6 New Ways To Host A Housewarming Slideshow

Ever been to a restaurant or a party where you've wanted to devour every single dish you spot? Yeah. So have we. The solution? Serve up mini versions of all your favorite foods. And as there is nothing better on a weekend than a low-key, midday brunch where guests can stop by (for a tour) and a bite to eat, then go, it's the perfect gathering for a housewarming. Prepare miniature versions of breakfast favorites, like pancakes and bacon, and add in more savory options like egg sandwiches and quiches. Ask guests to bring the makings for their favorite breakfast beverage (be it OJ, java in a box, or mimosas). (Gifting breakfast table staples like egg cups and beautiful napkins is optional.)

If you entertain frequently, nothing is worse than an unstocked bar or an empty wine rack. So if you've recently moved, use the opportunity to have your friends does the restocking for you. Ask each guest to bring a bottle of liquor; read our tips for what to have here. (You might need to make requests, as wouldn't you rather end up with a full bar than 15 bottles of vodka?) As host, provide a signature drink that is easy to make for a crowd, like sangria, margaritas, or boozy lemonade, and assemble a spread of snacks, like dressed-up pizzas, chicken satay, bruschetta, and a full cheese spread. 

It's just the thing we'd host when the days turn cooler: An evening of fondue tasting and friends. While the host should supply plenty of Bourguignonne, cheese, and chocolate fondue, each guest should bring an assigned fixing, be it cubed beef, baguettes, pound cake, or bananas for the chocolate. Set the fondue up on a large table so guests can congregate and dip in one area. A dining room table is great for this; if not, a couple of card tables in different areas work, too. Just be sure to have plenty of fondue forks, small plates, and platters for all the items for dipping. (And don't forget you have to kiss the person next to you if you lose your dipper in the fondue.)

Everyone loves a potluck. Most guests enjoy contributing something to share, and a host certainly likes having some assistance when it comes to the menu. But unlike a traditional housewarming where you might package your brownies or risotto cakes in to-go containers, here you're bringing something to eat — and the gifting the dish it came in, too. It's a great gathering to host if you're moving into your first apartment — or a larger house. 

While roasts and toasts might conjure up memories of rehearsal dinners past for some, we fell in love with a similar idea for a housewarming party. Who can say no to red wine, roasted marshmallows, and melty chocolate? Set up a spread of s'more makings and garnishes, like different chocolates, berries, coconut, and spices (don't forget the grahams and marshmallows) and ask each guest to bring their own stick (and a toast). Set a fire in the fireplace or a bonfire in the fire pit then kick back with friends for a night of fun.

When you're at a party, have you ever thought about the amount of manpower that can be capitalized on for heavy lifting, unpacking, even hanging pictures? It's a lot. Just as some will "hire" their friends to move them (bribed with a beer and pizza reward, of course), host a help-me-out housewarming.

Ask your guests to come wearing grubby clothes and be ready for heavy lifting. Make a list of tasks that need to be accomplished. Once everything is done, wheel out the reward — beer and pizza is great, as are pork and lamb burgers cooked out on the grill, too. Make-your-own-sundaes are a sweet finish if you've asked a lot of your guests (though it really isn't work if you're surrounded by friends).