Are you someone who likes to host? As a sweeping statement, there are normally people who like to host in a friendship group, and people who don’t – but to keep things fair, hosting is always switched, this way not one person has to bear the responsibility each time.

Whether you are someone who likes to host or not, there are always things you can do differently each time to make the evening different and more enjoyable. You could try a new recipe which you have never tried before, you could impress your guests with a new cocktail, and you could think about new games which you can play.

To help give you some inspiration, we have put together a guide on evening hosting. As we mentioned, there is always something you could do differently from the last time, so we hope to inspire you. Keep on reading to learn more.

Try a new recipe

As a good starting point, trying a new recipe is always fun and a good way to test your cooking skills. You could try a new lobster recipe (you may need to look into how to crack a lobster open, if you haven’t done it before), or you could try a new pasta recipe. Whatever you decide to do, our advice would be to try making it a few times before making it for your guests. This way, you reduce the stress of having to perfect something you have never tried doing before, but with people around watching you.

Serve your guests cocktails

Cocktails are a great way to impress your guests, as well as doing something different. A lot of people tend to serve wine, beer and prosecco when they host, as this is easier to do. But as something different, you could try to impress your guests by serving a gin cocktail, with different gin mixers. If you know your guests don’t enjoy gin, you could try some rum-based cocktails or some vodka cocktails. Better yet, why not prepare a few different cocktails? This way, they can have a choice when they arrive.

Party games

An evening isn’t complete without having a few games to play. As the days approach your evening, start to plan out some games which you can play together. Games are a great way to break the ice as well as entertain, instead of having to chat the whole time. You could play card games, get a karaoke machine out, or if you have a games console, you could download a few quiz games which everyone can get involved with. Try to have a selection of games; this way, you can judge the atmosphere and steer people a certain way, depending on how the evening is going.

Put together a playlist

It’s always useful to have a playlist sorted on your Spotify that you can play throughout the evening. The music should be varied throughout the night, as at different points you will want different types of music playing. For example, you may want calm music playing as guests arrive and then jazz music whilst you eat. Then you could play some upbeat music near the end of dinner to lift the mood and potentially encourage guests to get up and dance with each other. If you are well organised and have the time, you could reach out to everyone beforehand to request a song which they can add. By having songs that your guests have picked, this will definitely get them dancing. If you haven’t got Spotify, an Apple Music account is a good alternative or an Amazon Music account.

You could have a dress code

Dress codes are hit and miss and very much depend on the people you are inviting. If your friendship group enjoys getting dressed up, then it’s something everyone will love. If they find it an effort, then it’s something to stay away from. Personally, we love having a dress code as this gives everyone an excuse to get dressed up and wear something they don’t normally wear. For something smart, have a black tie evening, for something funny, go for a fancy dress evening – it’s down to you and your friends’ preferences. If you do go down the route of having a dress code, you could try and theme the evening around it. You could prepare certain drinks that relate to the dress code, as well as have games which relate to it too – Halloween, you can do spooky cocktails, fireworks night, you could do black tie. If you are hosting in the summer months, you could have a themed summer BBQ in your garden, which is a lot of fun.

Be Ready for the Unexpected

Hosting an evening is all about the vibe, but sometimes the unexpected happens, a power flicker, a glitch with the lighting, or a sudden appliance hiccup. That’s where it pays to be prepared. Just like you’d check the playlist and the cocktails ahead of time, you might also want to make sure your home’s key systems are in good shape. If you’ve got a solar setup, ensuring your system doesn’t let you down can save the evening. A broken unit could leave you fumbling for candles or chasing wires while the guests settle in. That’s why professional help, for things like solar inverter repair, isn’t just for the big equipment faults: it’s about peace of mind, making sure that from the first welcome drink to the last toast, nothing interrupts your flow. Being proactive means fewer surprises, and more time to actually enjoy your own party.

Don’t forget to enjoy yourself

The best parties are when everyone enjoys themselves, not just the guests. As a host, if you are enjoying yourself and getting involved with everything, it will naturally encourage your guests to have a better time. The last thing they want is to see you stressing in the kitchen, cooking. Instead, they want you to eat and drink with them, laughing and telling stories. Remember, everyone is your friend, meaning you don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself to cook the perfect meal.

Remember, having guests come round is meant to be fun and a way you can all socialise together. Ensure you are having a good time, whilst also making sure they have a good time. Try not to overcomplicate the night; the simpler things are, the less stress you will put on yourself. For example, if you can, prepare as much of the food the day before; this way, on the day you only need to cook it, instead of preparing it as well.

What changes are you going to be making for your dinner party and why? Which of the suggestions above will you be trying in the future? Is there anything missing in our guide to evening hosting that you think we should be adding? Let us know in the comment box below, we look forward to hearing from you.

Photo by Lazarus Ziridis: https://www.pexels.com/photo/elegant-outdoor-dining-setup-with-sunflowers-32641099/