For Devin Larson, hosting is not performance. It is experience design.

As the founder of Backcountry Bohemians, a Pacific Northwest-based digital and Super 8 wedding studio specializing in immersive wedding weekends, Devin spends her professional life crafting intentional, emotionally resonant celebrations. That perspective carries straight into her home. She starts with the food. Builds atmosphere through lighting. Curates music like it is a supporting character. And believes the most memorable gatherings are the ones where no one is checking the time.

From strategic abundance to long, family-style dinners layered with texture and candlelight, Devin’s approach proves that thoughtful hosting does not require extravagance. It requires presence. Below, she shares her signature souvlaki recipe, her favorite party trick, and the subtle shifts that make a night linger just a little longer.

Q: When planning a gathering, where do you start?

A: I start with the food. Always.

Food is the way to my heart, so it’s the first thing I think about when planning a gathering. I’ll build a menu that feels generous and inviting, usually something meant to be shared. Big bowls, seasonal ingredients, dishes that encourage people to linger and go back for seconds.

Once I know what we’re eating, the table naturally follows. The textures, the candles, the layers. I love a table that feels warm and lived-in rather than overly styled. I want it to feel like you can exhale when you sit down.

Hosting isn’t about impressing people. It’s about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable, connected, and a little reluctant to leave.

Q: Your favorite ways to break the ice?

A: I’m a big believer that the best icebreakers don’t feel like icebreakers.

If it’s a smaller gathering, I love a long, family-style table. Passing dishes naturally gets people talking. “Wait, what’s in this?” turns into “How do you know each other?” pretty quickly.

I also love a simple conversational prompt. Something like, “What’s the best meal you’ve had this year?” or “What’s a trip you’re dreaming about?” It shifts the energy from surface-level to intentional.

Music is huge. A well-curated playlist sets the tone immediately. If people feel the vibe, they relax faster.

I also introduce people with context. Instead of just names, I’ll say, “You both just got back from Italy,” or “You’re both entrepreneurs and will absolutely get into a deep conversation in five minutes.” Giving people a starting point makes everything easier.

Entertaining isn’t about activities. It’s about creating an environment where people feel comfortable enough to lean in.

Q: If you’re hosting on a budget, what matters most?

A: Lighting. Always lighting.

Candles everywhere. Dim the overhead lights. Pull a lamp from another room if you have to. Warm light instantly makes a table feel intentional.

Next would be texture. A linen tablecloth or even a neutral sheet pressed into service. Cloth napkins. Mixed plates and glasses. I love when things feel layered and collected rather than curated.

For florals, I go scrappy. Grocery store flowers broken into tiny vessels. Clippings from the yard. Small arrangements scattered down the table feel intimate.

If the lighting is right and the table feels inviting, no one is thinking about the budget. They’re thinking about staying longer.

Q: What makes a gathering truly memorable?

A: It isn’t perfection. It’s presence.

It’s when conversations stretch longer than expected. When no one is checking the time. When the table is messy because everyone went back for seconds and the candles are half melted onto the linen.

Memorable gatherings have rhythm. A moment where everyone is together. A moment where conversations splinter into smaller pockets. Music humming. Someone refilling glasses without being asked.

People do not remember the centerpiece. They remember how they felt. Seen. Included. Comfortable. Energized. That’s what I try to create.

Q: Advice for someone overwhelmed by hosting?

A: Simplify.

You do not need five courses or perfectly styled place settings. Pick one thing to care about. Maybe it is one great dish. Maybe it is the lighting. Maybe it is a playlist. Anchor yourself there.

Prep ahead. Chop vegetables earlier. Set the table before guests arrive. Light candles before anyone knocks.

And let go of perfection. People are not coming to inspect your home. They are coming to see you.

Hosting is less about performance and more about generosity.

Q: Your signature recipe?

A: My go-to is Sunset’s grilled pork souvlaki with fresh pita and homemade sides.

What I love is that it feels generous and interactive. Skewers, tzatziki, tomato-cucumber salad, olives, charred lemon, warm pita. Everyone builds their own plate and passes dishes around.

Hosting tips for this meal:

• Prep sides early
• Let guests graze while skewers grill
• Serve everything family-style
• Keep dessert simple

It creates that lingering, elbow-on-the-table energy I love.

Q: What’s your go-to dinner party soundtrack?

A: For slow, candlelit dinners, French lo-fi or soft bossa nova. For lively long tables, 90s hip hop. Someone always ends up rapping across the table.

Music sets the tone before the first course is served. It can make a night feel intimate, nostalgic, celebratory, or playful within seconds. There isn’t one perfect playlist. There is just the right soundtrack for the feeling you want to create.

Q: Your favorite party trick?

A: Strategic abundance.

I put more on the table than I technically need, but I space it out. A starter when guests arrive. The main once everyone settles. A surprise bite later. Maybe something sweet when the music shifts.

I also dim the lights slightly more as the night goes on. That subtle change helps people relax deeper into the evening.

Hosting is about momentum. My favorite trick is creating a flow where the night feels natural but intentional.

Q: What do you love about Partytrick?

A: I love how Partytrick makes hosting feel accessible and joyful.

The curated event templates and moodboards take the guesswork out of planning. They help you visualize a gathering that feels intentional without stress.

I also love reading other stories in the Host How I Host series. It gives me fresh ideas and perspective.

Partytrick turns inspiration into something tangible.

Q: Most memorable gathering you’ve experienced?

A: Two separate four-day wedding weekends for close friends.

What made them unforgettable was the intentionality. Every moment had flow. Welcome dinners. Late-night conversations. Slow mornings.

One of those brides was the user experience designer whose course I later took. Attending her wedding shifted how I think about pacing and emotional rhythm.

By the end of both weekends, no one was ready to leave. That kind of gathering stays with you.

It reshaped how I host. The most powerful celebrations create space for people to truly belong.

Q: What are your favorite products or brands to use when hosting?

A: When I host, I gravitate toward pieces that feel natural, simple, and versatile. I love mixing on the table. Different plates. Different glasses. Layered textures. I’m not interested in everything matching. I want it to feel collected and lived-in.

• My absolute favorite plates and serving dishes are from KJ Pottery. They’re minimal, beautifully made, and somehow work with every vibe. Whether I’m doing Mediterranean, a cozy winter dinner, or a summer backyard gathering, they always feel right.
• Lighting is non-negotiable. I use unscented beeswax or simple taper candles every time. Warm light changes everything and instantly softens a space.
• For linens, I keep it scrappy. I’ll use scrap fabric as a table runner or cut simple squares to use as napkins. It feels personal and relaxed instead of overly styled.
• In the kitchen, my cast iron skillet gets used constantly. It moves from stove to table effortlessly. I also love wooden tongs and natural serving spoons. There’s something about wood and ceramic together that feels grounded.
• For drinks, I reach for ceramic pitchers and vintage carafes from thrift shops. They make even water feel special and give guests something beautiful to pass around.
• Music-wise, I use Apple Music and build playlists based on the mood. The soundtrack is just as important as the menu.

Overall, I care less about brand names and more about texture and feeling. Natural materials. Pieces that age well. Things that feel good in your hands. That’s what makes a table feel alive.

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To explore Devin’s artful approach to immersive celebrations, follow @backcountrybohemians on Instagram  or learn more about Backcountry Bohemians online.

Feeling inspired to host your own gathering? Sign up for a free Partytrick account to explore curated templates, expert tips, and everything you need to bring your next event to life. Partytrick keeps your ideas, details, and inspiration in one streamlined place so you can focus on what matters most: creating moments people never want to leave.