups, chatting briefly with each. The boys eagerly embraced the challenge and spent half an hour moving between clusters. ‘Okay, gotta go!’ Toby remarked to some friends, at one moment. ‘My five minutes are up!’” — Joanna Goddard
How about you? Do you have go-to entertaining tips?
P.S. A versatile menu that caters to nearly everyone, and are you fond of hosting parties or participating as an enthusiastic guest?
(Heather Taylor’s home captured by Nicki Sebastian. LaTonya Yvette’s home captured by Julia Robbs. Emma Straub’s home captured by Alpha Smoot, styled by Oliver Cano. Justin Reis’ home captured by Alpha Smoot, styled by Cecilia Elguero. Hannah Haehn’s home captured by Leela Cyd.)
