Top 12 Holiday Hausting Tips
Holiday hosting is here!
And in our book, that directly translates to “the hosting season is in full swing!”
While you can find us bringing the dinner party back all 365 days of the year, there’s just something about the nostalgia that comes with gatherings during the final few months on the calendar.
People are never more in the mood to celebrate than during the holidays. Whether it’s the final string of lights your neighbor finished up this past Wednesday, the front row parking spot your mom scored at the mall, or your friends finishing up the last Black Friday sales asset at work – our goal is to help make your home the spot to get festive all season long.
Here’s to taking the pressure off, raising a glass of your favorite pomegranate-seed-topped bubbly, and holiday hosting your stockings off.
1. make a simmer pot
Williams-Sonoma has done it for years so you know this is a well-established practice you can place your holiday stock in (literally). Infusing your home with the aromas of citrus, spice & everything nice has never been so simple – fill a large stock pot with water and add your favorite seasonal aromatics such as cinnamon sticks, orange slices & rosemary springs then let simmer the day away while you await for your guests to arrive.
Here are some of our favorite combinations!
2. create themed menus, invites, & placecards
If there’s a time for going above & beyond, it’s during the holidays. But you’ll be happy to know that going that extra mile has never been so easy with our À La Carte kits – digital customizable templates of invites, menus & place cards that effortlessly elevate any gathering. You have a gifting list and simmer pot to make so we’ve taken care of this step for you.
3. PREP WHAT YOU CAN IN ADVANCE
At Hauste, we live and die by the practice of mise en place, which means cutting the veg & assembling what you can ahead of time. This way, when the dinner party commences, the table is set, the cocktails poured, and all that’s left for you to do is greet your guests with your favorite glass of pinot in hand. No second-guessing, no overwhelm, no stress.
4. Thrift your tablescape
Check your local estate sale calendar because a thrifted tablescape aesthetic is a must for the holidays. Not only does it save budget (for the good wines & Ina-approved, garnishing olive oils), but it also creates a found look – which we all know is Architectural Digest’s favorite word. Pop into your neighborhood thrift stores for everything under the hosting sun – unique glassware, serveware, and decor items that will pepper your collection of Crate & Barrel essentials with eclectic pieces of interest.
5. Batch themed cocktails
Both batching & theming your cocktail is not only in the best interest of the host but of the guests as well. First, it creates a cohesive experience from A to Z. Second, it provides your guests the option of a handcrafted cocktail without forcing it upon them. Third, it frees you up as bartender to enjoy a cocktail yourself while tending to the final finishing touches on the meal.
6. Respect your limits
If gathering people together is your thing but cooking fails to light your fire, don’t stress! An elevated holiday potluck is absolutely an option – invite your guests to prepare their can’t-holiday-without dish of their own. Be sure to confirm the dishes ahead of time so you can add it to the menu with their name.
7. Plan your menu in advance
Planning your menu in advance is an essential when it comes to a seamless hosting experience. Set aside time to make selections that work cohesively together from appetizer to desert. Try to create a throughline through each dish whether it be with preparation (such as grilling) or inspiration (such as culture, season or theme). Make a list of all ingredients and craft a timeline for grocery shopping, prep, and day-of workflow.
8. Prepare an appetizer
A delicious pre-meal bite & bev is no hosting coincidence – offering an appetizer allows the host time to prepare the rest of the meal while the guests enjoy themselves on own. Something bite-size and snackable is always the go-to format so the mingling comes easy and the energy stays high from arrival through departure.
9. Purge your fridge
While guests typically won’t rummage through your fridge (at least the polite ones won’t), an overfilled, messy icebox can serve as a big pain point during a dinner party. In the weeks leading up to your festivities, try your best to work through the items you have in there. Then, right before you grocery shop, give your fridge a deep clean by disinfecting your shelves, throwing away expired foods (we all have them), and creating space for fresh ingredients to take their space.
10. Set your table the day before
Our mom’s tried-and-true hosting hack. The Swedish Martha Stewart (our mom’s alias), has always planned her tablescape the week before a dinner party and physically set the table days prior. With serveware and post-it notes, she goes to work perfectly placing a rightful home for each dish so serving goes off without a hitch.
11. Purchase to-go containers for your guests
This is the Hauste Hint of all Hauste Hints. Providing your guests with the option of taking a to-go meal for the following day is a veteran move that shows your expertise. Not only does it wow the party, but it also provides you with less leftovers and less clutter–a win-win situation. These are our go-to to-go containers we use time after time:
12. Use a Hauste It
If your head is spinning & you’re secretly hoping someone else will offer to host the holiday by tip #12, we don’t blame you. It’s for this reason that we’ve created our Hauste Its – expertly crafted dinner party guides that lessen the stress so you can focus on entertaining your guests. Shop Hauste’s Holiday Haustegiving Hauste It that provides a step-by-step, hour-by-hour manual on curating a catalog-worthy gathering your guests will crave long after the night ends. From menu to tablescape to music, we’ve identified all the holiday hosting essentials that give you room to host your heart out every weekend from now until New Years and beyond!
