Hosting Solutions: The Self Serve Champagne Bar

Kenya Todd
Jan 29
2 min read

Updated: Feb 5

Champagne Bar with glasses of various shapes and sizes

As we move further into 2025, I believe that choosing to host or attend intimate gatherings that foster community and deeper connections will become more common than attending large, impersonal events. With friends and family seeking safe, comfortable spaces, welcoming one another into our homes will emerge as the natural choice.

Hosting smaller gatherings allows you to curate a thoughtful, warm and engaging environment for guests. Where sit-down dinners require more planning and effort, buffet and self-serve stations are the ideal solution for spontaneous get-togethers and serve as an ideal way to simplify things for those who might find an elaborate planning process overwhelming.

// S E L F - S E R V E

Shutting out the chaos and enhancing as many of life’s everyday, moments in our own ways will become a significant act of self-care. For me, that sometimes looks like setting up a few appetizers and opening a bottle of my favorite champagne with a friend or two to unwind after a long week.

It's in these moments that a self-serve station allows me to create a stylish yet uncomplicated setting, relax and enjoy my guests' company. At the same time, it gives my guests the opportunity to move around letting the conversations naturally flow into different parts of my home. For a host, this is the perfect recipie for successful and meaningful connection.

// P A I R I N G S

Let your preferred champagne take center stage. I arrange a straightforward display with plenty of ice and several bottles ready to be uncorked as the evening progresses. If you opt to serve champagne cocktails, I recommend saving the champagne to enjoy by itself and keeping bottles of Prosecco on hand for mixed drinks like mimosas or any champagne cocktail you prefer.

Pair your champagne with uncomplicated appetizers that enhance its flavor. A few of my preferred pairings are brie with strawberries and pistachios, and goat cheese with grapes and walnuts but honestly, anything you have available will do just fine.

// D R I N K W A R E

I personally prefer using white wine glasses when drinking champagne, as their wider bowl and opening allow the bubbles to breathe, enhancing the wine's aroma and flavor. However, some of my guests prefer flutes, which are undeniably beautiful and always a great option. Over time, I've adopted the practice of providing a selection of different glasses so my guests can choose whichever they like. I also think that offering glasses in various shapes and hues contributes to a more relaxed ambiance.

While I usually set up the champagne bar somewhere either on the kitchen counter or island, I also differentiate spaces around the rest of the parlor with additional appetizers giving my guests the flexibility to move around. Whether you choose to host a smaller planned get together or a spontaneous one, a self-serve station is the perfect option for creating space for community and engagement.