New Year's Day Brunch Open House: Food, Seating, Rentals

An open house is the easiest way to host a crowd on Jan 1. People wake up late, stop by for an hour, eat, and head home to the couch. It works well in a Chicago apartment or a house in January, when everyone wants somewhere warm to go. The details are different from a dinner party, though. Food has to hold, seats have to turn over, and rentals have to leave after a holiday.

Plan the hours and the headcount

Pick a window of 3 to 4 hours, such as 11 am to 2 pm. List the people you invite, and expect most, not all, to come. Some will bring a friend you did not count. Plan food for about the number you invited.

The trick is that guests arrive in waves. At a peak, maybe two thirds of your list is in the room at once. You do not need a chair for each of them.

Seat about half

A drop-in party works with fewer seats than guests. People stand with a plate, sit for 20 minutes, then move on. A rule of thumb for a casual open house is seating for 40 to 50 percent of the guest count, and a mix of heights.

Round 30-inch cocktail tables give people a place to set a plate while standing. Small 36-inch or 48-inch rounds seat 4 to 6. See round table sizes.

A buffet that holds for hours

A brunch buffet sits out for a long time. Choose food that stays good, and keep hot food hot.

Use chafing dishes with fuel for hot items, and swap in fresh trays every hour or so. See how many chafing dishes and buffet line flow. For food safety, hot food should stay hot and cold food cold. Follow the basics in food safety at home parties. Do not leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, the widely used guideline.

Coffee that does not run out

Guests drink more coffee than you expect, especially on Jan 1. A rule of thumb is 1 to 2 cups per guest over a brunch. A 100-cup urn covers a crowd of 50 or more, and a smaller one fits a party of 20. Offer hot water for tea and cocoa, and keep milk and sugar in small bowls.

Read how many coffee urns for a party and coffee and tea service rental. Place the coffee away from the buffet, so one line does not block the other.

What most hosts find out too late

• Holiday pickup is slow. Many rental companies close or run short hours on Jan 1, and the day after is busy. Ask for pickup on Jan 2 or later, and check the exact window.
• Delivery needs a plan for Dec 30 or 31. Order early for New Year's week, because it is busy. Deliver on Dec 30 and keep the items boxed until the morning of the party, or ask about earliest options.
• Guests bring their coats and their kids. A coat rack at the door saves a bed pile. See coat racks for winter events.

What to rent

• Small and cocktail tables for plates and drinks
• Chairs for about half your guests, or a mix of chairs and a bench
• Chafing dishes, serving utensils and a warming tray
• Coffee urn, mugs or cups, spoons
• Plates, forks and napkins, or a rental set you rinse and return
• Linens in a simple solid color

If your party leans toward a late night, see New Year's Eve party at home. For a larger sit-down brunch, see brunch party rentals for 20 to 50.

Plan your open house

Get a quote with your guest count and dates, or book a free 15-minute planning call. One call covers tables, chairs, chafing dishes and the coffee setup. Browse /rentals/catering-equipment for serving gear.