Host to Host the Maximalist Way
Vol. 3 with Author Mariana Velásquez
Hey Party People!
This week I have the third installment of my interview series: From Host to Host! Each month, I’ll be spotlighting a fellow Host with the Most to learn more about how they gather and what inspires them.
Up Next: Mariana Velásquez is a chef, stylist and cookbook author. Mariana and I met as fellow panelists among party planners and gatherers. I was one of the lesser known participants, but she embraced with the same warmth and enthusiasm that she showed the others. It instantly put me at ease and I’ve been a fan of hers ever since! Mariana’s latest book, Revel: A Maximalist’s Guide to Having People Over is a beautiful cookbook filled with 85 delicious recipes tested and perfected for hosting. Revel is available now on Amazon, Bookshop, and wherever books are sold!
In many ways, Mariana and I sit in contrasting camps, I like to do less, she likes to do more. But in a lot of ways, where it matters, we are similar: we value rituals, personal stories, and hosting as an act of love. I was excited to chat with Mariana and unearth a bit of the magic that guides her hosting practice.
Keep scrolling for our conversation filled with tips for being a bit extra!
Host to Host with Mariana Velásquez
Amber: What is your pre-party ritual?
Mariana: Not putting on my shoes until the doorbell rings — so I can run around barefoot until the very last minute, tasting, lighting candles, moving flowers two inches to the left, then back again.
Amber: Speaking of shoes, what is your go-to party outfit?
Mariana: More-is-more. Usually a fitted dress with flats. The apron goes on and off all night like a costume change.
Amber: Right! The apron must be cute for that very reason. When I’m at your place, what can I always find in your fridge or pantry?
Mariana: Frozen dumplings (a perfect meal in any season), flaky salt, lemons, and two bottles of chilled sparkling wine — one for guests and one in case of emotional emergencies.
Amber: A chilled sparkling wine is a must for me, too! Is that your party drink of choice?
Mariana: I like bubbles, mezcal, and water — ideally in rotation.
Amber: Ha! How maximalist of you. Now what is your favorite party trick?
Mariana: Hiding a note, a chocolate coin, or a tarot card under the dinner plate. It’s a small surprise discovered once the plates are cleared. A little reward for staying until dessert.
Amber: I love that! If you want people to get up and dance, what song do you play when you want to get people dancing?
Mariana: It depends entirely on the crowd — but Karol G, Bowie, Madonna, or Prince almost always do the trick.
Amber: What is your number one party foul?
Mariana: Bad lighting. Nothing kills the mood faster than overhead lights that feel like a dentist’s office or a supermarket aisle. Dim the lights, add lamps, candles, anything warm — people look better, food looks better, conversations soften. Lighting is hosting’s most underrated ingredient.
Amber: You’re right. Take notes, friends! When the evening is over, how do you like to wind down after hosting a party at home?
Mariana: The morning after, I read the notes people left in my guest book, put the house back in order slowly, and nibble on leftovers. It’s my favorite quiet epilogue to the night.
Amber: What do you think is the most important lesson you have to share with our readers?
Mariana: Permission — to be imperfect, to improvise, to host anywhere. I wrote Revel after a big life shift that reminded me that hosting isn’t about having the perfect home, budget, or table. I’ve hosted in tiny apartments, borrowed kitchens, studios, gardens, and in-between moments of life. Hosting is a state of mind, not a performance.
Amber: On this, we agree deeply. Cheers!
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