More mingling, less work, even when hosting a crowd

Inviting guests into your home comes with various responsibilities, but generally the time, expense and effort that go into being an event host are well worth the opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones. Guests will expect certain comforts when they arrive, particularly food and beverages that fit with the scope of the party or holiday. However, individuals who like to go above and beyond as consummate hosts may lament that they often spend too much time in the kitchen and not enough time mingling with their guests.

There are ways to reduce time spent away from party guests. Follow these tips to enjoy more opportunities to socialize with friends and family while hosting an event.

SET UP IN THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is often the heart of a home. Today’s open-concept spaces regularly feature a kitchen that opens up into a family room or dining space. Place food and beverages on a central island, and converse with guests as you ensure that their snacks are free-flowing.

CATER YOUR EVENT

While you may want to prove your culinary prowess, hosting guests is much more labor-intensive when you handle all of the cooking, in addition to other tasks. To free up a lot of time, make one or two items; then cater the rest of the food. Restaurants, supermarkets, specialty food retailers and even fast-food establishments often have catering menus that make feeding a crowd a breeze.

CONSIDER A POTLUCK

Guests often like to bring something to events as a token of appreciation for the invite. With a potluck, you can instruct guests to bring a favorite dish to the festivities, which will greatly cut down on food preparation. Then you can provide the snacks and additional meal accompaniments.

HIRE STAFF

Think about investing in a wait staff, bartender and cleanup crew for your event, particularly if hosting a large crowd. A hardworking crew will be responsible for catering to the needs of guests, setting up refreshments, serving, and breaking down the setup at the end of the party. With their assistance, you can enjoy your event that much more.

MAKE IT A COCKTAIL PARTY

Sit-down dinners or buffet-style meals require a lot of food and preparation time. Parties that feature sandwiches, appetizers, small bites and chips/dips may be much easier to manage, thus reducing time in the kitchen. What’s more, many of these foods can be purchased ready-made to reduce cooking and heating needs.

A main reason for hosting friends and family is to spend time together. Spending too much time cooking and serving food can take away from time with guests, but there are ways for hosts to reclaim that time.