The joy of Christmas dinner lies in gathering loved ones around the table, but hosting can feel like a juggling act when your family’s needs and preferences vary.
Whether it’s making space for kids, or honouring long-standing traditions, creating a welcoming environment takes thoughtful planning.
This year, why not go the extra mile to ensure every guest feels at home? From setting up a cosy ambience to serving crowd-pleasing dishes, here are tips to make your Christmas dinner a celebration everyone will remember.
The Speckled Palate states that you need to consider the guests’ travel time and schedule for your Christmas dinner and also start early and end late to accommodate everyone’s schedule.
It is stated that you make a loose outline of the day to allow time for cooking and preparation and ask guests to bring food or drink items to ensure enough food for everyone.
The above source continues to advise that you plan seating, food and drink stations, and spaces for guests to interact with the food. It is further suggested that you label dishes with sticky notes to avoid forgetting or panicking while using different serving platters, bowls, and pottery to add colour and fun.
To make guests feel welcome, leave essentials like towels, alarm clock, hairdryer, and toiletries in their room and write helpful tips for their stay, claims the Food&Wine publication.
The mentioned source states that if you don’t have a designated guest room, create one and make it feel real.
“Whether it’s an air mattress in your office or a sofa in the living room, dress it up like a real bed. Designate a “nightstand” for them (this can be a cleared-off table or bookshelf or a stack of books) and set out an eye mask or earplugs if your guest is sleeping in a common area.”
These tips are trusted to make guests feel welcome and save you time during their stay.
Also see: Minimalist strategies to create a cosy Christmas environment
