‘Tis the season for hosting! Between Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, our calendars are booked and busy with friendsgivings, company holiday parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and much more. If you volunteered to host this season, the stress of throwing a holiday get-together might be starting to creep in. Luckily, the world’s most famous entertainer is sharing her sage advice. In a Reddit forum, Martha Stewart revealed her top three hosting tips for throwing a successful dinner party—plus the one thing a hostess should never do.
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1. Welcome your guests.
iStockStewart has three simple hosting rules, the first of which is to always “pay attention to your guests.”
One of her favorite ways to acknowledge guests is by serving a personalized drink, whether it’s a nod to her company or the reason behind the gathering (i.e. an anniversary dinner or holiday party).
“I like to come up with a signature cocktail that is fitting for the occasion—tying into the season, the setting, or the menu. The little touches make everyone feel special and that’s the most important part of hosting,” she previously told House Beautiful.
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2. Interact with your guests.
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According to Stewart, the second most important hosting tip is interacting with your guests.
In her House Beautiful interview, Stewart advised readers to envision “your kitchen as another gathering space.” There’s a strong likelihood that at least a few people will gravitate to the kitchen, she said, whether it’s to offer help or keep you company.
For that reason, “Have snacks and drinks on hand, and don’t be shy about showing what a well-equipped chef you are,” she encouraged.
And if people are hanging out in the kitchen, don’t be afraid to put them to work!
“I think if you have people involved — let them help you in the kitchen. That's a good icebreaker, for example,” she once told NPR.
Other ways you can interact with your guests include group activities like playing charades, Pictionary, or board games if there are kids around.
3. Serve good food and wine.
iStockLast but certainly not least: “Feed them fine food and wine,” advises Stewart.
However, the trick is to make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for failure by committing to an over-the-top menu.
“I think most of our mistakes are that we’re trying to do everything at the last minute. It’s better to have stuff served that’s been prepared a little before the guests get there…and make a menu that is doable,” she said during an On Air With Ryan Seacrest appearance.
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And here's the one thing not to do.
ShutterstockThis leads to Stewart's top hosting mistake, which is disorganization.
"Pre-organization really does help a lot to get you in the mood and it also helps you a lot with so you don't leave things out and forget ingredients," she told Shop TODAY.
To stay organized, Stewart makes lists for everything. "I'm a list-maker, a memo-writer, I do all of that. When I'm just ambling around, I'm dictating into my phone, making sure I get everything in order," she said.
As a host, the best way to stay organized is to “plan accordingly” and to “be realistic with circumstances and expectation,” she also noted in her House Beautiful interview.
As long as you’re well organized and are keeping your guests full and happy, you’re doing a great job, according to Stewart’s standards.
