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Entertaining season is JUST around the corner!! We always host Thanksgiving for our families at our house; it's typically a group between 15 and 22 people. We also host a small Christmas Eve gathering as well. Soon after, my two oldest kid's will be having birthday parties, and before we know it, it's Mother's Day and I'm hosting a brunch! Even if you only host one gathering a year, there are some inexpensive items that you may not think to have on hand that will make you look (and feel) like an entertaining guru. Read on to learn about my picks and entertaining tips to make your gig as a host(ess) less stressful and more blissful.
We have 3 of these, and we use them ALL the time! They fold up flat for easy garage storage, and I use them indoors and outdoors. I like to put two of them together to make a nice square table that can comfortably fit 8 diners, and I usually put one in the kitchen or living room as a beverage table as well. If using them outside, I'll set one up near the grill to put the food spread on, and maybe another one or two down in the yard for people to eat at. Buy the version pictured here: BANQUET TABLE
I also found this one that folds in half, if you need to save additional space:
2. Tablecloths
I get the feeling a lot of people find tablecloths "old fashioned," but they are a savior when you are cleaning up after a party, in my opinion. I have a set of these I throw on my banquet and dining room tables when I entertain, then once everyone is gone and the tables are cleared, I simply pull them off the tables, give them a shake outside, and toss them in the wash. My banquet tables are still clean so I can fold them up and put them away, and my dining room table is ready for our next meal. I love that the ones pictured above come in a bunch of color and size options, too! Find them here: TABLECLOTHS
If you're looking for something with a little more personality, I love this option with the darling little tassels as well: LINEN TABLECLOTH WITH TASSELS
Like the banquet tables, these see WAY more use than I thought they would. These are just as comfortable as your average dining room chair, but obviously they fold up for easy storage. We've used them inside and outdoors, and they are far superior to their un-upholstered cousins. Buy this set here (there are some additional color options as well): UPHOLSTERED FOLDING CHAIRS
If you're looking for something a little more upscale and are willing to pay a bit more, I absolutely love the look of these wooden upholstered folding chairs:
I hosted a bridal shower about 12 years ago, and I was dead set on setting up a fabulous mimosa bar with different juices, fruits, and garnishes. I had a picture in my head of serving my juice options in these cute Italian-inspired carafes, and I found them on Amazon! I purchased four of them, and as it turns out it was one of the best entertaining investments I've made. I use these almost every time I entertain for mixers, water at the tables, etc. Cute and functional! Buy them here: ITALIAN INSPIRED GLASS CARAFE
If you're looking to pick up a set for a little less money, this set of four carafes comes with lids and hanging signs to write what's inside, which is a nice bonus:
Nothing screams "party foul" louder than the sound of a glass hitting the floor at a party. The room hushes, the guest who dropped the glass is embarrassed, and the host is scrambling to clean up the mess before someone hurts themselves. I'm all for busting out the beautiful Reidels when I'm just having a few friends over, but if I'm hosting a larger gathering, I'm going to use these lovely shatterproof wine glasses by Vivocci. The weight and feel are pretty decent considering they're not made of glass, and you can run them through the dishwasher, making party clean-up that much easier. Find them here: SHATTERPROOF WINE GLASSES
If you're setting up a simple cocktail bar, you might also want to look at these shatterproof rocks glasses by Vivocci (although let's be real, no matter how many people are in our house, the Pappy is always poured into crystal...): SHATTERPROOF ROCKS GLASS
And of course, if you're toasting the New Year you could also add these Vivocci's stemless flutes to your collection: SHATTERPROOF CHAMPAGNE FLUTES
If it's gotta be real glass...I hear ya :) Stemless glasses are less likely to get knocked over at a party, so check out this set of stemless wine glasses that are real glass, fairly inexpensive, and dishwasher safe: REAL GLASS STEMLESS WINE GLASSES
These are a STEAL: REAL GLASS STEMLESS CHAMPAGNE FLUTES
Better check out some whiskey glasses too ;) I love these Gatsby-inspired ones:
Or how about this set of stemless martini glasses?! So cute!!
