The summer is over and the weather is cooler so let's get together at our house on the porch, in the yard or all over the house! Your house may not be perfect, you may not have the best of everything or your home may not be an interior designer's showplace but it's home and when they love you they will love visiting you at your home too. Just invite the people you know who will accept you and your home just the way you and your house are. Don't make the experience so stressful that you won't be able to enjoy your guests. Don't worry about inviting the people who may stand in judgment of you. Make it a pleasant experience.
Will your kids be included in the entertainment equation? Don't include your kids if they are going to be miserable. If your guests are bringing their kids then you'll need to make sure you have proper accommodations and activities for them to enjoy. Otherwise, think about having your kids visit another home or venue if they will not be included in the plans for your adult guests.
Do you have enough chairs for seating? Even though some guests may prefer standing, I suggest you move chairs into your entertaining areas from other areas in your home so you can offer everyone a seat, in particular when they are eating.
Focus on the big impact items on your to do list for making your house entertainment ready. Is the bathroom clean and working properly? Have paper products readily available for replacements as needed. That's much more important than if you've dusted your baseboards or if your pantry is organized. It may not be necessary to mop all the floors or vacuum all the carpet flooring but you'll want to make sure everything is off the floor. You want to eliminate trip hazards and situations which may cause problems for your guests. Move the clutter into storage areas even if temporarily until you have more time to file away or put away items permanently.
What's the best place for your pets? Since your pets may not enjoy being with your guests then you may want to move them into a space where they will be more comfortable and your guests will too.
Keep it simple! No need to overly decorate. People who really want to enjoy their visit don't expect all that. Invite the people who appreciate you and want to see you and your other guests and do not have great expectations for your overdoing it.
Serve simple foods that don't require a lot of work. You don't want to be trapped in the kitchen or working on the grill for long periods of time. Don't choose foods to serve that you'll have to work really hard to keep hot or cold. Simply put, most of your guests just want food and drinks. They will not be that selective unless they have special food needs or exceptions. Ask about their special needs before they visit.
They will likely not expect the full service treatment if they are visiting you at your home. Serve them food on disposable products if you're going to be overly burdened getting dirty dishes into the dishwasher later.
Is the temperature right? Typically, it's best to set the thermometer a few degrees lower than normal when you have a house full of guests. It's much easier for the person who gets a little chilly to grab a sweater than it is to control a guest's total meltdown when they get too hot, especially when they're drinking alcohol.
When will they leave? Most guests will know when to leave but if you are ready to shut things down the best thing to do is signal them with your increase in cleaning up and shutting down the lights. They'll usually know when it's time. Control the alcohol throughout the gathering because you don't want them to leave intoxicated. Offer coffee or water if needed and always be prepared to offer a pillow and a blanket if someone needs time to sleep it off.
It's been a good gathering my friends!