The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment. – Shauna Niequist
I love this quote so much because it reminds me that opening my home for entertaining and being hospitable is not about perfection. It’s about connection with people and making someone feel welcome. People need conversation and relationship more than a Pinterest-perfect experience. Hospitality, while it might not come naturally to you, doesn’t have to be hard. If you’re planning to entertain over the weekend, here are 5 simple, stress-free ways to do it.
1. Progressive Dinner
Share the workload and the stress. Start at one house for appetizers, move to another house for the main dish, and finish at someone else’s house for dessert.
2. Neighborhood Breakfast
Get to know your neighbors or invite friends for a drop-by breakfast. Serve prepared breakfast foods like bagels, Danish pastries, and fruit.
3. Game Night
Gather some friends for a weekly Bunco game, cards, or Pictionary™. Have everyone bring their favorite snack foods.
4. Home Birthday Parties
Have your children’s birthday parties at your house. Keep the food simple and fun or go with a theme.
5. A Partio
When our best friends moved into their home a few years back, they planned a simple gathering we dubbed a “partio”—a party on the patio, hosted on the back deck. Guests brought drinks or apps to share and everyone had a blast being together, enjoying the outdoor space.
What would you add to this list?
