Top Five Entertaining Tips

I love entertaining. Since moving into my new space, having friends over to enjoy good food and good times has truly brought me joy. While entertaining can be fun, it can also be the source of a lot of [unnecessary] stress. Don’t you worry though, I have a few tips that can help make your next soiree both easy and enjoyable. 

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Invite the amount of people you (and your space) can handle…

Listen, when I moved into my new place everyone was asking when I was going to have a housewarming party, and I still have never had a singular, formal housewarming event, mainly because I don’t want a large amount of people in my NYC apartment at once lol. What I did decide to do was invite small groups of friends (usually no more than eight) over at a time for various forms of entertainment (dinner parties, game nights, seafood boils, etc.). “Warming” my place this way has allowed me to have many of my friends over to enjoy my space, but in intimate (and manageable) groups.

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Pick a color and stick to it…

I live in NYC and simply do not have the room for a whole bunch of extra “stuff.” As such, what I have found to be a simple, yet chic way to entertain is by having one or two sets of entertaining wear that you can use in multiple ways. Most of my entertaining dishes are white and this is on purpose. Not only do white dishes, platters, etc. go with everything, but it is also easy to add or replace pieces when needed. I also have the same approach to flowers. I tend to buy flowers (one or multiple types) in the same color (usually white) which I find to be a more stylish, yet easy take on floral design. 

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Cook dishes which are easy for self-service…

I like to keep most of my entertaining on the informal end of the spectrum. While I have hosted seated dinner parties, which are a little more complicated to execute, I find people generally have more fun when events are relaxed. My formula for these situations is pretty simple – one or two appetizers and one main dish. The appetizer can range from anything like a charcuterie board to something a little heavier. As for the main dish, I like to create a large amount of one thing that is easy for people to serve themselves, such as a pasta/orzo/rice dish or something like a large (stove top) seafood boil.

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Style up the space…

Depending on your home (and how you typically have it decorated), always be sure to style up your space when entertaining. This could be as simple as arranging fresh flowers throughout the house or going all out with themed decorations for a birthday or holiday celebration. Even if small, your guests will always appreciate when you add a few extra touches that make the event feel more special. 

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Prep in advance…

To keep your nerves under control, be sure to prep as much for your event in advance as possible. Decorating the space prior to the event is obvious, but especially when it comes to the food, prep as much of the meal as you can before guests arrive. There is nothing worse than being stuck in the kitchen cooking instead of enjoying time with your family and friends.

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