Raise your hand if you’ll be hosting something at your house this holiday season! Thanksgiving dinner? Christmas? A family reunion? Or simply a neighborly Sunday gathering? While this is fun and natural for some, hosting can be really overwhelming for others!

I read the book Bread and Wine last year and I simply loved it. It was such a pleasant read, but it also inspired me to host more- and it made me want to host more! But it also helped me realize that hosting really is an art. There’s so much more to it than just inviting people over! Here are some tips you can apply to help you be the most gracious and perfect host you can be! (And no, it has nothing to do with cleaning your baseboards ;) ).

• Have a snack board ready to go. While you don’t want your guests waiting to eat dinner until 10:30 at night, it’s ok to not start eating dinner right away- as long as you have an appetizer or snack board set out. Snack boards allow people to have something to do with their hands and gives a natural place for gathering!
• Save simple tasks that your guests can help with. Again, don’t save everything to the last minute because no one wants to wait 2 hours for dinner, but don’t be afraid to save a few simple tasks- most guests truly want to help and it gives them something to do while waiting for dinner to be served! A few items could be filling water pitchers, sprinkling Parmesan on the salad, chopping the herbs that will serve as the garnish, etc.
• If you have a group that doesn’t all know each other, think through the seating beforehand. Let people know where to sit, or even use place cards! No one likes to awkwardly figure out where to sit, so as the host/hostess, seating everyone (keeping in mind what seating arrangement is most likely to help everyone feel comfortable and keep the conversation flowing) will go a long way!
• Along with this, be sure to introduce guests to each other if they don’t know each other. Your job as a host/hostess is to make sure everyone feels comfortable!
• Know about allergies beforehand! Be sure to ask your guests about allergies. That way you can avoid the awkwardness of making a delicious batch of lemon muddy buddies, only to find out that someone is allergic to lemon (I may or may not be speaking from experience ;) ).
• Save the new recipes for another night. I love trying new recipes, but it’s best to save the experimenting for a night in with your family. When hosting, stick with tried and true recipes that you know and love. It makes things less stressful and makes it much easier to plan things and ensure everyone eats on time!
• Background music is a great way to set the tone and create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. It also helps avoid awkward silences ;). Just be sure that the music truly is background, and not anything too loud!
• Put out salt and pepper. Even if you don’t think you need it, one of your guests will probably want it and it saves them from having to ask or just go without.
• Prepare as much as possible. The more you can do the day before or even a couple days before, the better! Don’t save everything to the last minute. No one wants a stressed-out basket case for a host!
• Sit down! As much as you guests want to eat, they also want to spend time with you! Sit down and eat with your guests, instead of spending the majority of the time on your feet in the kitchen. Plan your meal differently if you need to, but be present!
• Decor and table settings add a lot- but it’s not everything! There’s something extra pleasant about a nice table runner, matching dishes, an elegant centerpiece or a vase of flowers. If you’re able to decorate the table, it goes a long way! But it’s also not everything. Your guests won’t remember the table decor if the food is fabulous and the conversation stimulating.
• Relax! Just, relax :). Again, no one wants a stressed out host and you deserve to have a good time too! Take deep breaths and enjoy the evening!

What are your best tips for being a fabulous host or hostess? Share with us below!