4 Tips for a Warm and Inviting Gathering
Hosting a party can be a lot of work. Not only do you have to worry about the food and drinks, but you also need to make sure your guests are comfortable. Whether my guests are friends or family, I always prefer to create a warm and cozy atmosphere so that they feel right at home, and have a fun and enjoyable time.
Here's 4 tips for a warm and inviting gathering with friends and family.
family gathering at festive table
Photo by Askar Abayev on
Tip #1: Make sure the temperature is comfortable
Nobody wants to be too hot or too cold, so make sure the temperature in your home is comfortable for your guests. If you live in a warm climate, try to keep the air conditioning low or open up some windows to let in the fresh air. If you live in colder weather, make sure the heating is turned up or light a cozy fire. In either case, it is essential to have fans, heaters or soft blankets available if needed.
Tip #2: Have plenty of seating available
If you want your guests to be comfortable, everyone should have enough seats. I like to have seats set up in different rooms so people can sit wherever they feel most comfortable. You might also consider providing various chairs or couches as some people prefer one over another. If you have a large table, it's a good idea to put out several smaller tables with chairs around them so that people don't crowd together when they eat dinner or play games like charades!
Tip #3: Ensure you cook great food
The food you serve at your party will be one of the most significant factors in whether or not people feel comfortable. I like to serve a variety of easy dishes e.g. warm and room temp, meat and meat free, appetizers and buffet style entrees. Also, make sure to check if any of your guests have allergies or aversions to any ingredients.
If you need some ideas, here are some of my favorite appetizers:
Air Fryer Old bay chicken wings
Avocado Hummus (Vegan)
Avocado hummus
Roasted Red Pepper Dip (Vegan)
4 Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Cucumber Slices
And here are some of my favorite entrees:
Sweet Curry Lentil Soup: Vegan or Vegetarian, a great cold weather option
Bowl of Sweet Curry Lentil Soup
Sweet Curry Lentil Soup
Indonesian Fried No-Rice with Shrimp: A fun take on fried rice with an Indonesian twist
Indonesian No-Rice with sides
Super Simple Salmon Supper: Such a fancy looking dish but really so easy to make and you prep most of it ahead of time.
Super Simple Salmon Supper
Tip #4: Provide a variety of drinks
You should also have plenty of drinks available so that your guests can stay hydrated and feel comfortable while they are at your party. This includes alcoholic beverages like wine or beer, and non-alcoholic ones like water, soda, tea, coffee, etc. It's best not to serve anything too strong because people might get sick or unruly from drinking too much alcohol. If there is an open bar, ensure the bartenders (or a savvy friend) knows how to make all types of cocktails, so everyone gets their favorite drink without waiting too long for it.
I hope you enjoyed these 4 tips for a warm and inviting gathering. What are some of your favorite tips? Share them with me below!
For more healthy and delicious appetizers and entrees, check out my #1 Amazon New Release cookbook, Nourish Your Body: A 30 Day Healthy & Delicious Meal Plan!
Nourish Your Body Cookbook
