How to Host with Limited Space, Budget, and Time
Updated Party Rules My Grandma Probably Disagrees With
Americans now spend just 2.8 hours a week with friends- almost 60% less than a decade ago. Adding one party to your weekend solves the problem- but modern life brings new realities: dinner parties are trickier without a dining room (or even a dining table).
New realities call for new rules. Next time “too small,” “too pricey,” or “too much” gets in your way, consider these updates.
The New Rules
Share costs.
Feeding eight friends isn’t always feasible- or financially responsible. Venmo everyone their share- it’s still (much) less than a night out.
Lean into cozy.
There’s something warm about a coffee table huddle or blankets on the floor.
Pull in help.
Ask for a co-host or hand out jobs: someone DJs, another mixes drinks, everyone cleans together. I’ve shamelessly made 29-year old men get up during a football game– still friends.
Consider all the prep work.
If (you live with someone and) one of you does the whole “shower, hair, makeup, three outfit changes” thing, the other is on cleaning duty- no questions asked. Matt Dysons the floor, I Dyson my hair.
Paper is fine.
I love serveware and glassware as much as the next girl- probably more. But sometimes, disposables are better for both sanity and friendships. Remember Zoopals? Yep, I’ve done that.
Go public with RSVPs.
Shared invite tools (like Partiful) make it easy for guests- and help keep flakers in check. We all have that friend.
My way or the highway.
The best part of hosting is that I’m in charge. Yes, there will be a lot of Taylor Swift.
Kick people out.
I am sometimes (okay, often) the first one to bed. It’s totally fine- even encouraged- to say “Thanks for coming and goodnight!”
Why bother?
My happiest nights are crammed in my kitchen- pizza, cheap wine, early 2000s playlist. Or kneeling over Monopoly on a friend’s coffee table, trying not to spill on the board or let Casey (the dog) steal a game piece. Hosting can feel overwhelming, but it’s always worth it.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done with people over? Or a rule you wish more people would keep? Share your thoughts below- or let me know what you want covered next.
Cheers,
J
