When inviting guests over the best way to make them feel welcome is to be the first person they see when arriving and the last person they see when leaving. Greet each guest warmly and give them a friendly smile. Don’t get edgy with the family when expecting guests, they will smell it a mile away. Don’t worry over small things. It’s the spirit of the home that guests will remember long after the visit is over. Plan to have fun and socialize.

Try to have everything done when your guests arrive. Your house should be clean and music playing, a perfect tone to welcome your guests. Be ready to open the door when they ring the bell.Set lights at a low level and flowers are a nice touch, as are scented candles. Make sure there is plenty of room to hang up coats or lay them across a bed in a pinch. Serve at least a little something before dinner, if you are serving dinner, cookies, cheese sticks or raw veggies with dip before serving the meal.

Have soft drinks, juice and wine available. Have the dining table set and food ready to go on the table. Put together a simple meal or order from your favorite food place if you don’t want to spend the time in the kitchen. It really doesn’t matter, friendly visits should be enjoyed by all and not experienced as a stressful event. If everything isn’t perfect so be it.

You don’t necessarily have to serve guests a meal. Plan the visit in the middle of the afternoon and serve drinks and snacks, or the middle of the morning. But if the invitation is around meal time, do provide a meal.