20 Entertaining Tips for Fall Gatherings

Every season is fun to celebrate.  Being from New England, Fall is my favorite. The air turns crisp, the leaves are turning beautiful colors, cozy, fall comfort food and apple picking.  I plan more in the fall than any other season. Sharing my 20 Tip Fall Entertaining Checklist with you to make your party fun, organized and delicious AND to make you a stand out host for every gathering you host.  

1.  Rearrange Furniture

Arrange furniture and seating that is conducive to conversations.  Also, creature comforts are good to have around in multiples like blankets and throw pillows. Preferably in comfy fall fabrics like chenille, cashmere, and shearling.

2.  Theme & Tone Throughout

Carry your Fall theme, color palette, decor throughout your party from your entrance door, to the  dining areas, to the restroom. Make it festive! Gathering and parties are feast for the eyes and the tastes.  Many describe entertaining as "theatre".  It has a beginning, middle and end and we must "surprise and delight" at every turn.

3.  Seated or Buffet?

Guideline is small amount of people, have a sit down at table meal. (8 or less) More than 8 people, I go with buffet. You want to talk with everyone at your party. Eight people is comfortable to have 1 conversation at table, seated. More than that ~ have a buffet where you can mingle around and chat with everyone.
 

4.  Don’t Rush It

Nothing should feel rushed. When your guests arrive, pour drinks and have conversations.  Don’t behave like you’re on a schedule.

5.  Make Meals Easy

Do not make a meal you have not cooked before. Made appetizers and meals that you have made before. (and got compliments on) If you have not cooked alot, make an easy meal.  Like pasta. Most people love pasta dishes.  Select something you can pre-prep.  If you can measure it, wash it, assemble it ~ do it.  That goes for drinks as well. You could consider a "signature" cocktail for the party. (have non-alcohol option.) or something like a Fall Sangria. The more you pre-prep, the less stressed you will be.  It I can pre-prep, I do.  I save things like chopping fresh herbs to just before I serve meals.
 

6.  Think Generosity

Think in abundance when you are hosting. There should always be too much. (You never want to run out of anything or make guests feel they have a limit to what they can eat.)  When entertaining ~ I bring the abundance!  Lots of food, drinks, (cocktails and non-alcohol) Always plates coming from the kitchen. You can make food that’s made for sharing  ~ like a big bowl of pasta in the middle of the table.

7.  Be Ready to Pivot

When preparing and shopping, be ready to pivot. You’re planning on making carrot ribbon salad, but you got to Farmers Market or Grocery Store and the carrots didn’t look good, they didn’t look fresh, they were too small, etc. Pivot. Have a backup plan.

8.  Check Guest Dietary Needs

Be thoughtful of your guests and their dietary needs, allergies and preferences.  When preparing and purchasing packaged items, always check the labels.  When serving, place their food on separate platter and separate serving utensils.
 

9.  Always on the Menu

Have something that most people love ~ like great bread and olive oil for dipping. Most people love something on a charcuterie board. People love cheese. Make the familiar. People like to graze and nibble.  Don’t feel like you need to have alot of hot from the oven appetizers (but one would be nice) especially in fall. In fall we especially love “comfort food”.  I make macaroni and cheese ball appetizers. (You can make days in advance.) They are a hit in fall/winter.

10.  Pick Seasonal Flavor Theme

People like to know what to expect. People like a theme.  For all seasons, I make food that is in season.  If it’s in season, it’s at its peak taste.  For Fall, an apple theme would be great (Although, I recently processed my love for the cranberry.) So cranberries would be a great menu theme as well. 

Sample Menu:

Drinks:   Apple cider sangria
Appetizer:  Apple, gorgonzola flatbread.
Main Course:  Anything styled with apple garnish.
Dessert:  Pie or crisp.

Everything does not have to be made with apples. 4 things max to make it a theme.

