our zero-fuss guide to fall entertaining
Fall is the ultimate season for entertaining: Aside from the weather being absolutely blissful, the ambiance, scenery and delicious flavors seem to have everyone in a celebratory mood.
We can’t think of a better time to host an indulgent fall feast at home with our favorite friends and family!
To help you throw the most memorable, fun, and hassle-free get-together this fall, we've put together a guide of 11 tried-and-true tips we swear by for effortless entertaining.
Here's your cue to celebrate the season in wonderfully low-key style...
11.
less is more for your decor
If decorating is your thing, a festive fall aesthetic can be easily achieved with just a few budget-friendly touches!
Resist the urge to go overboard here - Keep it sweet & simple by hanging a wreath in earthy fall tones on your front door, or grouping a few seasonal objects on your entryway table.
You can’t go wrong with a neutral palette of understated fall decor: We love tall vases filled with fluffy stems of pampas grass, a variety of interesting little pumpkins, or a luxe three-wick scented candle.
Why We Love It
Color schemes are already so naturally gorgeous in the fall - so your edible delights will likely be pretty enough to steal the show on their own!
A tray of welcome drinks is a sumptuous visual display to greet your guests, and little dishes of candies, spiced nuts or popcorn add seasonal charm to any table you scatter them around on.
10.
HAVE FUN PLAYING HUNTER-GATHERER
Leisurely stroll around the farmer's market or orchard, anyone? Branch out from the stress of grocery store runs with this delightful spin on shopping for your party menu.
Shopping for fresh produce, artisan cheeses & locally-made gourmet treats at the Farmer's Market is such a delight in fall. Why not make a day of your shopping adventure - There's no better place to spark fresh ideas for your party menu and pick up the most beautiful in-season ingredients!
Grab your favorite shopping buddy and linger over a delicious latte while enjoying some samples and filling your Market Tote with gourmet treats!
Why We Love It
Chances are, you'll also find some delicious antipasto, nuts, flowers, honey & more while you're there - all lovely little details that help bring your celebration together.
shop market tote
9.
welcome a STRESS-FREE APPETIZER
Ditch the time-consuming passed apps with this delicious and easy alternative that brings everyone together.
Instead of predictable old chips and dips, serve up a delicious Charcuterie Board to hold everyone over while you finish cooking the main event.
Need some inspiration for your grazing board? Check out our guide, 3 Show-Stopping Charcuterie Boards to Impress Your Guests and learn how to level up your apps game for good.
Why We Love It
With minimal cooking and maximum wow-factor, these easy-prep starters never fail to get the *dinner* party started! Check out this gorgeous Ambrosia Maple board we simply can't live without:
8.
PARTY TIME VIBE CHECK
The secret to ensuring a festive mood and high-energy guests? Provide some lighthearted entertainment cues to break the ice and keep the party atmosphere going.
If it's lovely out, encourage guests to get their game on and roll out the cornhole set. And you can’t forget everyone’s favorite fall hangout - guests love gathering around a cozy firepit like moths to the flame!
Weather keeping you indoors? Try a grown-up scavenger hunt, all-night trivia quiz, or challenge everyone to a cocktail-making contest. What's more, you can always crank the cozy vibes up a notch with a looped ambiance video of a crackling fireplace playing on your TV - prepare for serious log cabin vibes.
Why We Love It
Stuffy sit-down dinner parties are never as fun as gatherings where guests wander, interact and enjoy the ambiance! All it takes is a few fun points of interest scattered around to keep the fun flowing.
7.
MAKE A BIG-BATCH SIGNATURE DRINK
Whether your guest list calls for cocktails, mocktails, or cozy warm drinks, this trend is the perfect way to streamline your time and keep everyone’s cup from running dry!
Cut down the fuss of playing bartender all night by setting up a self-serve drink station. You can settle on one signature drink recipe for the night, and mix up a big batch in a pretty glass drink dispenser or punch bowl.
Alternatively, pick out a selection of seasonal drink mixers, garnishes and mix-ins, then arrange the ingredients on pretty display. This encourages guests to help themselves and play mixologist, taking the job off your hands!
Why We Love It
Aside from being a great ice-breaker and cost-saving alternative to stocking up a full home bar, this festive self-serve drink station idea lets you get on with other host duties and enjoy your company!
6.
cook some crowd-pleasing pasta
Want to warm up the whole house and keep every palate happy? Everybody loves pasta - So crank up the oven for a delicious and crowd-pleasing baked pasta dish!
The best part about baked main dishes is that most of the prep can be done ahead of time - putting you out where the action is so you’re not stuck in the kitchen all night.
Try a hands-off baked pasta recipe like our Not-So-Classic Lasagna or this cozy Baked Mushroom & Prosciutto Penne. Then you can focus on what you brought everyone together for - catching up with all your favorite people!
