40 Products Every Host Absolutely Needs For When The Squad Comes Over
Volunteering your house for friend gatherings is no joke. Being the ultimate party hosting hero takes a lot of time, effort, and cool gadgets to be quite honest. In my years of hosting TV series marathons, board game nights, and more, I've found my fair share of products I could not host a party without. Here are 40 awesome party hosting gadgets to get before your next event!
Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.This Cactus Taco Holders
Amazon
Because the sad truth of tacos is that they don't stand on their own, and that means a taco stand of the utmost importance. I think these cactus taco stands are adorable and pair well.
See it on AmazonWine Glass Markers Because No One Keeps Track
Amazon
When you have that many people over your house, sometimes people lose track of their cups. Wine glass markers are absolutely necessary to avoid the confusion and extra washing of glasses. Believe me.
See it on AmazonThis Robot Mop
Amazon
After the party, I am always too tired to even contemplate cleaning up. Luckily a little mop robot helps clean up the extra little messes when I crash on the couch after a long night.
See it on AmazonThis Dip Ramekin Holder
Amazon
If you have lots of sauces out with the appetizers, this ramekin holder is the perfect thing to store them in. They come with little lids and spoons that fit perfectly together whether the cover is on or off.
See it on AmazonThese Stackable Beverage Dispensers
Amazon
If you make many different drinks at your gathering, get these stackable beverage dispensers so you don't have to worry about any pitchers falling over and making a mess. Trust me, I've been there before.
See it on AmazonThese Reusable Popcorn Boxes For Movie Night
Amazon
These popcorn boxes are a must-have for movie night. I haven't gone to the movie theater in so long because I've perfected my at-home movie nights with my friends. It's such a better experience and saves a lot of money.
See it on AmazonThis Food Warming Tray
Amazon
For some reason, everyone at a party refuses to want to eat at the same time. Instead of heating up everyone's food in the microwave when they are ready, keep them in some buffet food warming trays so fresh food can be served any time.
See it on AmazonA Buffet Caddy
Amazon
A buffet caddy to place all your plates, napkins, and utensils for easy accessibility. This caddy is definitely perfect for large gatherings as it can hold so many plates at once without an issue.
See it on AmazonThis Ice Cooler Table
Amazon
No more bending down into a short cooler to grab your sodas with this ice cooling table. This is a great table to keep out by the pool during a bbq party. It keeps all the drinks cool, yet easily accessible!
See it on AmazonThis Drinking Card Game
Amazon
If it's late at night and you've run out of things to do at your gathering, sometimes a good, old-fashioned reliable drinking card game is the way to go. This one is simple and easy to follow which is super convenient for the lazy.
See it on AmazonA Three Tier Appetizer Tray
Amazon
I do not have enough room on my tables to serve the food I make at parties, so a tiered serving platter is an absolute must. I don't know what I would do without it. I'd have to have my friends hold platters in their spare time otherwise.
See it on AmazonA Six Shot Glass Dispenser
Amazon
Line 6 shot glasses under the dispenser and pour away! In no time you will fill up all the shot glasses. Plus, guests love the visual effect of this little glass dispenser.
See it on AmazonThese Hugging Salt and Pepper Shakers
Amazon
I love how adorable these salt and pepper shakers are They look like two little people hugging and it's so cute. I get lots of comments about these shakers every time somebody comes over. Money well spent.
See it on AmazonThis Toothpick Dispenser That Looks Like A Deer In A Field
Amazon
This is such an aesthetically pleasing toothpick holder. I feel like everyone wants a toothpick when I put this out on the table just because of how clever it looks. I don't have a huge need for toothpicks often, but it's still a nice little accessory for the dinner table.
See it on AmazonThese Food Umbrellas To Keep The Bugs Out
Amazon
My pet peeve of hosting outdoor gatherings has been solved! I know these food umbrellas aren't that ingenious but they get the job done and that's all I've ever wanted. Goodbye flies.
See it on AmazonThis Movie Night Popcorn Kernal and Seasoning Kit
Amazon
Want to bring your popcorn to the next level with this popcorn-making kit? You'll be having all your friends and family obsessively eating popcorn all night throughout your series marathon binge.
See it on AmazonA Stainless Steel Coffee Urn
Amazon
Whenever we host large gatherings, we have to make 3 pots of coffee to serve everyone. This really takes the busy work off the coffee making because it allows us to make the coffee in advance and fill this urn up, ready for anyone at any moment.
See it on AmazonThis Cheese Fondue Maker
Amazon
And, why stop at chocolate? Fondue is just as much enjoyed by family and friends. I think this fondue pot is super easy to clean and use and I've never had an issue with it after 6 years of consistent use.
See it on AmazonA Karaoke Machine
Amazon
Don't underestimate how fun karaoke can be at a party. If you know people who can sing, a karaoke machine can bring life to a party and get people to loosen up a little if they don't know each other.
