When Ashley Rose Conway, creator of Craft + Cocktails, hosted a holiday happy hour for a few girlfriends, we weren’t surprised she had lots of entertaining tips, from how to create a signature cocktail to make-ahead infused syrup ideas. But what we didn’t necessarily expect was that her guests—who all happen to be notable food, fashion and lifestyle bloggers in their own right—would have plenty of entertaining tips and suggestions for how to be a good party guest. Get to know Ashley’s friends, plus their pointers on how they get invited back to the year’s best parties.
Kelly
Name: Kelly Egan
Lifestyle blog: A Side of Sweet
Her tips for being at the top of every guest list: “I never arrive empty handed. Even if your host insists that there is nothing you can bring, they’ve probably been preparing for this party for days! Even something small, like a jar of homemade preserves or some nice cheese, will be greatly appreciated. I can jams in the summer and apple butter in the fall so I always have a hostess gift ready.
“At the party, offer to help in small ways, like refilling the water glasses or putting silverware on the table. That, and I always try to drop a thank you note the mail within a week of the dinner or party. It only takes a few minutes and it will really leave an impression.”
Jeanne
Name: Jeanne Chan
Lifestyle blog: Shop Sweet Things
Her tips for being at the top of every guest list: “Always bring a hostess gift to show your appreciation. I like to bring a bottle of some spirit, a nice candle or a pretty floral arrangement—something that I know the host or hostess would enjoy. Offer to help bring empty glasses and dishes to the kitchen at the end of a party, and send a thank you note via snail mail—it’s more thoughtful.”
Alicia
Name: Alicia Lund
Lifestyle blog: Cheetah Is the New Black
Her tips for being at the top of every guest list: “I like to ease the responsibility of the host by helping wherever needed. My favorite job is pouring the cocktails–I’m pretty good at that! Also, it’s easy to forget all of the work and planning that goes into entertaining, so I always send a little note after the party to let the host know how much fun was had. Even just a text the day after is such a nice touch.”
To see more, including the holiday cocktails that were paired with these crostini, head to our Open Kitchen: Cocktails + Crostini page.
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Like the idea of the floral arrangement as hostess gift! Just make sure it doesn’t need any immediate attention, i.e. A vase! Hostess def doesn’t have time to hunt down appropriate sized vase and arrange flowers.
Also, if hostess has requested guests to bring an app or dessert, I like to bring it on a dish that serves as the hostess gift as well. No need for her to search for a platter or figure out who to return the mystery plate to!