Your guests will be talking about your holiday gathering for weeks to come. It’s December, which means the holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the joy of gathering with loved ones, sharing delicious meals, and creating unforgettable memories. But let’s face it: hosting a holiday gathering can be stressful, especially when it comes to ensuring your home is warm, welcoming, and perfectly appointed. To help you shine as a host, we’ve rounded up the ultimate list of must-have items for holiday hosting, from essential kitchen tools and decorative accents to clever organization solutions and thoughtful touches that will make your guests feel right at home. Whether you’re a seasoned entertainer or a holiday-hosting newbie, these indispensable items will help you create a festive, stress-free, and truly unforgettable holiday celebration.
Getting Ready for Guests
Preparation is vital when hosting any number of guests. Of course, you’ll want to start by decluttering and cleaning high-traffic areas in your home. Add festive touches like holiday decorations, scented candles, and cozy throw blankets. However, cooking is the most time-consuming part. One of the best ways to reduce the stress around making the meal is to group your ingredients for each dish ahead of time. We like to use the Bagito reusable storage bags for our prep. The bags can stand on their own as you fill them up, plus they’re leak-proof, making them perfect for prepping anything that contains liquid. Bonus: they’re dishwasher safe, too, so clean-up is a breeze. The bags are also an excellent option for packing any leftovers for your guests.
We also like using reusable dish covers from RockFlower Paper to cover other things like dough, marinating meats, or anything we can leave on the counter to maximize fridge space. The covers easily stretch to fit bowls and odd-shaped containers. Both are great alternatives to using single-use plastic wraps or ziplock bags.
Welcome Guests With A Beverage & Hors D’oeuvre Station
While it’s ideal to have everything ready before your guest’s arrival so you can spend more time with them than in the kitchen, sometimes it’s impossible. We like to create a beverage station with a few hors d’oeuvres to welcome everyone. It’s an excellent place for people who may not be acquainted to get to know each other before the main meal is served.
We typically have an assortment of crackers, nuts, and wine for a smaller gathering. So, the Napa Valley Happy Hour set from Clif Family Winery was perfect. The set honestly reminded me of frolicking through wine country vineyards in wine country with the Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Gary’s Improv Zinfandel. It had all the other delicious components to making a flavorful grazing board, such as smoked almonds, a jar of red wine jelly, and black sesame biscuits.
Our Favorite Treats
These treats were the perfect companion to El Pastor’s Iberico Curado. The cheeses instantly elevated the board with its rich and herbaceous taste. I like adding a small dessert component to the grazing board for something sweeter, like gourmet brownies. These decadent bites from Fairytale Brownies were a crowd-pleaser. Trust me, you’ll want the assorted box with flavors such as chocolate chip, cream cheese, and candy cane crunch because it’s impossible to choose a favorite!
Of course, you’ll also want to accommodate the younger guests. The beverage station also has a few regular drinks, like hot cocoa, Honest apple juice, sparkling water, and flavor teas. We also like to have a cold brew on hand, my favorite is from Rise Brewing Company. I have found cold brew to be one of those drinks that can be hit or miss if it’s not done right. Rise gets it right–and with various flavors like salted caramel and London fog Earl Grey latte. They’re flavorful without the need to add in a lot of artificial sugars and sweeteners–plus, who can argue with the deliciousness of oat milk? (There are also kid-friendly snacks like goldfish, popcorn, apple slices, and pigs-in-a-blanket).
For guests who prefer something more substantial than wine, we have a variety of mixers like Crown Royal Whisky Sour, Kettle One Espresso Martini, and Astral Margarita) that make it easy to whip up a refreshing cocktail. It set out with citrus slices, cherries, fresh herbs, and mint to use as garnishes. We typically create a signature drink for everyone to make themselves.
Alcohol-free Options
For sober or sober-curious attendees, my go-to is botanical sodas by Casamara Club. These are truly ideal for any occasion —effortlessly elevating a classic pop with the feeling of a sophisticated cocktail, all without the alcohol. Everyone can enjoy these refreshing drinks.
Get Ready to Serve
I love having a good theme for any gathering, enhanced by the tablescape, which includes a stylish and functional collection of utensils, glasses, and drinkware. It elevates the entertaining experience and adds a touch of warmth and hospitality. My go-to brand is Year & Day. Their collection of flatware, plates, bowls, and linen perfectly complement each other in colorways and design, making it easy to mix and match depending on the theme and vibe. Holiday hosting is the perfect time to bring out the unique glassware. I love my wine glasses from Byrdeen both for their vibrant color and because they are each hand-blown crystal glass. No two glasses are alike, which makes them even more unique and a focal point of the tablescape.
Admittedly, the kid’s table gets an entirely different set-up. For those larger parties, when we want a more practical option, Eco Home is a go-to for more eco-friendly yet disposable products. They have a full line of tableware, including cutlery, plates, bowls, and napkins. That makes clean-up a breeze, and you can feel good about doing something for the environment.
Keeping the Crowd Entertained
It’s not uncommon for breakout gatherings to happen during holiday get-togethers. The guys gravitate towards sports or kids running around outside. One way to keep folks mingling with each other is to set up craft areas or have a few board games on hand. We have a few that we snagged from Amazon that guests of all ages enjoyed. One of the favorites was Taco v Burrito (ironically created by a 7-year-old), perfect for the whole family. The quirky game creates a “food fight” with the card prompts. Everyone will be in a bundle of laughter.
I also like kids’ games with an educational component, which you can find with Simply Fun games. The children had a blast without realizing they were still learning! The Lily Pond was a favorite of the younger ones–a cool counting and letter recognition game!
Adults may like playing the Loaded Bloody Mary Balance Game, like a twist on Jenga. So, get those balancing skills ready! Playing was fun and can also be an adult-only drinking game!
The Perfect Gift for The Holiday Host
The conversation around whether or not we should be gifting the host is an ongoing social media “debate.” Should we give a gift to the person who hosts the holiday gathering? Hosting is a labor of love–and it can be expensive. As a host, I don’t expect anything, yet somehow, as an attendee, I don’t like showing up empty-handed. Usually, I would bring something that all guests can enjoy, but lately, I have been more into giving the host something they can enjoy as they unwind or use at their next party. It’s a simple yet thoughtful gesture to express gratitude for their hospitality.
I also like to gift oils, which can be used for baking, cooking, roasting nuts, or accompanying charcuterie boards. One of my favorites is SunnyGem Almond Oil. It’s a beautiful glass bottle of high-quality cooking oil, so it looks great on any countertop.
After a long day of entertaining, the host deserves a sweet treat. A chocolate flight from Bissinger’s is just the right thing. The flight has five most popular treats: dark lemon, dark raspberry French creme, and vanilla caramel. They’re indulgent, savory, and oh-so-good. You’ll want to get a flight for yourself, too!
Now, you’re all set to host a holiday dinner or party that will wow the crowd and make you the Queen of Hosting!
For More:
- On our site: Take a look at some of the wonderful recipes we have to share!
-Cover photo by Nancy Zaffaro. All other photos used with permission.
