by Vickie Austin
My friend Lesley taught me that being a hostess is both a gift and a talent. Somehow she managed to entertain our cocktail club on a semi-monthly basis in spite of the size of her little condo. She never apologized that we were squeezed together, and if you asked us we would probably say we loved it.
She knew a thing or two about throwing a party that every host and hostess can learn from: she knew how to use space.
Creating the zone
People tend to congregate in the kitchen at parties and holidays, don’t they? That’s often where the action is. The cook may not always appreciate a devoted crowd but somehow, we tend to end up in clumps around the hors d’oeuvres table. That’s the first zone: hors d’oeuvres. A bar cart and a bartender are always a welcome addition so people can get served and then find a corner or nook to chat.
In a home, your “nook” may be a big conversation pit in the middle of a great room. Or maybe your kitchen has an island where all the goodies are laid out as dinner is simmering on the stove or baking in the oven. Lay out the napkins and those cute little forks you inherited from your aunt Esther. Don’t let the keepsakes stay in the drawer. She would want you to use them.
Go with the flow
Another secret to good hosting is having a pattern or flow to the event. If it’s a family party, everyone may already know where to sit, but if it’s friends over for a holiday celebration, you may want to lay out an imaginary map.
How and where will guests be greeted? Will you need to take coats (weather-dependent)? Where do you want them to go first? It’s customary to offer your guest a drink upon arrival. Be sensitive to whether someone is drinking alcohol or not, and remember you don’t need to know why. Direct them to the food station(s) and by way of a hand-off, introduce them to someone new.
Essence of welcome
How do you want your home to smell as guests arrive? Depending on the holiday, you can fill the air with pumpkin spice or cinnamon pinecones. Scented candles give off a fresh hint of peach or mint julep.
Just as with your grace around alcohol, eliminate any scents that might cause irritation or allergies among your guests. And if you have cats (like Lesley), you may need to round ‘em up for the few hours you’re entertaining.
Furniture can be rearranged and chairs added to create new conversation circles so people can get to know each other. I learned from my friend that hosting is mostly about love.
