We have been in that stage of life for a while now where there is a lot going on: bridal showers and weddings, baby showers and housewarmings, first birthdays and Christmas parties… Along the way there have been a lot of last minute texts asking who the friend is that has a galvanized bucket for drinks? Do you still have that ice bucket? Was it you who borrowed my big platter serving tray? Along the way I have accumulated a lot of entertaining necessities and while there is still an item or two that would be handy to have, I found myself saying to my friends and my mom that I think I have just about all of the necessities now—just as this phase of life may be winding down!
If you are someone who loves to host, even if it’s not as often as you would like, check out this post to see what could make your life a little easier the next time you host.
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Before You Buy
Before you run out and start buying items at random, pause for a moment and envision how all of these pieces will work together when you host. That bright red serving set might be great at Christmas, but will you also love it in the spring if you host Easter? Wood, white, and metal work well together, but so does pottery if you have accumulated a large array of items of varying colors. A through line, such as everything being made out of pottery, will help your serve ware to look cohesive and bring an extra touch of classiness and elegance the next time you host.
Platters and Trays
My trays and platters are some of my most used pieces. I would aim to have at least one large tray and platter, as well as at least two or three smaller platters. I commonly use my large tray for carrying plates, serveware, and napkins outside if we are eating outside, but that is if it is just the two of us or a small get together around the campfire. On the other hand, if we are having more people over and eating something that requires buns, sloppy joes, ham BBQ, etc., then having a large tray to corral all of the bread comes in very handy! Two to three small platters for cheese and meat on one, a variety of crackers on another, and some fruit or veggies on the third. It is also nice to have a bread basket on hand.
Bowls
You want a wide variety of bowls. I have a very large serving bowl I use all the time. I have another set containing a somewhat large bowl and a smaller bowl for chips and dip, and a few medium bowls for pretzels, other chips, or fresh fruit. I would have at least one very large bowl, two medium bowls, and one small bowl—these are the ones I need most often and see others using when someone else is hosting.
Place Settings
Some people prefer to use disposable serveware if they are having more than eight people over but for our lifestyle we decided to invest in a larger set of real dishes. We started off with eight and then upgraded; we currently have 16 place settings and yes, we really do use all of those dishes! We purchased plain white; it works with everything and can be dressed up or down. Target and Ikea have decent quality and reasonably priced dishes and Ikea has a lot of open stock dishes, meaning you can buy an item at a time if a bowl or plate gets broken.
Serving Utensil
I would have at least three, and one slotted spoon at least among them. If you are someone who hosts a lot and has people contribute potluck style, I would have more like five or six—someone is always forgetting their serving spoon—it’s not just me right?! Also, don’t forget utensils for serving salad!
Pitchers for Drinks
The gallon size mason jar-looking pitchers with spouts on the bottom are nice for large gatherings, but having two liter-size pouring pitchers will work for most home gatherings also.
Dessert Serving Stands
Again, using one of your trays will get you through many instances but you may want a cake stand or a tiered serving stand too.
Paper and Cloth Ware
Growing up we always had paper napkins on hand. Now we always have paper towels on hand, but never napkins! While I generally don’t notice this lapse in housekeeping, there is one time when I do, and that is. of course, when we have company over. The other day while walking through TJ Maxx, I stopped to admire the beautiful paper napkins on display and sighed to myself wishing I had a good reason to buy them—then it hit me. I always want napkins when we have people over! So I bought those napkins and it makes me so happy to pull out these pretty napkins whenever we have guests coming over!
Charcuterie Ready
I know not everyone is a charcuterie board fan but it is one of my life’s goals to try to change that! Having a cheese or two on hand, a meat, and some crackers are things I try to keep as a staple around our house. They are great things to fall back on in a pinch. That being said, it is also nice to have a small array of cheese knives, a spreader, and a cheese slicer on hand.
Mugs
Do you have coffee mugs that you aren’t embarrassed to pull out to serve coffee with dessert? I don’t believe they all have to be matching; in fact I think it’s a great conversation starter when they are all different and have a more collected feel. But make sure you have several to pull out and use—you can always pull them out ahead of time and set them on your large tray so people can admire them!
Accents or the Miscellaneous
These are the little things, the ones that are really nice to have, that someone always needs to borrow for their get-together; if you don’t have these you will find yourself always wanting before your next get-together.
- Creamer
- Sugar Bowl
- Tea Kettle
- Pie slicer
- Pretty Dish towels to line a bread basket
- Ice Bucket
- Beverage Tub
So there it is! That is my list of the things I use regularly to entertain, as well as a few things I always find myself wishing I had when it comes to hosting. What do you use most? Is there anything not on this list that you use? I’d love to hear from you; connect with me on FB or Instagram @essentiallyemmamarie.
Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Create a Charcuterie Board
Center Pieces Throughout the Seasons