A Simple Hospitality Plan + A Checklist for Meaningful Gatherings
When I was a kid having guests in our home meant the stress level was about to elevate. Simple hospitality was not on the menu. Usually the menu was something we would only have when guests came, which translated to more stress.
That’s exactly why I created a simple hospitality plan you can customize to your style, energy level, and guest list. No overthinking, no striving—just thoughtful preparation that leaves space for connection.
This post is a natural extension of hospitality vs. hosting, but it offers more than ideas—it gives you a plan. Something you can return to whenever you’re ready to open your door (even if your laundry basket is still full). It’s not about impressing people. It’s about making room—for them, for you, for real conversation and real life.
To help make that shift easier, I’ve put together a free printable checklist you can use as a loose guide whenever you’re planning a gathering, whether it’s coffee with a friend or a meal with a crowd. Consider it your hospitality safety net—gentle structure so you can focus on what really matters.
Hospitality Made Simple – Intentional Hosting Checklist
Let’s walk through the checklist together. Think of it less like a to-do list and more like a rhythm—something you can follow loosely and adapt for your season of life.
1. Set the Intent
Before you pull out a single dish or dust a surface, take a moment to ask: Why am I inviting people in?
Is it to connect? To encourage? To celebrate something? This quiet pause will shape everything else. It will help you know what kind of gathering to create—whether it’s soup and bread on a Tuesday or scones and coffee on the porch.
You don’t need to write it down, but naming your intent helps hospitality feel rooted, not rushed.
2. Pick the Date and Time
Don’t overcomplicate it—just pick something that works for you, even if it’s a little unconventional. Weeknight dinners, slow Saturday mornings, or afternoon snacks after school pickup all count.
Remember: simplicity makes it sustainable.
If you’re including kids, consider their rhythms. If you’re inviting neighbors, maybe a shorter window feels easier. Let the time reflect the tone you want to set.
3. Choose a Menu That Works With Your Day
This isn’t the moment to try a new recipe (unless it excites you). Choose something you’ve made before or can prep ahead—or assemble quickly. These are the kind of meals that make memories, so I lean towards comforting food that goes a long way.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Soup + Sandwiches (so yummy!)
- Breakfast – for breakfast or dinner (our favorite is hash brown bowls)
- Pot pie – a crowd favorite (hearty and satisfying)
- Gumbo – tastes even better the next day
- Spaghetti with meatballs and sausage – also easy to prep ahead
Next week, I’ll be sharing one of my favorite go-to recipes that fits this kind of gathering beautifully (and links right back to this checklist).
4. Tidy, Don’t Deep Clean
I remember how my mom would have everyone do their weekly cleaning chores the day a guest was coming. This felt counterintuitive, as it was inevitable that with additional people around the house would be dirty again as soon as they passed the threshold. I know it was her way of presenting her best, but for me, I keep it simple.
Clean the bathroom, clear surfaces, light a candle. That’s enough. Really. People don’t remember your baseboards—they remember how they felt in your home. And sometimes, the undone corners are what make them feel most at ease.
5. Prepare a Gathering Space
This doesn’t have to mean rearranging furniture. It might just be clearing a spot on the kitchen table or tossing a throw over the couch.
Think: Where will people linger? Make that spot feel like an invitation—somewhere to sit, a place to set down a drink, maybe a soft light nearby.
Even one cleared space can shift the tone from “everyday” to “come sit awhile.”
6. Add a Thoughtful Touch (Optional—but Fun)
If you feel up for it, add something small. I usually let my kids take over this task. They like to set the table and no matter how it looks, I let them do their own thing.
- A handful of wildflowers in a jar
- Cloth napkins instead of paper
- A hand-written name tag at each place
- Low candles as a centerpiece
These touches are never required, but they can be your creative outlet if you enjoy the details.
7. Take a Breath Before Guests Arrive
This one might sound unnecessary, but it’s secretly the most powerful part of the checklist. Pause. Sit down for two minutes. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Open the door to your heart before the doorbell rings.
I usually take a minute to myself and freshen up, change my clothes, etc. Welcoming starts with our own posture—not the one our body holds, but the one our spirit takes. So check in with yourself and make sure you are present.
8. Greet Without Apology
As someone who has often highlighted all the things that “weren’t right” when guests come over, it can be tough to make the shift to give yourself grace.
If you find yourself saying, “Sorry it’s a mess” or qualifying the imperfections, take a breath and offer something different: “I’m so glad you’re here.” That simple phrase is a gift to your guest and to yourself. It says: This home—and this moment—doesn’t need to be perfect to be sacred.
The Heart of Hosting
At its core, hosting isn’t about impressive meals or spotless rooms. It’s about making space—physical, emotional, spiritual—for others to feel safe, seen, and a little less alone. When we approach our homes with intention, even the smallest gathering can feel like something sacred.
So whether you’re welcoming neighbors, old friends, or just your own family around the table tonight, let this be your gentle reminder: you’re not curating perfection—you’re cultivating presence. Check out this post for more ideas on hospitality and not hosting.
Be sure to print out your free checklist as a visual reminder.
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