What are your tips for being a good hostess?

[AKMD]

DH and I are hosting Christmas this year for a few friends and DH's immediate family. One person (my SIL) is staying overnight at our house on Christmas Eve; the others will be there from about 11-5. Lunch will be served at 1pm. It's my first time hosting so many people for a sit-down meal and another first for having someone sleep over and I'm a bit nervous! Should we have nibbles ready for when people arrive? What can I do to make SIL's stay special? She's a nurse and working two night shifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so will arrive at our house early on Christmas morning - should I do a stocking for her? What else can I do to make the day special for everyone (other than not burning the turkey!)?

Just try to relax and have fun. Rope people in to help if thinks go wobbly.

There is nothing worse when you're a guest than being made to feel that your hosts are going to pieces because of the effort of entertaining you !

It's Christmas - get slightly drunk if you think it will help .

If your sil has just come off nightshift I would make it clear to her that if she needs to, she can escape to her bed for a few hours when she arrives.

As far as the other guests are concerned, greet them with a drink (maybe bucks fizz) and nibbles and offer more soft drinks and wine (or tea or coffee if you can manage it). Have some jolly Christmas music on in the background to get people in the mood and maybe give out some very inexpensive gifts eg handcream, soaps. Remember people have come to enjoy themselves and will usually put up with

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll try not to be too frazzled and have already written down everything that I can do the day before to keep cooking and prep to a minimum. DH thinks I'm insane - it's part of a laminated Christmas guide that I made with recipes, table settings etc. in. Is that really bad?

I'm not expecting SIL to do anything except go to bed. I'll make a plate up for her and keep it ready for when she wakes up but I'm not expecting to see her much before everyone else goes home. I'll go with the stocking with some nice overnight toiletries and chocolate and make her a special breakfast for when she gets here in the morning.

Christmas music - yes

Nibbles and drinks - yes. What sort of nibbles do you think? I don't want everyone full before lunch!

Getting drunk - no, I don't drink :o Will have to rely on hot chocolate.

Games - yes. I'll get charades and Cranium out.

People helping - serving drinks and keeping toddler DS busy, yes, everything else probably not as our kitchen is quite small and I would probably drop the gravy.

Small gifts - we were planning on doing presents after lunch; is that ok? I thought it would be better that way round rather than when I'm busy cooking. DS is only 1 so won't know he's waiting for presents and everyone else is 18+.

im hosting for inlaws too.

putting a stocking out for your sil is a lovely idea.

i wouldnt do nibbles if youre eating at 1. thats early and you want them to be hungry but i would have plenty of drinks on offer on arrival.

candles lit, christmas lights on even although its still light at that time, christmas music or tv on in background, clean house, smelling nice, table set nicely, place cards with names on, food menu with wine list (for fun) etc etc

but the best hostess is a happy, relaxed one. even if youre stressed at moments, just get it in perspective and have a wee drink and ask for a hand. something will always go wrong so youre as well just enjoying the day.

Oh I love you AKMD just for laminating your own Christmas guide

You sound really caring and like you're going to a lot of trouble. Good luck and enjoy!

Top tip is, even if everything else is chaotic and running off schedule, make sure you are dressed and made up. Nothing makes you feel worse than being dishevelled, hair and make-up not done as you've prioritised cooking, and having to dash upstairs to get changed and ready when your guests are already there.

Following that, they have not come for a restaurant experience, so make cooking, setting table, moving plates, washing up, a communal affair. You're the host, not the waitress! Enjoy...

Yeah, agree with that - no naked cooking!

Flubba I'll send you a copy if you like. It has spreadsheets and diagrams :o Really? No takers? Oh.

Definitely no naked cooking for me Luckily we're all going to church in the morning so I'll already be ready. I'll get drinks on standby for when everyone gets back and the babygate across the kitchen will remain closed!

I'd love one!! Seriously! :o

You sound lovely op.

I bet your guests have a great day.

I am also hosting, for DH family this year. Am going to prepare the veg first thing and also have a step by step guide written out as also want a 1pm lunch time.

From past experience I find that we all get a bit tipsy on the champagne in the morning as none of us really fancy breakfast after eating most of the some chocolate instead so am going to put out some bowls with mixed nuts and crisps just to soak up the alcohol i'm a lightweight

Going to get DD age 7 to make some place cards and will set the table the night before. Guests are coming around 11am so have most of the morning to prepare and enjoy DD opening her stocking etc just us.

Enjoy the day AKMD

I'm also hosting for DH's family and am using last year's timeline that I made (sadly not laminated ) so that we eat on time, the kids don't get trodden on with me running around like a headless chicken and I don't end up yelling at anyone to get out of my way tiny kitchen.

You sound so lovely and thoughtful, I hope you have a fantastic Christmas :))