4 Hosting Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs, According to Experts

Today's well-curated dinner parties might look oh-so-effortless, but in reality, hosting is no easy task, and it often includes making a few mistakes along the way. We asked home and hosting content creator Kenzie Elizabeth what mistakes to never make in order to perfectly execute your upcoming dinner party.

When prepping for her many dinner parties and soirees, Elizabeth ensures she never makes these hosting mishaps.

1. Not Following a Preparation Schedule

If there's one mistake to never get caught making, it's being under-prepared. Whether it's food, decor, or activities, Elizabeth says adequate prep time (ideally multiple days ahead of the event) is the key to a successful gathering. "The number one thing I make sure to never do is leave everything to the day of," she says.

Elizabeth follows a preparation schedule that works backwards from the start of the event. For example, if the party is on Saturday evening, she makes a list of food and decorations that need to be prepped the day of, one day before, two days before, and so on. That way, when it's time for the event to start, she can chat with guests and enjoy herself without stressing about what still needs to be done.

The most important part of her prep schedule is planning what and when to cook. "I always have a schedule when cooking," Elizabeth says. "I will never just cook and hope for the best." Plan around the arrival time, so all the food is ready when it's time to serve dinner. To ensure no warm dish is served cold and vice versa, try serving one hot dish with cold sides. That way, you don't have to coordinate cook times and temperatures with a handful of dishes.

2. Inviting Too Many People

Another mistake hosts make is inviting too many people, especially when their home or party space is small. Elizabeth's ideal number of guests is between six and eight for a more intimate dinner party.

"You don't need to invite 15 people," she says. "You can have an intimate dinner party that doesn't feel so crowded and crazy." Not only does a smaller guest list mean fewer people to feed (and less money spent on groceries), it also means more opportunities to talk with everyone and less stress over a bigger gathering. "Honestly, the best dinner parties I've ever thrown have been the smallest."

3. Buying Fresh Flowers for Every Event

Costs can quickly add up if you're buying groceries, fresh flowers, and new decor to fit a theme for every party or meal you host. Instead, Elizabeth suggests investing in quality pieces you can reuse. She specifically recommends purchasing real-looking artificial flowers instead of buying fresh blooms all the time.

"I used to spend a lot of money on florals for my home, even regularly," she says. Hydrangeas, Elizabeth's favorite flower, aren't native to her home state of Texas, so she wasn't able to get fresh blooms on a budget. Now, she says she uses sprigs of artificial hydrangeas (from Amazon!) for every get-together she hosts. "Once you find the right ones, you save a lot of money over time," she says. "Now I'm not always buying fresh flowers."

4. Not Writing Plans Down on Paper

One non-negotiable for Elizabeth is writing down party plans on paper, especially recipes. "If I'm cooking for a dinner party, it's in my recipe journal immediately," she says. "I write every single thing out because I learn when I'm writing."

According to Elizabeth, getting off technology before an event keeps her from getting distracted and helps her feel more organized. Plus, she can easily reference her notes in the future instead of the ideas getting lost on a phone or computer.