See it on AmazonThese Beautifully Colored Porcelain Bowls
Amazon
I like these bowls because of how vibrant and different all of them are. I get compliments about how pretty these bowls are every time I pull them out for ice cream after dinner!
See it on Amazon18 Mini Chalk Boards For Personalized Table Labels
Amazon
I love these reusable chalkboards so I can label all the food I put out. That way I don't have to answer 100 questions about what I made for dinner. I already made the dinner, I don't need any more work lol.
See it on AmazonThis Professional Citrus Juicer
Amazon
Making homemade orange juice has never been easier, with this citrus juicer. The speed at which this fills up my cup is almost astounding. I am always shocked at how dry the orange is when I am finished.
See it on AmazonThis Cheese Platter With Cheese Serving Utensils
Amazon
People always love cheese and crackers. It doesn't even have to be fancy cheese. I promise you can slice Kraft cheese into fancy slices and put it on this cheese board and somebody will still eat the whole plate up.
See it on AmazonThis Heavy-Duty Prize Wheel
Amazon
It's often hard to make decisions about what to do with large gatherings. In these scenarios, we leave it to the all-powerful wheel. One movie night, we take the most popular movies people are interested in seeing, spin the wheel, and listen to its result!
See it on AmazonThis Pricey Cocktail Maker
Amazon
I'm saving up for this cocktail maker next. It's essentially like a coffee Keurig machine but with alcoholic beverages instead. It might be pricey but it will give me some free time on my hands because my friends will stop asking me to make them drinks.
See it on AmazonThis Glorious Chocolate Fountain
Amazon
People get so hyped when they see a chocolate fountain. I mean why wouldn't they? It's just a warm sheet of chocolate that is waiting to coat tons of fruits, cookies, brownies and marshmallows!
See it on AmazonDinner Party Table Topics
Amazon
If you're trying to introduce a bunch of new friends to each other, getting a table topics card set is a good way to break the ice. I definitely have seen this take the tension and awkwardness out of certain parties with strangers.
See it on AmazonThis Tiered Cupcake Holder With LIGHTS
Amazon
This is really the best way to showcase your supreme baking skills. Every time I put cupcakes on this stand, it looks like such a work of art and everyone is so excited to dig in.
See it on AmazonThis Card Game: CodeNames
Amazon
This is by far my favorite party game. I don't know anyone who has played this and has not enjoyed it. It's particularly a good game to play in teams so it's good for medium to large gatherings.
See it on AmazonThis Complete Cocktail Shaker Set
Amazon
This cocktail set is ready to make literally ANY drink under the sun. I really love the wooden stand it comes with. It keeps all the pieces organized without any fear of losing them.
See it on AmazonThis Automatic Electric Countertop Ice Maker
Amazon
This isn't the most necessary party product, but this icemaker is a nice convenience to have especially for outdoor parties. Definitely beats running back and forth from the fridge to outside.
See it on AmazonThis Electric Wine Decanter
Amazon
This electric wine decanter aerates the wine, and it serves the wine too? Wow, what a win-win situation. This seems like such a perfect way to serve your next bottle of wine.
See it on AmazonMood Lighting
Amazon
This sunset projection lamp is great for parties that give off a particular vibe. Sometimes the right atmosphere can bring a lot of energy to a party without you doing any extra work.
See it on AmazonThese Bamboo Cocktail Picks
Amazon
These picks are perfect for cocktails and little foods on a platter. I use these by the hundreds sometimes because of how useful they are. I really like how the knot on top makes them look fancier than they actually are.
See it on AmazonThese Wooden Vintage Serving Tray
Amazon
I like these trays for a variety of reasons. I put tons of appetizers on these trays during parties and when I am not hosting, I use them for breakfast in bed. It's a really nice treat for a special someone.
See it on AmazonResusable Dinner Napkins
Amazon
You can never have enough paper towels when hosting a party, so reusable dinner napkins are the best way to go about this dilemma. These are extremely easy to wash and are made of thick high-quality materials.
See it on AmazonThese Fancy Name Cards
Amazon
Reusable name cards are great to have around when you need to seat people in a particular way at a dinner table. If you are good at calligraphy writing, you can make some gorgeous name cards with these.
See it on AmazonSome Cocktail Umbrellas
Amazon
These cocktail umbrellas are so festive and great for summer parties with lots of cocktails. Just be careful thought, these break really easily and tear the second they get wet.
See it on AmazonThis High-Quality Knife Sharpener
Amazon
When you host as many gatherings as I do, your knives get really dull, really quickly. Having a high-quality knife sharpener like this one will save you a lot of trouble, and you'll be relieved how cutting any meat or vegetables is a breeze after sharpening.
See it on Amazon