The HOST Essentials Gathering Guide
When it comes to hosting, we often get asked - where to begin?
There are a few essentials to remember for a meaningful, intimate, and stress-free gathering. In this Gathering Guide, we break down:
The Why - It’s essential to know your gathering’s purpose before you begin.
The Who - It’s the guests who make the gathering!
The What - Everything you need to eliminate that last-minute hosting madness.
The Why behind your Gathering
It’s important to realize that planning your gathering begins well in advance of your guests’ arrival. As the host, you have the power to decide the who, the what, the when, the how, and most importantly, ‘the why’ behind your gathering.
Knowing your ‘why’ will dictate how you plan your gathering. Catching up with old friends requires a few bottles of wine and a good playlist, while your friend’s 30th may be more involved, requiring decorations, cocktails, and fun activities that bring the group together.
For more on ‘the why’ behind gatherings, we recommend Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering. The bottom line - ensure your gathering has a purpose, and stick to it!
The Who (aka The Guest List)
Who you invite is crucial to making your gathering memorable and intimate. For example, if ‘the why’ behind your gathering is to catch-up with old friends - don’t invite any new ones! If it’s to meet new people and network, consider asking each guest to bring a friend that others in the group don’t know.
The Invite
When it comes to small to mid-sized gatherings - a simple text or email will do the trick. The key here is to make sure the invite covers the basics and gives your guests sufficient notice - we recommend at least 2 weeks in advance, but you know your friends best. The Invite should cover:
The Purpose
Date & time
Location (address/apt #/how to get in)
Who’s invited (optional) - this can be helpful for smaller gatherings so guests don’t inadvertently tell someone who’s not invited
What to bring/how to prepare - For example, if hosting a potluck, make sure to tell your guests what food you’d like them to bring or make.
The What (Buying Basics)
Now that you know your ‘Why’ and you know your ‘Who,’ it’s time for ‘The What.’ Oftentimes, it can be overwhelming - figuring out how much to order, where to buy from, and what brands are best. Luckily, we created a complete checklist of gathering supplies for a seamless and stylish soirée.
Psst…Items with an asterisk are provided in the HOST Essentials Everyday Entertaining Kit!
THE FOOD
Light bites & appetizers is the way to go for creating an environment conducive to vibrant conversation. Let your guests know that ‘heavy d'oeuvres’ or ‘light snacks’ will be provided, rather than a full dinner. We recommend choosing 3-4 options from the below list based on the preferences of you and your guests.
*Artisan Crackers - We love Rustic Bakery’s Sourdough bites and Artisan Crisps. For gluten free options, we recommend Mary’s or anything almond flour based such as Simple Mills.
Selection of Cheeses - Variety is key here, but stick with the basics: A soft cheese (we recommend brie), a hard cheese (we recommend manchego), and a semi-firm cheese (we recommend aged gouda).
*Savory nuts & nibbles - We recommend providing a few options for guests with allergies and/or dietary restrictions. Our favorites are: Gather Nuts, Love Corn, North Fork Potato Chips, and Bjorn Popcorn to elevate your snack game.
*Olives - We are partial to Castelvetrano and think you should be too. If you’re not a fan, we guarantee you’ll have a few guests who are.
Spreads & Pita Chips - Anything Esti, we will buy. Some of our favorites and crowd-pleasers include hummus, baba ghanoush and tzatziki. And always Stacy’s for the chips.
Crudité - A fancy name for raw vegetables, paired with the spreads mentioned above.
*Dried Fruit - Dried Apricots have become a snack that always goes at any gathering we host.
Fresh Fruit - Grapes or strawberries elevate any cheeseboard and offer a healthier option for guests.
The Drinks & Accouterments
We recommend one signature cocktail and a modest selection of wine, beer, and spiked seltzers. Guests typically bring alcohol, so this is an area where you don’t need to overbuy! Have a drink ready for your guests when they arrive, and then a self-serve station will save you stress, and allow your guests a place to mingle.
Signature Cocktail
*Drink Mixer(s) - We recommend SAYSO. These teabag cocktails or mocktails are a breeze and our pick.
Hard Liquor(s) - Choose based on your signature cocktail. No need to buy additional spirits unless you are serving a drink that requires it.
Citrus Garnishes (lemons/limes/oranges) - Choose based on your signature cocktail (i.e. limes for margaritas, oranges for old fashioneds). Lemons are always great to have on hand (and sliced) for guests who don’t drink alcohol.
Ice - We always forget this one!
Selection of Drinks
Wine - We recommend having red, white, and in the summer, rosé, on hand. These days, Sauvignon Blanc is a popular year-round white. As far as reds, Pinot Noirs generally please any palette and are drinkable year-round. Another blog post on this, coming soon!
Beer - This will depend on your guests preferences and the gathering type. Sunday Football will mean Bud Light and Coronas, while a Saturday night gathering should include a selection of Pale Ales and IPAs. In terms of Craft beers, we love to stay local and are partial to Threes Brewing, Montauk, and Talea.
Spiked Seltzers - This will depend on you and your guest’s preferences, but has become a popular drink of choice. Our pick is High Noon or Topo Chico Hard Seltzer.
*Non-alcoholic options - SAYSO, Betty Buzz and Tost are our favorites, however, brands are popping up by the day. We’ll dive deeper into this in a future post!
Seltzer/Filtered water - Fever Tree offers a great selection of canned and bottled sparkling water for whatever drink you’re serving. Pair with lemon or lime garnishes.
Elevated Serveware
Oftentimes, hosts don’t have a cohesive set of any one thing or, they spend hours hand-washing loads of dishes - this is where HOST comes in! We provide elevated & festive serveware essentials that will wow your guests.
*Sustainable Party Cups - We are obsessed with Tossware’s recyclable, non-breakable POP glasses. Colors for every season!
*Appetizer plates - No one likes holding a giant dinner plate at the party. Sophistiplate’s eco-friendly partyware is our pick.
Cocktail Napkins - Seasonal, festive, & fun. We love PPD and Caspari.
*Coasters - We never seem to have enough of these! And we think you (and your guests) will love our unique designs - exclusive in HOST Essentials kits.
*Guest Hand Towels & Soap - Wow your guests with these elevated and aspirational touches. We’re partial to Michel Design Works soap in every season.
*Scent & Ambience - We love Element Brooklyn refillable votive candles. In Full Bloom is our pick!
*Toothpicks - If finger food requires, have these at the ready.
With this guide in hand, you are officially host-ready! You’ll not only impress your guests and reduce your own stress, but create meaningful moments of joy that will make you eager to host your next gathering, and may inspire your guests to try hosting themselves!
Cheers & Happy Hosting! 🍸
