Few events in Utah bring out family, friends, ward members, and neighbors quite like a missionary leaving or returning home. Whether your son or daughter is heading out for the first time or coming home after eighteen months or two years of service, the open house afterward is a chance for everyone who supported them to stop by, give a hug, and celebrate.

These gatherings have their own rhythm, and planning for that rhythm makes everything easier. Here are practical ideas for hosting a missionary farewell or homecoming open house, including how a soda bar can fit in.

Understanding the typical flow

In many Utah families, a missionary speaks in sacrament meeting shortly before leaving and again after returning home. Many families then host an open house at their home or another space afterward. Because sacrament meeting is a worship service, the meeting itself stays focused on worship — the celebrating happens later, at the open house.

That open house usually follows a come-and-go format. Rather than everyone arriving at once and staying for a sit-down meal, guests drift in over a few hours, chat with the missionary and family, grab something to eat and drink, and head out. That format affects almost every planning decision.

Timing around sacrament meeting

Your ward's meeting time sets the schedule. If sacrament meeting ends at 10:00 AM, guests will start arriving at your home soon after, and the first wave is often the biggest. A few tips:

  • Set up before you leave for church. If you're bringing in a vendor, plan for setup to happen while the family is at sacrament meeting so everything is ready when you walk in the door.
  • Plan for an early rush. Ward members who attended the meeting often come straight over. Have food and drinks ready to serve immediately.
  • Pick an end time. A two-to-three hour window is common. It gives out-of-ward friends time to arrive while giving the family a defined finish.
  • Consider another day for homecomings. Some families hold a homecoming open house on a Saturday instead, especially if the missionary arrives mid-week or the report talk is a few weeks out.

Estimating guest counts at an open house

Open house numbers are notoriously hard to predict. You may invite your whole ward, extended family, high school friends, and neighbors, and not everyone will come — but people also bring spouses and kids. A practical approach is to start with your invite list, assume not everyone will make it, and remember that guests at a come-and-go event rarely stay long enough to have more than one drink.

For a soda bar priced per guest, a realistic estimate is better than an inflated one. If you're unsure, our guide on how many drinks to plan per guest walks through the math.

Name the drinks after the mission

This is where a custom soda menu gets fun. Every Mixies bar comes with a custom menu — four base sodas, six syrup flavors, and creamer — and you can give the signature drinks names that celebrate the missionary and where they served. A few ideas:

  • Flag-color drinks: Match syrup colors to the flag of the country where they're serving. Green and yellow for Brazil, red and white for Japan or Peru, red, white, and green for Mexico, blue and yellow for Ukraine or Sweden.
  • Named after the missionary: "The Elder Johnson" or "Sister Smith's Special" — use the title on their name tag. Guests love it.
  • Local flavor nods: If the mission area is known for a fruit or flavor — mango, coconut, passion fruit, lime — work it into a signature drink.
  • Mission city names: Name each drink after a city in the mission, or an area where the missionary served.

A small sign at the bar with a map of the mission or the missionary's photo ties it all together. If you know some guests prefer caffeine-free drinks, mention it when building your menu so a few caffeine-free options are included.

Food and setup ideas

Since the format is come-and-go, finger foods work best: cookies, a fruit tray, dessert bars, or a simple food theme connected to the mission country. For homecomings, some families serve a dish the missionary missed most or a favorite they discovered while serving.

Place the drink bar away from the front door so arriving guests don't create a jam. A garage, back patio, or kitchen island all work. If you're expecting a big crowd, an outdoor setup in late spring or summer gives everyone more room to spread out.

Budget and booking

Mixies starts at $3.95 per guest and includes cups, straws, ice, setup, cleanup, friendly servers, and up to two hours of service. For 100 guests, that starts at $395. Dates are held with a non-refundable deposit of $100 or 25% of the total, whichever is greater. Full details are on our pricing page.

Departure and homecoming dates are usually known well in advance, so you can typically book comfortably ahead of time. We recommend reaching out at least 4–6 weeks before your date.

Celebrate the service

A missionary farewell or homecoming is a big moment for a family. Learn more on our missionary farewell and homecoming soda bar page, or check service in your area — we cover Utah County and Salt Lake County, including Alpine, Pleasant Grove, Saratoga Springs, and South Jordan. Hosting a big family gathering around the homecoming? Our family reunion page has more ideas.

When you're ready, request your date or call or text (801) 692-3036.