One of my fav gifts to give (and that I've received), have to be these awesome glass markers. Who doesn't want to pick a color, write their name on their glass, and maybe draw a little smiley face next to it :) Your guests get to be creative and not lose their drink, and all you have to do is pop your glasses in the dishwasher at the end of the party and the names will be erased. You can also use these to label dates on leftovers in the fridge, or label the side of a serving dish if need be. Use them as a party game/icebreaker; ask guests to write their name, and answer a question such as where would they go on their dream vacation on their glass. Boom, you have an easy conversation starter for guests who don't know each other! Snag a set here:
Here is a similar set that is tiny bit less expensive: WINE GLASS MARKERS
7. Beverage Tub
Much more chic than a cooler and more convenient than sending your guests to the fridge, a beverage tub ensures that your drink options are on display and ready to crack open. I love the hammered look of this stainless steel option, but there are other lovely options from this brand as well. Find them here: STAINLESS STEEL BEVERAGE TUB
If you like more of a farmhouse-style look, check out this cute galvanized tub: GALVANIZED BEVERAGE TUB
Or, if you're looking for something a little less expensive but still classy, check out this clear acrylic tub: ACRYLIC BEVERAGE TUB
8. Ice Bucket
If you're serving cocktails, don't forget the ice! I love that this ice bucket is insulated and has a convenient spot to keep the ice scoop, ensuring that the bucket stays closed when not in use and the ice stays cold. This one is big enough to be used as a wine chiller, as well! Get your own here: INSULATED ICE BUCKET WITH SCOOP
Here is another version by OXO, this one includes an ice tongs as well as a little garnish tray for your lemons and limes: OXO ICE BUCKET WITH GARNISH TRAY
I also absolutely love the modern look of these ice buckets by S'well:
Charcuterie boards have really been all the rage the past few years, and for good reason! Who doesn't love a choose-your-own-adventure appetizer spread?! Many chefs have turned these beautiful starter spreads into an art form, but if you're looking for a board that does some of the artwork for you, look no further than the beautiful set pictured above. It comes with everything you need to serve up a gorgeous charcuterie board, at a steal of a price! Get yours here: CHARCUTERIE BOARD
If a blank canvas is more your style, check out this beautiful Acacia wood cutting board that can double as a charcuterie board: ACACIA WOOD CUTTING/CHARCUTERIE BOARD
10. Cheese Markers
A great addition to your charcuterie board will be these adorable little chalkboard markers. Not only great for letting your guests know what cheeses you've curated for them, I also like to write "spicy," "sweet," or other descriptors on these and stick them into bowls of sauces (they can usually rest up against the side of the sauce container if it's not a very thick one). They're reusable, so when your party is done simply wash off the writing and store. You can buy this set here: CHALKBOARD CHEESE MARKERS
Or, if you're looking for a set and you're not too keen on writing with chalk, check out this sweet little white ceramic set: CERAMIC CHEESE MARKERS
11. Assorted tongs
I love options. So if I'm serving a taco bar, there are going to be MANY topping options...which means I better have a way to serve them all :) I love this set for it's versatility! You can find it here (it also comes in gold!): 4 PIECE TONG SET
I also love this cute set that look like tiny hands: 8 PIECE HAND TONG SET
Or, if you are a fan of silicone, these would be great: SILICONE SERVING TONGS
12. Silverware Caddy
Keep your utensils organized easy for your guests to grab with a sweet little silverware caddy like this one. Find it here: METAL SILVERWARE CADDY
If farmhouse is more your style, here is a sweet little galvanized metal version with cute twine handles: GALVANIZED SILVERWARE CADDY
I also love the more natural look of this circular, woven version as well:
13. Bread Baskets
Here is another item that I think some people find outdated but I find super useful. I find myself reaching for one of these pretty woven bread baskets to use as a napkin holder, hold hamburger buns, tortillas, or even a spot to corral a selection of sauces or dressing bottles. I like having the option of three different sizes to choose from. Find the set pictured here:
If you like a little more modern feel, check out this funky bread basket:
Most cooks who entertain often will tell you that having a few solid baking dishes that are attractive enough to transport directly from the oven to the table can be a real lifesaver. Not only are you saving time right before you eat by not having to transfer your food into a prettier serving dish, but you're saving time during your clean-up period as well by not having that extra dish to wash. In my opinion, pretty much anything made by Le Creuset will fit the bill, and you have so many beautiful color options. Find the baking dish pictured here:
Le Creuset also has the most darling collection of different colored pumpkin-shaped cocottes (enameled cast iron cooking pots) that I am pretty obsessed with:
View the other gorgeous colors and/or pick up your own here:
Can a party be good without good tunes? I don't really want to find out. Technology is NOT my area of expertise, so I reached out to one of my besties in the industry to get some advice on which Bluetooth speakers you should be looking at! This one from Sonos was at the top of her list, and will be going to the top of mine when we are ready to upgrade. It's got wireless and Bluetooth capabilities, 10 hours of continuous play time, you can link it to other speakers so the music is flowing no matter what room you are in, and it's waterproof. Get yours here: SONOS ROAM BLUETOOTH SPEAKER
A couple more that came highly recommended by my expert in the field are:
Do you have a secret entertaining weapon that's not on my list? I'd love to hear about it in the comments section!
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