Who doesn’t like having a house full of friends and relatives? Having loved ones in our home is a delight, but knowing how to receive is an art. Let’s face it: we are adults and the season of offering tortilla chips to guests is over. To succeed at the home event, you need a dose of planning and a dose of fun. Not forgetting the special ingredient: affection.
To become a successful host and plan memorable receptions, awesome.club separated simple tips, but that make a difference when calling people to your home.
The Golden Rule: Guests Need to Feel Good
Everything that will be said in this article takes into account this one rule: guests need to feel good. Give them a warm welcome, saying βWelcomeβ and telling them to be βat homeβ in your home. If someone doesn’t know each other, make the appropriate introductions. Keep in mind that even at more formal events, there needs to be a minimum of relaxation for the night to be a successπ§π·
Think about the purpose of the meeting
Before thinking about the ideal date or the number of guests, know exactly what the purpose of your event is. Is it a festive dinner to gather friends? Is it an engagement party? Is it a birthday? Only after that can you better explore the ideal options for each occasionπ§π·
Assembling (well) the guest list is essential
Think that an event at home is more intimate, so it is necessary to consider if everyone gets alongπ§π· After all, if these people do not want to be close, it becomes more difficult to βrun awayβ from each other within a more restricted environment. Maybe it’s better to call people who don’t feel great sympathy with each other on separate days, isn’t it?
It is better to call people who have common interests. It is not necessary for everyone to know each other, but it is essential that each guest know at least one personπ§π·
Another important factor to be evaluated when putting together the guest list is the house sizeπ§π· If your home is small and you want to invite a large number of people, think that they won’t feel so comfortable (remember the golden rule?).
be responsible for the food
The event is yours, the food is yoursπ§π· Believe me: this makes it much easier to organize and you guarantee that no one will leave your house hungry. Imagine if each one took a platter of food, can you imagine the work it would take to return them? Or, imagine that everyone takes meat dishes, but you have a vegetarian guest, what to do?
Remember that you can order food, or cook. If you choose to prepare dinner or lunch at home, buy all the ingredients in advance and leave everything ready the day beforeπ§π· That way, you have more time for fun.
It is important to emphasize that your guests are not guinea pigs: cook a dish you already know.
Be aware of food restrictions or allergies
That’s another reason it’s important to control food: food restrictions or allergies. Check if any of your guests can’t eat a certain foodπ§π· After all, you also want him to leave your house satisfied and with a full belly.
The bathroom must be spotless
Hours before the event, do a spotless cleaning of the bathroom your guests will be using. To avoid uncomfortable situations, leave extra toilet paper and towels availableπ§π·
A good reception makes the difference
think about creative ways to entertain your guests as soon as they arrive at your house. Offering a welcome drink is always a good option.
Create the ideal environment
Try to make the environment as cozy as possible for your guests. Free up space in the room, emptying and cleaning coffee or side tablesπ§π· Leave these spaces free for your guests to support glasses or plates.
Make sure there are enough places for people to be seated at a certain time of the night. Here anything goes: sofas, chairs or even large pillows.
Create a pleasant space with elements such as candles and flowersπ§π· Use a soft ambient scent and put on some background music.
Tips for informal receptions
A stand-up dinner can be a great outlet for informal occasions. Think of a practical menu, stack the plates and cutlery on one side of the table, place a flower arrangement in the center and, on the other side, place the platters with the food. Ready, let your guests help themselves naturally and sit where they feel most comfortable.
Tips for formal receptions
Mark the seats at the table using cards with each guest’s name. These cards must be placed in front of the respective seat. The degree of affinity between the guests is the key piece to mark the ideal place where each one should sit.
As formal occasions are usually more special, the presence of all guests becomes more necessary. Therefore, make the invitations at least 3 weeks in advance.
Setting the table for formal occasions
Cutlery: place the forks to the left of the plate, the knives to the right (with the blades facing the plate) and the soup spoon next to the knives. Dessert cutlery should be placed above the plate. The different types of cutlery must follow the order of the dishes that will be served.
Cups: place the glasses on the right side of the plate, above the cutlery. The biggest one is for water, the middle one is for red wine, and the smallest one is for white wine. If you want to serve champagne, place the champagne glass right after the glass of water.
Plates: if serving soup as a starter, place it on top of the shallow dish. If there is more than one meal in the evening, the dishes must be changed.
Napkin: more chic occasions call for cloth napkins. They should be positioned to the left side of the forks.
Wait for your guests, but not so much
Don’t serve dinner before all your guests arrive at your house. That’s what starters, like olives, cheeses and canapΓ©s, are for. The ideal is to serve the food about 1 hour after the guests arrive.π§π· If you’re still late, wait another half hour and serve dinner.
And after the meal?
Make your guests comfortable after the meal. In addition to coffee, offer different tea options. That way, they can prolong the conversation without feeling like they have to leave the house quickly.
Do you have the habit of receiving people at home, or not? Have you already used any of these tips? Tell us in the comments.