Host a potluck

Everyone brings a dish, nobody cooks all day.

A potluck is the easiest way to feed a crowd. The trick is a little coordination, so you get a real meal instead of six desserts.

Tips

• Assign by course, not by dish. Ask people to sign up for a main, side, salad, dessert or drinks. They pick the recipe.
• Use “What are you bringing?”. Every RSVP has a bringing field, so everyone can see what’s covered before they shop.
• Cover the basics yourself. Plates, cups, napkins, ice, serving spoons and trash bags. Guests forget those.
• Label allergens. A sticky note and a pen by the table lets people mark “nuts” or “gluten-free”.

Checklist

• Pick a date, time and place
• Send the invite and set an RSVP-by date
• Ask guests to fill in what they’re bringing
• Plates, cups, napkins and utensils
• Serving spoons and trivets
• Ice and drinks
• Table space and chairs
• Trash and recycling bags
• Containers for leftovers

Make this a plan with Before We’re Gone: free, and your guests reply without an account.