Entertaining

An important part of the holidays is who you share them with, and friends and family members from near and far typically travel to gather to celebrate the holidays. If it’s your year to host Christmas dinner or the New Year’s Eve party, chances are you’ll also be a host for overnight guests from out of town. Holiday hosting is unique because you get to experience this magical time of the year with your loved ones. But, in reality, hosting guests—even those you love dearly—can be stressful and overwhelming. To keep the holidays stress-free (and your guests happy), follow these three tips from an expert on how to be a courteous and welcoming host. 1. Give a Warm Welcome Schumacher says guests appreciate intentional touches that show the host prepared for their visit. This may include a small welcome basket for guests from out of town or a small, local gift to welcome them into your home. “A welcome basket placed in the guest’s room is always a gracious and lovely touch,” Schumacher says. “One of my favorite spins on a welcome basket is to include local items. This could be locally-sourced soaps, candles, snacks, or even a book about the area in which your guests are visiting.” If your guests are flying in to visit, Schumacher says to make sure your gift items align with the FAA security guidelines. “You don’t want them to have to leave them at the security line,” she says. 2. Wake Up Before Your Guests While the holidays are a time to rest and relax, if you’re hosting guests, Schumacher suggests it might be a good idea to skip sleeping in past your normal wake-up time. Even though getting out of bed can be difficult—especially during the cold, winter months—waking up before your house guests has many benefits. “[Waking up before guests] allows you to have coffee brewed for them, as well as guide them around your kitchen,” Schumacher says. “They won’t be fumbling through your cupboards to find a mug or a glass to have a drink of water or juice.” Not only does it give time to prep coffee and breakfast, but waking up before your guests allows time for tidying and prepping the house for the day’s holiday festivities. Plus, taking a quiet moment to yourself before the rest of the house wakes up is a great way to set yourself up for the day ahead. 3. Schedule Meals If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, it’s important to determine which meals you will be responsible for making. While dinners are often the host’s responsibility, who’s making breakfasts, lunches, and snacks can be more unclear. “While I don’t think it is necessary to prepare every meal for your guests, I do believe you should have a meal plan in place, ideally discussing this with your guests, prior to their arrival,” Schumacher says. Once you’ve communicated with your guests on which meals they will be eating with you, create a meal schedule and hang it in a common place where everyone can see what’s on the menu. That way, if guests would rather eat out or have other plans, they can let you know ahead of time. Even if you’re in charge of providing most meals, that doesn’t mean you need to cook every meal. Schumacher suggests bringing your guests to local restaurants so they can see more of your town. “Part of the fun of traveling is often dining at that area’s restaurants,” she says. “But there is also a joy in dining at home, lingering over the dinner table with good company and good conversation” When planning out your menu, make sure to ask guests if they have any food-related allergies and intolerances.