11.  Don’t Apologize For Your Food

I get it.  I’ve done it.  You want everything to be delicious.  Refrain from saying things like . . . Sorry, I think there is too much salt, Sorry, I think I overcooked the meal, Sorry, I should have ordered out, I’m really not a very good cook.  Stop. Give yourself grace. and/OR give yourself help.  Nothing wrong with enlisting some help cook to alleviate stress or help you make a great meal. (My sister has had me come over to her house to make entire meal when she was having guests.  Literally, I would make the meal and she would say . . . "you can leave now.  I want them to think I made the meal."  She did this more than once!)  No shame in getting help!  Entertaining, cooking, getting the "flow/schedule" right ~ it's a process.

12.  Have Plenty of Ice

Never too much ice. Have plenty. Keep a cooler if you do not have room in freezer.

13.  Tablescapes

Candles are beautiful for entertaining. Everything & everyone ;) looks better by candlelight. Or have soft lighting, not bright lights. People are more comfortable in dim lighting. Don’t style the table so much there is not enough room for food.  Also, I do LOVE a dramatic tablescape and decor,  but people need to see over centerpieces to have a conversation.

14.  Games

Not everyone likes games ~ some people do. Know your “audience”/guests.  Same goes for conversation cards.  I like them ~ I think they are fun and you get to know your guests/friends better. Others do not. Know your “audience”  Some people are shy or they are uncomfortable sharing their views on questions that can be on conversation cards. No pressuring with the . . . "Oh, come on ~ it will be fun!"

15.  Restroom Freshness

Freshen and stock restrooms. Place a beautiful, small fall florals vase in restroom. Get nice disposable hand towels for your guests. (& liquid soap, not bar) No one wants to dry hands on a towel that is wet and used by everyone all day/night. (I also put away any personal items that we keep in restrooms from laundry baskets to medicine.)

16.  Music

Have very soft music. No specific genre, unless every (most) like specific type. OR, if your guests love a certain kind of music, and like it loud ~ go with it!  Important thing is just to know your "audience"/guests.  Object is to enjoy each others company and have fun.
 

17.  Be Present and Enjoy

Be present and enjoy your own party.  Dirty dishes? forget them. Cleaning up around people as the party is going on?  Don’t do that.  Nothing is that important to do.  Most important thing to do for gathering is make your guests feel welcomed and loved.

18.  No Signaling

By signaling, I mean putting on coffee, stopping the music, putting on bright lights, as cue that it’s time for them to go home soon. When I have a party, I think . . . It will be a long night and I’m ok with that.  If it's a late night . . . you KNOW you throw a great party because people do not want to leave. ;)  (Thought on coffee. I don't want it to be interpreted as a cue, so I have coffee on during entire gathering, for those quests who want it.)

19. What To Wear

Simple and comfortable is what I go for.  I am always moving between kitchen and living area so I want to be comfortable. (but stylish).  Also, inevitably, I will get food from cooking on something ~ so something I can clean easily.  Also, if you are too dressed up, it could make your guests feel uncomfortable ~ like they should have dressed up more.  Best to let them know  what kind of party you're having in terms of what to wear.  I'm all for a dressed up, sit down dinner where I can put on my favorite dress ~ just let your guest know the tone of the gathering.

20. Treats To Bring Home

Send guests home with food treat memory of the night. If you are really close to your guests or if it's family, you can pack up beautifully styled to go boxes of the meal/dessert.  For a party I’m having this Fall, I am making mini apple pies wrapped with a flannel bow. (because flannel  of course = fall) for guests to take home.   BUT, you don’t have to home make your take home treats. You can get treats and style it up for them to take home.

SIDENOTE:  If you live in a neighborhood and are having many people over, be mindful of your neighbors.  Cars may be parked on street and it may be frustrating for neighbors, or if you live in apartment the arrivals and gathering may be noisy.  Keep courtesy of neighbors in mind.  I always included them in my "send guests home with treats" and apply it the same way ~ I get the same treats for neighbors to say "apologies for the inconvenience".  So mini-apple pies wrapped in flannel bows for the neighbors!