Hosting

When your friends don’t know each other: icebreakers that aren’t cringe

Mixing friend groups is the best part of a party, and the part most hosts skip. A few small moves make sure nobody spends the night talking only to the person they came with.

Play Guess Who

Turn on “Play Guess Who?” in Know before you go. Everyone shares one fun fact when they RSVP yes.
At the table, read them out one at a time and let people guess whose is whose. It works best with 10 or fewer.
Your list is under From your guests on Messages, with whose is whose folded away so you can play too.

Introduce people with a detail

Not just names: “Sam, this is Jo. Jo just got back from Lisbon, and you’ve been wanting to go.” It hands them their first topic.
Make shared interests the starting point: two runners, two people who just moved, two dog people.

Seat people on purpose

Use place cards for a seated dinner of six or more, and split up couples and best friends.
Put a lively talker across from you and a quieter guest beside you, so you can draw them in.
Print place cards with a question on the back (Print your table). People read them when they’re ready, so nobody is put on the spot.

Give people a job

Pouring drinks, greeting at the door, carving: a small job gives a newcomer a reason to talk to everyone.
Pick social jobs, not hiding ones. Washing dishes alone in the kitchen doesn’t count.

Games everyone can enjoy watching

Choose games that are as fun to watch as to play, or cooperative ones, so nobody has to perform.
Skip anything that makes someone sing, dance or speak to the room, unless your crowd loves it.