A Hostess Party Checklist: How I Get Our Home Ready for parties and Dinners

I love to host and I want to share my personal hostess checklist from a few days out to the day of on how I prepare every room in my house so I don’t forget a detail when it’s time to host a party or dinner.

You can copy and paste this list into your notes in your phone and check them off! Having a checklist like this means other people can see where you are and help too!

How to use: I print my self-designed Hostess Checklist PDF (available for purchase) and I put it behind a rigid print protector available on Amazon, and use a dry erase marker to check it off and reuse it. You can buy my PDF and print a few out to give to gifts since you’ll have extra rigid protectors! Or you can just keep reprinting the list! 

WEEKS BEFORE

• Schedule window cleaner
• Schedule house cleaner
• Schedule childcare
• Plan menu, and place order.
• Check with guests for any allergies or food intolerances, or diets.
  • Note: It is your job as an excellent caring host to accommodate with additional options if someone cannot eat gluten or has allergies. You don’t have to accommodate the entire meal but that there are alternative sides or choices.
• Drinks menu:

DAY BEFORE

• Set the buffet: label with post-its for specific food 
• Make food labels if necessary to specify any food allergies 
• Buy flowers 
• Buy ice
• Clean powder bath
• Wipe and blow off outdoor furniture
• Start the dishwasher to have an empty dishwasher the morning of the party

MORNING

• Front door: clean windows, mailbox, lights, sweep and blow off furniture
• Empty all trash bins in the house
• Clean microwave
• Empty the dishwasher
• Fill water pitchers/glass bottles store in the fridge to chill
• Arrange florals 
• Vacuum

HOURS BEFORE

• Fluff pillows and couch cushions
• Take photos/videos
• Check powder room, light candle
• Start playlist on room speakers
• Start screensaver on TVs
• Turn on lights in the backyard, LEDs, light candles inside and outside. Light fireplace.
• Turn on the food warmer/oven
• Place “Please do come in sign” on front door
• Set out cocktail napkins, prep appetizer table
• Open windows/skylights, open curtains
• Fill water gases, set out drinks and wine opener
• Restart the playlist/TV screensavers
• Light fireplace and candles
• Dim indoor lighting, turn on lamps (no dark rooms!)
• Freshen u spaces with room spray
• Turn down the house temperature 

AFTER THE PARTY

• Lysol spray surfaces, couches, and doorknobs
• Refluff pillows
• Take out trash
• Start the dishwasher before bed, or wait for morning!
• Vacuum

Another thing I want to stress is being a calm, happy, gracious host when guests arrive. Often we can feel frazzled or kind of have this attitude of wow this is so much work and I’m kind of overwhelmed but if your guests feel that tension or stress it makes them feel less welcome. So no matter what is happening, just be happy they showed up and are taking the time to show up! Time is so precious and being together is such a gift.

Let me know if you have other ideas or thing you do before your guests arrive.

If you’re a shoes off home: I keep shoes on if it’s a big party like the shoes go with the outfit, but if you are a shoes off home and it’s a casual get together, I suggest offering guests slippers or new socks – Amazon has some disposable ones like hotel slippers or cozy socks from TJ Maxx. I like them to go with my decor so either white, gray or blue.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

• Use a place card or seating card to tell guests to be seated. Usually if it’s under 6, no need for seating. Some debate if 6 even needs it, but I like to have them!
• Keep a scented candle burning in the powder bath or make sure there’s a spray and matches, so guests feel comfortable.
• Disposable powder room towels are encouraged! Use a towel tray like this.

If you to buy the PDF version of this list, click here.

Like these tips? I share more on Instagram. Follow me on Instagram! @dianaelizabeth_

Photos by Kate Nelle, Makeup and hair by Lizzy Marsh