Tis the season for holiday parties and gatherings. Whether you are hosting or attending a Holiday Pot Luck this season, I’ve got some tips to make your gathering a sweet success.
Tips To Make Your Holiday Pot Luck A Success
Follow these simple tricks and tips and your holiday pot luck will go off without a hitch.
Tips for the holiday pot luck hostess
To be the hostess with the mostest, make sure to let your guests know how many other attendees there will be. That way, they are sure to bring the right amount of food or drinks. Speaking of food and drinks, creating a sign up document (I use Sign up genius) so that you have enough variety for your gathering. You don’t want to end up with 3 fruit plates. Check out Paperless Post for unique and easy e card invite options.
As the host or hostess, it’s helpful to request specific items for your friends to sign up for. Having a brunch? Ask your guests to bring French Toasts, egg casseroles or bagels for example. Assign someone to mimosas of course! Request a wide array of items so that everyone has foods to enjoy.
Tips for the holiday pot luck guests
If you have any special dietary needs (and who doesn’t these days?!), let your hostess know. Also, bring a dish that you can eat. As a vegetarian, I will always sign up to bring a main dish or a salad that I know I can enjoy. That way, your hostess does not feel bad and you don’t have to skip a meal.
Let your host/hostess know if you will need oven space to warm your dish so they can be prepared. Additionally, it’s always nice to bring whatever serving pieces your dish requires. Party hosts often don’t have enough serving pieces for all the dishes.
Hope my simple tips help to make your holiday pot luck a delicious success! Happy Holidays!
Linking up with Fairytales and Fitness
So many good tips Deborah! I also like to know WHO is invited. I find it helps me to mentally adjust, to bring a dish they like and to think of topics they like talking about (can you tell I’m a neurotic introvert?) 😉
Yes it is helpful to let your guests know who the other attendees are!
You are the hostess with the mostest! Your tip about bringing something you can eat is something I always do. My post today (a repeat) fits nicely with your post, lol!
Yes they do coordinate well!
Sounds like this is not your first pot luck rodeo! Great tips!
I have had lots of experiencing hosting lately. Not really running has me looking for some other things to write about too 🙂
Even when it’s not a potluck, I always make sure to tell the hostess of any party or holiday if I’ll need the oven. I’ve found it helpful to also give an approximate time I’ll need it for too so that they have a general idea.
Yes it’s very helpful not to surprise people that are hosting!
That was a really great tip about letting the attendees know how big of a gathering it will be! Also, great to bring a food that you know you will at least like…. I’m a picky eater, so that’s a strategy I usually employ LOL
It is important to have foods you can eat too.
Great tips! I have decided to host a Christmas Eve pot luck this year. My son and DIL will be here and they are vegetarian too. I am looking forward to cooking more vegetarian dished for their visit.
I love that you are exploring vegetarian cooking!
Luckily in my family none of us have any dietary restrictions so I think my Mom gets off kind of easy during the holiday season.
That’s nice! Happy holidays to you all
Those are great tips, Deborah! Our small running group gets together for potlucks once in a while & it’s always a lot of fun.
They are lots of fun!
I like the advice about dietary needs – while I’m not vegetarian – I always bring a vegetable dish because it always seems to be left out and not many people bring them.
Yes I agree always great to have options for everyone
This is great! Sign Up Genius is such a fantastic tool. I love it for this purpose too.
It is great we use it for school things all the time
These are all such great tips! I am attending a few potlucks, not hosting, but this will helpful in the future!!
Thanks and hope you have fun at your parties
I never thought to do a simple sign-up for my guests…that’s a great idea! I also like to know who will be at the party. Great Hosting tips here!
Thanks so much happy holidays
Great tips. I usually stress out when I have to organize some party. But not anymore. I will smash my next potluck party following your tips.
ha no need to stress!