Georgina Burke and Sixtine Share Their Top Tips for Hosting People for Drinks or Dinner

The SI Swimsuit models talk all things potlucks, bartending and creating ambience.

Georgina Burke and Sixtine.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated and Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Sixtine, a 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie, and two-time brand model Georgina Burke recently discussed their top tips for hosting people in your home and creating the perfect ambience.

Keep It Simple 

“I think you can start with anything. It doesn’t need to be extreme. It doesn’t need to be elaborate and expensive. There’s nothing wrong with BYO-ing,” the Burke NYC founder says. “You can start slow with a drinks night and then graduate to dinners, because timing food and all of that is a lot more work. Get a little ice tray and make some cocktails. YouTube is going to be your best friend to find out how to make incredible drinks.”

Sixtine notes she learned her best hosting tip from her mom: put everything in a bowl. She emphasizes that there’s no shame in having a potluck and allowing everyone to bring a different dish.

Presentation Is Key

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve bought everything at the store, presentation is key,” the body neutrality influencer adds. “Even if its guac, take it out of the [plastic container] and put it in the bowl and then everyone thinks it’s homemade and you look like a great host. No chip bags. Put it in a bowl.”

Plan Ahead

The TikTok star adds that preparing ahead of time can help ease nerves and help everything go smoothly throughout the evening.

“Prep is the biggest thing. You lay it all out. You make it easily accessible so that you’re not constantly getting up and getting everyone drinks. You lay out the open bar,” Sixtine says. “I think if it’s your friends, they know. You’re like, ‘Make yourself at home, take whatever you want.’”

“When it comes to cooking, I’ll prep that morning and have everything organized and sat,” Burke agrees. “But when it comes to drinks, I like think I’m a mixologist in training and I really love to play bartender and create things with all my friends.”

Don’t Overlook Lighting

Burke adds that her favorite way to create a cozy atmosphere and vibe is to play with the lighting.

“I love candles. There will be one lit in the main living room. There’ll be one lit in the bedroom. There’ll be one lit in the bathroom, like there’s matches everywhere,” she shares. “I’m very about smells and I love lighting and setting the ambiance. For me it’s so important to have dimmers on your switches—it just adds to the feel.”

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