Why We Love It
Everyone loves baked pasta dishes, and they're a great meat-free main for vegetarians! You can't go wrong with a set-and-forget 3 Farm Daughters Pasta dish, plus some crusty bread & salad alongside!
shop the pasta
5.
KEEP your RECIPES AT A GLANCE
Let's face it: Digital recipes can be a nuisance when cooking for a crowd! Things might seem a bit chaotic in the kitchen once guests arrive, so cut down distractions and interruptions to your cooking flow with printed recipes in a handy binder!
There’s nothing worse than being midway through a recipe step - with messy fingers, of course - and suddenly your phone or tablet screen goes dark, or your recipe is interrupted by a text from one of your guests arriving late.
Cut down the tech clutter and bring a relaxing, tactile experience to your cooking adventures by printing out the recipes for your fall menu and stashing them in your 3 Farm Daughters Recipe Binder.
Why We Love It
A recipe binder is the ultimate way to archive all your favorite recipes in one place!
get yours here
4.
outsource the dessert!
Unless baking is your style of therapy, there’s no need to stress yourself out making homemade cakes and cookies. We promise nobody will mind one bit that you didn't bake it yourself...
If there’s one thing fall is famous for, it’s the vast array of high quality, ready-to-serve desserts on offer at bakeries, food markets and farm stands right now!
Serve up a sweet (and easy!) finale to your feast with an impressive store-bought dessert paired with some ultra-luxe ice cream and fresh fruit.
From handmade fruit pies to comforting baked goods like brownies, spiced bundt cakes or seasonal cheesecakes - you’re bound to find plenty of elegant desserts fit for a party.
Why We Love It
Whenever we serve a store-bought dessert, there's always someone who's totally delighted to try the latest goodies from their favorite bakery - it's win-win!
3.
dress the part
It goes without saying that buttery-soft sweaters are the perfect match for fall gatherings. But keeping your outfit free of food splatters while you prepare the feast is another thing entirely...
Luckily, all it takes is a stylish apron to take you from kitchen to table in style whilst protecting your favorite new fall ‘fit.
Complement your cozy-glam look with The Essential Apron from Three Farm Daughters - it’s designed with so many thoughtful features essential to busy cooks, you’ll wonder how you ever hosted without it!
Why We Love It
Crafted in collaboration with Hedley & Bennett, this apron is the ultimate in comfort, style and versatility for all your cooking adventures.
2.
KEEP 'EM COZY
To help everyone feel at home, there’s no better statement of warmth and friendship than a big basket of cozy throw blankets for your guests to bundle up in!
Perfect for post-dinner games or storytelling around the fire, a few cozy blankets really add some charm to your gathering and make it one for the books.
On special occasions, you may even like to offer a beautiful basket of rolled-up blankets tied in festive ribbon for guests to take home with them.
Why We Love It
Whether you love the idea of giving blankets as an elegant and thoughtful parting gift, or providing some comforting coziness after dinner, this sweet touch is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression and fond memories with your guests for years to come!
1.
RECRUIT YOUR SQUAD
Above all else, don’t forget we all get by with a little help from our friends! (Trust us, they definitely want to help out.)
Chances are, your friends will be over the moon if you ask them to bring something specific or help out in a meaningful way.
As guests, we always love it when we’re tasked with a special request - mainly so we’re not left guessing about what to bring as a token gift so we don’t show up empty-handed!
Pro-Tip:
If your friends are anything like ours, it’s even easier rustling up some extra sets of hands to help if you’ve got wine and snacks on hand for a little good-natured bribery! ;)
Last but not least, we couldn't help but mention the importance of using the very best ingredients you can get your hands on when you're entertaining.
Not only will the highest quality ingredients taste amazing, they'll require little extra effort from you to make them super delicious!
When hosting a fabulous fall gathering, just any old pasta won't do! Experience the Three Farm Daughters difference today and finally meet the gourmet pasta your dinner parties have been waiting for...
taste the difference
READ NEXT: 5 Delicious Pasta Dinners to Cozy Up To This Fall
Want some more inspiration for your fall dinner party dishes? We've got you!
shop our favorite essentials
the market tote
by three farm Daughters
The Take-With-You-Everywhere Tote
Roomy Interior with Sleeve & Wine Pockets
Premium Golden Jute Fiber Construction
Soft Leather Handles
Holds Over 100lbs!
Water Resistant & Durable
charcuterie board
by three farm Daughters
One-of-a-Kind Design
14” Round Serving Board with Handle
Premium Ambrosia Maple Construction
Proudly Handcrafted in the USA
the recipe binder
by three farm Daughters
Stores All Your Favorite Recipes in One Place
Holds Up To 300 Recipes
Wipe-Clean Gloss Finish
Recipe Divider Binder Tabs also available
