For many, the holiday season means entertaining at home, be it formal, casual or impromptu visits with family and friends. These entertaining tips from AFTER EIGHT can help you to be prepared and ensure your holiday get-togethers inspire choruses of “Joy to the World”:
The Invitation
When arranging a sit-down dinner, give your guests plenty of notice, and request they RSVP by a set date. Politely follow up with the late-responders. Knowing your numbers in advance means no last minute scramble to rearrange seating, and more peace of mind for the party planner.
Be Prepared
Plan for the unexpected. Assemble a small basket of guest supplies in the washroom. Include items such as safety pins, bandages, hair spray and a stain remover pen for messy mishaps. Is a guest unexpectedly late? Don’t ruin the roast – continue your party as planned, and when the MIA friend appears, graciously welcome him or her to the table.
Set-up
Consider the kids – is there a child-proof area for little ones, or snacks and games to keep them occupied? Could you hire a babysitter, or arrange for a teenaged relative to help?
When your crowd is large and your home is small, consider setting up café tables to maximize space. If you prefer buffet-style meals, then make it easy on your guests by wrapping cutlery in napkins for easy portability, and ensuring there are enough chairs to accommodate everyone.
Set up a coffee and dessert station where guests can help themselves. Perhaps put out a capsule system coffee maker like NESCAFÉ DOLCE GUSTO and let guests choose their favourite coffee variety. Adorn the table with new individually wrapped AFTER EIGHT chocolate leaves, the perfect complement for coffee or tea, to cap off the evening.
The Unexpected
Not all holiday visits are planned. What do you do when the doorbell rings and you have an impromptu party at hand? A few tricks can make these unexpected visits a pleasure.
First, throughout the holidays, keep some simple snack foods on hand, such as nuts, pretzels and chocolates. And remember to restock if you use this emergency stash. Keep supplies of coffee and tea topped up, and if serving alcohol, make wine go further by offering spritzers. For instant cheer, have your holiday music at-the-ready.
Anticipating needs and preparing in advance of this busy social season means less stress and more opportunity for you to enjoy friends and family.
