Grandmas just know how to do it best. They bake the tastiest bread, create the most gorgeous table spreads, and make guests feel welcome, cozy, and at ease. In today’s heavily digitized, AI-inundated, “quiet luxury” world, it’s no wonder we’re all craving some of those easy comforts from Grandma’s time.
That said, as we enter the hosting season, perhaps the best approach is to take some cues from yesteryear when bringing all your favorite people together.
Set the Table the Night Before
There’s a long list of to-do’s on the day of an event. As a gift to future yourself, take some inspiration from Grandma by setting the table the night before any party or family gathering.
“My grandma, Mommom, always made an event of setting the table the night before any party or family gathering,” says Genevieve Dreizen, modern day etiquette expert. “We’d stay over the night before Thanksgiving to help her with this ritual which allowed her more time in the morning to start baking and one less thing to worry about.”
You can even go one step further by placing notes that indicate where each serving dish will land. Along with alleviating some day-of stress, this instantly sets the mood for the next day.
Serve a Signature Punch
A signature punch is one of the easiest ways to evoke a sense of nostalgia while creating a communal (and tasty) experience at social gatherings. Plus, they come in all sorts of flavors.
“Punches are trending again because of the nostalgia and the practicality for the hostess and guests. I prefer to serve a punch versus spend time mixing and pouring craft cocktails because it allows me more time to mingle,” says Kristen Sellentin, lifestyle content creator. “When I need a drink recipe I go to mixologists on social media for recipes and inspiration or beverage brand websites which provide recipes and quick tutorial videos.”
Scout your local thrift store for a vintage punch bowl. You can find some stunning crystal sets including cups and serving ladle.
Create Personalized Place Cards
If the event calls for it, personalized place cards are a tiny detail that can make your guests feel extra welcome. It also provides them with a little token to take home with them so they remember the event.
“Place cards have long been a tradition for party hosts to help seat their guests, and my Grandma always placed a plain paper tent with our names printed across at her holiday tables,” Sellentin says. “The trend now is to get creative with heartfelt keepsakes, edible personalized favors, and themed pairings that help people find their seat and also work into the centerpiece.”
Fully Stock the Bathroom
Cleaning the bathrooms is already on your hosting to-do list, but consider going the extra mile by stocking this space with extra essentials and thoughtful touches. For essentials, this means extra toilet paper within sight (ideally in one of those cute holders, à la Grandma) and hand towels for both decoration and use, says lifestyle content creator Imani Keal.
For those extra touches, include a bowl of mints, tissues in a decorative box, hand lotion, a sewing kit and stain remover (just in case), and a vase filled with fresh flowers.
Have a fresh, dry hand towel ready to swap out mid-party so guests don’t have to use a soggy towel.
Decorate With a Homemade Centerpiece
A key staple at the table at grandma’s house? A centerpiece, often one with a hand-spun sort of feel. “You can create a charming, budget-friendly centerpiece for your gathering using items like fresh flowers, fruits, or seasonal foliage,” Sellentin says.
She adds, “I love to use what I have on hand like fresh flowers, vegetables, greenery, or pine cones from my yard, and a variety of vases and candlesticks holding textured taper candles.” The latest trend is to use items from the garden, like tomatoes or herb clippings.
Relax With Coffee and Dessert
The smell of roasted coffee at the end of the meal—with the promise of a tasty dessert on its way—is a great way to wind things down. “Something I won’t recommend is the grandma-habit of jumping up 100 times during the meal to get something, but at the end of the meal the best part was always when grandma finally relaxes and can just share a warm cup of tea or coffee with everyone, usually over a cake from the local bakery,” Dreizen says. Some of the best conversations happen in these low-key, “everything is done” moments.
Bake a treat, pick one up, or when one of your guests asks, ‘What can I bring?’ take them up on it and say, ‘Dessert would be great!’ Also make sure to have some decaf options.
