WINE + CHEESE FROM OUR TIME TOGETHER:

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Dundee Hills, 2022 $47.57
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Dairyman Russian River Valley by Joe Wagner, 2021 $42.99
Daou Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon $44.99
Paraduxx Proprietary Red Wine, 2021 $40.99

All linked HERE for you

MABEL’S HOSTING TIPS+TRICKS

DO EARLY:

Set up your table or buffet station in advance. If you have small children with grabby hands, set up the night before. If not, you can even set things days in advance!

ALWAYS REMEMBER ICE. There’s nothing worse than running out of ice for drinks. Think about this a few days in advance so you can stick up on your ice supply or create fancy ice for a special touch (ie: cranberries in the cubes, mint/lemon in the cubes, fruit in the cubes).

DAY OF:

It’s always better to be dressed and have yourself ready when your guests arrive rather than have the party perfected and you’re upstairs rushing to blow dry your hair as the doorbell rings. Make sure you budget time for YOU.

Think of easy things that can be left until after you’re dressed to finish in the kitchen. Maybe that’s mixing the drinks, chopping some garnishes or putting the water carafe out. Put your party playlist on, light the candles and take a deep breath! Your guests who arrive early can always help with the finishing touches!

Remember that you set the tone. If you’re stressed, guests notice and catch the vibe. If you’re prepared and welcoming guests with a smile, they also catch that vibe! Whatever energy you’d like the party to have, you need to bring just a bit more than that - guests always follow the tone that’s set for them.

If you’re expecting guests who are the “what can I do to help” type, think about some smaller tasks that you can delegate - chopping veggies, putting store bought items on a tray, gathering trash throughout the party to keep the space clean, loading your dishwasher, entertaining your children so you can focus on the event!

DURING THE PARTY:

People always want to have a place to put their coat - make sure you have a rack, closet or even bedroom to toss coats and bags into so that they’re out of the way and you have an easy answer for “where can I put my coat?” – this is a great task to delegate to your husband or hosting partner - you can manage the kitchen or greeting guests and let the other person run the coats and bags to their dedicated spot!

Shoes on or off in your home? Whatever it is, make sure it’s clear so guests aren’t awkwardly wondering if they should take their shoes off. If you’d like guests to remove their shoes, put a pair of your shoes by the entrance so they see the example.

Places to sit / put down drinks + eat are so important. Walk the space to understand the guest experience. Take a walk around your hosting space the night before (or the week of!) and put yourself in your guests shoes - are there enough places to sit or places to set down a drink / small plate? Similarly, are the trash bins easily located? Struggling with where to put your trash makes more work for you as the hostess in the long run! Make sure the trash is in an easily recognizable and easily accessible area.

If you’re hosting a more formal event with a sit down dinner, place cards make guests more comfortable. Consider your seating arrangement and provide an opportunity for your guests to not have to think as they come in to find a seat. This is similar to a signature drink, no one wants to have to think about what to have or where to sit!

Consider special touches - candles in the bathroom, ambiance with lighting (lamps + decorative lighting), the battery lights from Amazon for table tops. These details are always create an environment your guests will always talk about.

Music is important! Create a playlist that fits the vibe or find one that’s your vibe on Spotify. Music shouldn’t be too loud, but should fill silences. Some people recommend putting music in the bathroom too (!!).

Speaking of the bathroom… there’s nothing worse than a soggy towel to wipe your hands on. Paper guest towels are an awesome alternative and can be found at Marshalls / HomeGoods!

Interactive elements always level up the event. Games or activities create memorable moments for people to mingle in a new way. Previously we’ve done Minute to Win It games, trivia, Jenga, name that tune, create your own bracelet/bag charm ect.

FOOD + BEVERAGES:

Always provide water. This is one of the details that’s most overlooked. Everyone needs (+mostly wants) to mix in a water. Whether it’s water bottles, a jug with cups or just some cups you put out next to the sink or your fridge with a small sign that says “we use tap water” or “grab some water from the fridge dispenser”. This goes a long way! You can easily offer fancy water too - zhuzh it up with mint and lemon!!!

Consider your guests as you pick your food and beverage menus. If you have a big drinking crowd, offer one or two choices of each type of alcohol. For example, maybe you offer an IPA and a lager for beer, a red and a white for wine and a vodka signature drink.

Signature drinks always remove the barrier of a “decision” for your guests. Lately, signature drinks are often non-alcoholic and the alcohol is on the side to add in as you please. If you have a mixed crowd of drinkers and non-drinkers, this may be a good option.

Mabel put out a poll to better understand how / what guests like to eat at an event. The resounding feedback was that food needs to be labeled. Between picky eaters and guests with allergies, labeling the food is important to ensure everyone is comfortable with what they grab.

Style your buffet / dinner table and use food risers to make the dishes stand out better.

Out of space? Use a sink for ice + beverages!

Martha Stewart recommends the following order for the best buffet flow: plates at the beginning and cutlery with napkins at the end. That way guests have their hands free to put food on their plate and pick up their napkin and cutlery at the end.

Save to go containers to fill when guests leave - often times you don’t want to be stuck with extras and this is a good way to get extras into guests hands quickly. Alternatively, if you have someone who’s helping wash dishes, wash the dishes people brought (if they did) and then have them fill up their own dish with leftovers!