When it comes to hosting, “the most wonderful time of the year” could arguably also be one of the most stressful. There can be quite a bit of pressure placed around putting on a perfect holiday dinner and creating that ideal and appropriately festive atmosphere. While it might seem like a somewhat daunting task, the good news is that if Martha Stewart and the wizarding world of Pinterest can pull off a lovely dinner – honestly, so can you. And it can be easy. 

 

I’ve been hosting Christmas dinner(s) at my house for years. Because I have truly mastered the art and have genuinely learned to love it. I attribute a bit of the joy and success to expensive wine I won’t lie. But If you’re thinking about putting on your own holiday gathering, here are a few things – outside of wine – that will definitely be crucial components to a successful evening:

 

TIPS FOR HOSTING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 

1. Prepare As Much As You Can Ahead of Time

 

When it comes to Christmas/Hanukkah/New Years festivities, there can be a lot of moving components you will definitely not wish to deal with once the doorbell starts ringing. Decorating, setting the table, getting as much of the meal made as possible, and having appetizers and cocktails ready to go by guests arrival time will be a huge help. Which brings me to my next point.

 

 

 

2. Keep It Simple

 

If there is one thing out of this whole list of tips to take away and run with, it would be to keep. it. simple. Holiday dinners do not have to be expensive, stressful, or overly time consuming. Plan your evening around manageable family-style components. 

 

I usually go one of two ways: I either select a main course roast (roasts can be incredibly easy, and while they bake you can work on other dishes) plus a side or two, a simple salad, and dinner rolls – or – I do a one pan bake such as lasagna that can easily be shared (plus simple sides). If you’re a killer cook or you really want to show off your chops in the kitchen, pick 1-2 dishes to put some extra love and time into, then keep the rest simple. 

 

*Bonus Tip: there is no shame in buying pre-made items or having guests contribute wine or dishes to the dinner. And if a friend of family member asks if they can be of help, take them up on it!

 

 

 

3. Plan Your Table Setting 

 

It’s no proper holiday gathering without a festive table setting. Whether it seats 4 or 40, this table setup is where you get to be creative and have some serious fun. While I respect the appeal of a White Christmas, I personally prefer a more colorful one. I love taking classic Christmas components and color schemes and updating them a bit. Instead of focusing solely on muted palettes or “red and green,” try incorporating new hues such as pink. Or using eucalyptus leaves (which you can buy at Trader Joes) to add some soft greens. When it comes to putting a true Christmas spin on the dining table, I have a special place in my heart for fairy lights and candlesticks. They’re small yet seriously effective tools to truly set the mood.

 

 

 

4. Stock Up

 

Arguably the biggest mistake you can make while hosting is to not have enough food and beverages on hand. Both should always be available from the minute guests arrive until the moment they leave. I’d prefer to focus my efforts on the actual dinner so when it comes to pre-dinner entertainment, I typically rely on setting up a nice cheese board with crackers. Plus a simple and festive “welcome” Champagne cocktail. A cookie platter wont hurt anyone either – it’s the holidays!

 

 

 

5. Be Merry

 

From the decor down to your spirit, the secret to a successful Christmas dinner is to be happy and to be present. If you keep it simple and prepare as much as you can ahead of time you’ll be able to better enjoy your guest’s company and make them feel more welcome in your home. Take the time to create the space but make sure to be a part of enjoying it too.

 

 

 

Lastly, a tip for those of you attending not hosting: it’s always nice to come bearing gifts. If you’re not on party dish or wine duty, a hostess gift such as a cutting board (that can double as a cheese board!), a serving tray, coasters, or even a small framed art print would be a wonderful thing to present as a thank you to your host.

 

 

This post was made in partnership with Society6, you can catch the original post on their blog OR in their latest holiday print issue!!! YES mom – I am officially in a magazine! Everything from the gallery wall to the serving ware is linked in their blog post so make sure you head over there to check out the goods – not to mention, totally affordable goods.