Curated By Molly Park: The Art of Gathering with Intention

Some people think about hosting in terms of recipes or table settings. Molly Park thinks about it in terms of people.

As the Founder & CEO of BOTARI, a beauty design house building products where performance and identity are designed as one system, Molly approaches entertaining with the same thoughtful eye she brings to building brands. Every detail has a purpose, but none of it feels overworked. The goal isn't perfection. It's creating an environment where people immediately feel comfortable enough to settle in, connect, and perhaps discover something new.

From handwritten invitations to carefully chosen wines and playlists that inevitably end in a dance party, this is Molly's edit of the hosting essentials she reaches for again and again.

The Kind of Event I'm Hosting

Most often, I'm inviting a small group of close friends into my home, especially when someone is visiting London from abroad. I have friends scattered across the world, and there's something much more meaningful about catching up around my own table than meeting in a restaurant.

Recently, I've been loving informal wine evenings. 

We'll choose a bottle or style that none of us knows particularly well and let that become the starting point for the night. In warmer months, that might mean chilled reds or orange wines. As the weather cools, we'll naturally gravitate toward deeper reds.

The guest list matters just as much as what's being served. I love bringing together people who I think will genuinely enjoy one another or introduce each other to completely different perspectives. You're not only curating the table. You're curating the chemistry in the room.

My Approach to Hosting

Hosting should feel intentional, never complicated.

I spend time preparing beforehand so I don't have to think about logistics once guests arrive. Everything should be ready before the first knock at the door because I'd much rather spend the evening sitting with friends than running back and forth to the kitchen.

I also think the best gatherings leave room for discovery. Whether it's a wine someone has never tasted, an interesting conversation, or a new friendship, I want people to leave feeling like they experienced something unexpected.

I love creating small rituals that outlast the evening itself. 

One of my favorites is leaving out Papier's Photostrip fabric photo book and inviting friends to write a note before they leave. Over time, it's become a wonderfully imperfect record of dinners, friends visiting London, and the memories we've made together. I'd much rather have that sitting on my bookshelf than another folder full of photos on my phone. 

When Guests Arrive

One of my favorite hosting rituals actually happens days before the gathering.

Papier Notecards

Whenever I can, I send handwritten invitations rather than relying on a text message. We do so much through our phones that receiving something physical immediately makes the gathering feel more considered. There's a sense of ceremony to it that I never want to lose.

On the day itself, I also make sure guests know exactly what to expect. I tell them not to bring anything, give them a flexible arrival window rather than an exact time, and make it clear the evening is relaxed from the moment they walk in.

Riedel Wine Glasses

Good wine deserves good glassware.

I've always used Riedel glasses, partly because that's simply how I learned to enjoy wine. They're one of those pieces I never second-guess pulling out, whether we're trying something new together or opening an old favorite.

While People Gather

I like letting conversations happen naturally before anyone sits down to eat.

We'll pour wine, put out simple nibbles, and let everyone settle in first. Food isn't the immediate focus. It gives people space to relax, reconnect, and ease into the evening.

One hosting trend I've been loving lately is inviting people over at 3 p.m. instead of defining the gathering as lunch or dinner. Sometimes it turns into dinner, sometimes it doesn't. I love that sense of openness. It feels generous because nobody is watching the clock.

At the Table

I tend to choose pieces that feel collected rather than perfectly coordinated.

Amuse La Bouche Tablecloths & Ceramics

I love Amuse La Bouche because everything has personality without feeling overly styled. Their tablecloths and ceramics create warmth and character while still leaving plenty of room for the food and conversation to shine.

A table doesn't need to be perfect. In fact, I think it's more interesting when it isn't.

Papier Recipe Journal

I keep my favorite recipes inside a Papier Recipe Journal rather than saving endless screenshots on my phone.

Over time, the pages collect little notes, stains, and memories from dinners I've hosted. It becomes less of a cookbook and more of a record of the meals that were actually worth making again.

The Details People Don't Notice (But Remember)

Atmosphere changes everything.

Earl of East Jardin de la Lune Candle

Scent is one of the first things guests experience when they walk into your home. The Earl of East Jardin de la Lune candle has become one of my favorites because it quietly sets the mood without overwhelming the room.

HAY Candles & Candleholders

I'm quite militant about turning off overhead lights. Instead, I rely on candles at different heights, table lamps, and if we're lucky, a fire. 

HAY's colorful candles and candleholders almost become part of the tablescape themselves. I don't think everything has to match. Different colors and heights create much more warmth and personality.

I also like moving people through different spaces during the evening. Drinks happen somewhere comfortable first, then everyone naturally gathers around the table later. That shift changes the rhythm of the night.

When I Don't Have Time, I Do This Instead

Not every gathering needs an elaborate menu.

If time is short, I'll focus on one interesting wine, good bread, beautiful cheese, and a few thoughtful snacks rather than trying to cook an ambitious meal.

Because everything else has already been prepared, the evening still feels intentional.

The biggest shortcut, though, is removing uncertainty for guests before they even arrive. 

Let people know it's casual. Tell them not to bring anything. Give them a time window instead of an exact arrival time. Eliminating those small questions helps everyone relax before they've even stepped through the door.

My Signature Move

Every gathering has a soundtrack.

I build playlists almost the same way I build a guest list because both shape the energy of the room.

We usually begin with jazz or funk while everyone settles in. As the evening unfolds, the music gradually becomes louder and more upbeat until, more often than not, the night ends with everyone dancing.

Friends have come to expect it now.

I also always try to include one element of discovery, whether that's introducing people to a new wine, a new ingredient, or even someone they haven't met before. Those are often the moments people remember most.

Shop the Edit

Arrival

• Papier Notecards
• Riedel Wine Glasses

The Table

• Amuse La Bouche Tablecloths
• Amuse La Bouche Ceramics
• Papier Recipe Journal

Atmosphere

• Earl of East Jardin de la Lune Candle
• HAY Candles & Candleholders
• BOTARI Hand Cream

One item that is present at every gathering is BOTARI hand cream. Between cooking, setting the table, and washing dishes, I'm constantly reaching for it. I love that something so practical can become a small ritual through beautiful design, scent, and texture.

Bring This to Life

The best gatherings aren't built around perfection. They're built around intention.

Borrow a few ideas from Molly's hosting edit, whether that's sending a handwritten invitation, introducing friends who should know each other, or simply turning off the overhead lights before guests arrive. Then make it your own.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore Partytrick's hosting guides and Playbooks to plan a gathering that feels just as thoughtful from the first invitation to the last song.