How to *PROPERLY* prepare for hosting
Listen, while the world insists on everything becoming more relaxed and informal, no one, I believe, is more drawn to feeling well tended to when at someone’s home. The secret to that is in my opinion, for the hosting to match the formality of the event, so for it not to be lax for something more somewhat solemn, or too uptight when the occasion calls for something like an outside barbecue.
Here’s 5 tips on faux-pas when hosting:
1.Be prepared
There is nothing more uncomfortable for a guest than asking for something that is missing when eating or drinking. Napkins, spoons and limes, are just a few of the items that tend to be forgotten, so be sure to make a list of all the things that you might be using (even if you’re not a smoker, have some ash trays lined up) when having people over.
2.Kindly ask if any of your guests have a food allergy
There seems to be an epidemic of celiac disease, so be sure to have the necessary adjustments- you don’t want to prepare a pasta party when half of that same party has an aversion to gluten. The same goes to shellfish and dairy.
3.Prepare a variety of options
Be sure to have an assortment of a few different dishes. I have to say that in that respect, having a Lebanese mother-in-law has made me even more attentive on this subject. I’m not suggesting you go for a 10 course meal (if you’re not into that), but while going the extra mile might seem a bit of an exaggeration, going to someone else’s home and not liking the one dish that was prepared is frustrating, so do think about your guests being fully satisfied. And on that same note, be absolutely sure that there is more than enough to go around. The same goes for snacks, desserts and drinks, and have a couple of different options.
4.Free up your entire schedule for your event
I cannot state this enough, when you’re having people over, YOU’RE HAVING PEOPLE OVER. It has happened to me that I’ve been invited from x hour to x hour. For me, to be scheduled in a time slot is like being summoned for a chore, so in my playbook that is a no-go. For your guests to be comfortable, and have a good time, they have to be made to feel at ease, so if you have something else to do, do it before your guests arrive or at a later date. We all have that occasional uncomfortable party guest that doesn’t get the memo on when to leave, but if that is the case, it’s better to not invite him/her, or to just avoid having them over frequently.
5.Dress for the occasion
Hosting isn’t a space for you to get fully glammed up if the occasion does not lend itself to it, but having people over with your hair wet from the shower in my opinion, fully translates with you being unprepared and not caring who you invite. Your home is a reflection of you, so instead why not take advantage of it? Be original, have fun and take your home treasures out to set the table, and why not set a theme even for yourself? A lot of people tend to save things for special occasions, but I always think that inviting people over is as special as it gets. So, whether you’re parading in a feather trimmed ensemble like our Esti dress or going for a laid-back look with a t-shirt and our Paola skirt, try to hit the right notes of polish and sophistication but always have fun.
