5 Ways to Be the Ultimate Guest: Tips for Making Every Host’s Night Easier
A thoughtful guest goes beyond simply attending the event — they’re helpful, proactive, and considerate. By pitching in to lighten your host’s load, bringing something special, and lending a helping hand, you can take some of the pressure off your host and leave a lasting impression.
Whether you’re bringing a dish, setting up a simple bar, or gifting a beautifully arranged centerpiece, a few small gestures can go a long way in showing appreciation. Here are five practical ways to elevate your guest game {and ensure you’re on every host’s invite list!}
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Tip 1: Bring a Specific Dish
Instead of asking the host, “What can I bring?” we recommend asking, “Which course would be most helpful to bring a dish for?” followed by, “Is there anything specific you’d like me to bring for that course?” From there, you can determine which dish from your recipe repertoire you might want to bring based on the course you’re tasked with.
For larger occasions, like Thanksgiving feast or a potluck-style barbecue, offer to bring a dish that you would traditionally make for the occasion, or a go-to crowd-pleaser. Even if you bring something that’s already on the menu, it gives guests more options for which to fill their plates. Our family brings two different types of stuffings to our Thanksgiving gathering...we won’t judge!
For a smaller soirée, we recommend being a bit more strategic and specific when deciding what to bring. Don’t forget to confirm what you’re bringing so the host can plan to incorporate it into her overall menu (or let you know she’s already planned to make it herself).
We find that bringing appetizers, such as large salads, or desserts, such as make-ahead minis or generous-size cakes, is usually most helpful since hosts are often most concerned with the main dish.
Our Recommended Salads
We recommend bringing these salads due to their simple, versatile and delicious nature. Plus, anything that might be an allergen can be swapped for another ingredient!
Pro Tip: Bring your prepared salad in one of our Serving Bowls for easy presentation and serving. For a larger guest list, use the Fundamental Wood 16IN Ruffle Bowl, or for a smaller one, try the Black Arabesque Scallop 11 Pasta Bowl.
Recommended Desserts
These easy, make-ahead desserts are ultimate crowd-pleasers:
Pro Tip: Bring your desserts ready-to-serve by baking them in one of our oven-to-table Cookware and Bakeware designs, which allow easy transport from oven to dessert table. If you’re bringing a cake, plate it on one of our Cake Stands for transport.
Tip 2: Design a Centerpiece
If the host is open to someone else designing their table, offering to take care of the centerpiece can be a big help. When in doubt, a beautiful floral arrangement or exquisite potted plant is always a good idea. To make a floral arrangement yourself, head to Trader Joe’s and get 3 bouquets to arrange inside your vase of choice. Or, for a longer-lasting option, try making a kokedama, a Japanese moss ball centerpiece. We also love picking up elaborate orchid arrangements – but the choice is yours!
Plus, as a delightful leave-behind, a floral arrangement or potted plant can be set anywhere after the party ends – whether on the bar, in the bathroom, atop the coffee table, or perched on a side table in the living room. The arrangement can double as a host gift and a lovely keepsake.
Recommended Vessels for a Centerpiece
- Turkey 9” Covered Bowl – perfect for Thanksgiving
- Rabbit Covered Bowl - ideal for Easter and Spring
Tip 3: Coordinate the Bar
Another way to lighten the host’s load is by offering to take care of the bar for her.
We recommend choosing a signature cocktail and garnishes to create a mimosa or bloody Mary bar, bringing a batched cocktail in a pitcher, or bringing an assortment of wine and bubbles and ice buckets to keep them chilled. Make sure to ask what’s being served so you can tailor your bar selections to complement the dinner menu.
Recommended Single-Serve Cocktails
These cocktails are easy to make on-the-spot:
Recommended Batched Cocktails
This recipe is perfect for a pitcher {or two}:
Tip 4: Bring Containers for Leftovers
This tip might be a little unexpected, but we can vouch for it firsthand! At larger gatherings, traditionally, guests are sent home with leftovers from the night. To save the host the time and effort of searching for containers to hold the leftovers (and depleting her own collection in the process!), we recommend stocking up on an assortment of small, medium, and large reusable or one-time-use vessels. This way, the host will have them handy when it’s time to bid guests adieu.
Recommended Containers for Leftovers
These are our go-to containers to bring:
Tip 5: Bring a Curated Host Gift
Don’t forget to show your appreciation for the gracious host! If you’re not bringing the centerpiece as a beautiful leave-behind or aren’t in charge of the bar and plan to leave the ice buckets as gifts, it’s important to show the host how much you appreciate the invite...and ensure you get one to the next soirée!
Recommended Gifts for the Host
- Cocktail napkins paired with a bottle of wine {we love Mumm Napa!}
- The host’s favorite coffee {we love Lucky Goat Coffee Company!) or tea {an all-time favorite is The Chai Box!} and a mug or mug set.
- A small-but-mighty sweet treat, such as Ginger’s Pound Cake, baked in a Loaf Pan for the host to keep and enjoy long after the party ends.
- A box of chocolates or assortment of chocolate bars, caramels, truffles, and more {COCO Chocolatier or Shotwell Candy Company are great options!}
P.S. Don’t forget to send a “thank you” card to the host as well.
A Few Extras Way to Help the Host
If you're close to the host, there are even more ways to lend a hand and make the evening truly memorable. Consider offering to curate a playlist to set the perfect mood or handwrite place cards for a personal touch—these tasks can help give the host some time back so they can focus on other to do’s.
You might also help design the invite (we’re fans of Paperless Post for stylish, easy invites), assist with lighting candles to create ambiance, or handle little tasks like filling up water glasses throughout the evening.
And if you're the one hosting, these are great suggestions to delegate! They’re simple tasks that make guests feel included and needed, lightening your load and making for a smooth, enjoyable gathering.
The Kind of Guest Who’s Always Welcome Back
Attending a gathering with the right mindset — and a few helpful additions in hand, course —can make all the difference. Whatever you’re contributing to the fête shows your host you value their invitation. And, by being a guest who truly lightens the load, you’re not only adding to the celebration but also strengthening bonds with those around you. Here’s to being the kind of guest who’s always welcome back!
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