Ann Michael Maye has 1 game-day hosting rule (and a dip she refuses to skip)

Entertainment admin October 23, 2026 0 Comments

Ann Michael Maye has 1 game-day hosting rule (and a dip she refuses to skip)

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If you’ve scrolled through #FoodTok at all this football season, you’ve probably hit a wall of Ann Michael Maye content. Same – and my social feed is infinitely better for it. As an avid baker and diet football fan, I’m admittedly much more compelled by what foods are being game-planned in Maye’s kitchen on any given week, than by the actual game plan being executed on the field (sorry, fellas).

So when I got the chance to chat with the Patriots WAG and TikTok star – who has already been dubbed the ‘First Lady of New England’ by fans – about her new collab with Wayfair, I had questions. Lots of them; ranging from her game-day hosting picks and weekend rituals to the dip she will not welcome guests without. But her best hosting advice turned out to be refreshing low-pressure.

“…hosting is about the people and the community that you’re creating from it,” Maye told 10BEST. “It’s not really about what you’re making or what you’re serving.”

So true – but we’re still going to have to talk about that dip!

Shop Ann Michael Maye x Wayfair

►Related: I found an easy way to upgrade my game-day snack spread for under $35

How the Wayfair collab came together

Maye says the partnership felt like a natural fit, primarily because Wayfair already covers basically every corner of her home; that includes the kitchen, where she does most of her baking and cooking.

“I love just making our house a home in all ways, whether it’s in the kitchen, in the living room, anywhere,” she said. “Whether I’m hosting for a game day or a holiday, they [Wayfair] kind of have it all.”

Ann Michael Maye’s under-$50 game-day upgrades

Not a seasoned host? Not working with a big budget? Don’t worry – Maye’s advice is to relax and keep it simple. There’s still plenty you can do, especially if you’re shopping the Ann Michael Maye x Wayfair collab.

Maye’s “favorite” football hosting pick from her collab: a Mackenzie-Childs football platter, which she owns in blue (and which, unsurprisingly, is already sold out).

“I think it’s so cute; that’s like my favorite thing,” said Maye. “It’s just the perfect product for hosting for a game day.” These Mackenzie-Childs Sterling Check Everyday Mixing Bowls are also a must-shop buy from her Wayfair collection:

Shop Ann Michael’s Mackenzie-Childs bowl

She’s also, in her own words, “a sucker” for the collection’s football-themed kitchenware – from the shot glasses to mugs and cups, which double as decor in their own right, so you don’t have to worry about setting a themed tablescape.

“For me, everything is super laid back. We’re not having formal place settings all the time,” Maye said. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. I think people are just going to be excited to be there.”

Shop the sports glassware

Shop the football dip platter

Shop the football wine stopper

Her style: Southern charm, but make it functional

Maye’s whole vibe is warm and approachable, and that comes through massively in her Wayfair collaboration; she was clear that even the prettiest hosting piece still has to pull its weight, too.

“I don’t want things that just look pretty. I want them to actually be functional,” she said. “I’m from North Carolina, so I feel like these pieces have that Southern charm in there. I love all of the wicker and rattan and the little ceramic jars, things like that… I feel like they are truly just so me.”

More of Ann Michael Maye’s hosting favorites:

Elakai Woody Mahogany Pathfinder Cornhole Boards
Twine Hammered Barware Set in Gold
Electactic Stainless Steel 4-Burner Commercial BBQ
AllModern 2-Piece Unscented Taper Candle Set

Inside the Maye household’s football weekend rituals

While most football fans get their hosting satisfaction on Sundays, Maye admits that her weekends look a little different given that her husband is the one actually taking snaps.

She clarifies: Saturdays are for hosting. “We’re in the house watching college football all day. Whoever’s in town for the weekend, we’re on the couch watching college football, and I love to have just a spread of snacks, making everyone feel comfortable. Kind of a day to relax before the game.”

Sundays, however, are a much different story. Everyone’s locked in on the matchup, and her game-day ritual is less about hosting, and more about routine: “For me, it’s just making sure the house is clean before I leave. Making sure that everyone has what they need, [before] getting ready to go and cheer them [the Patriots] on.”

►Related: I asked 5 college athletes what’s in their game day bag — their answers shocked me

The one dish she won’t host without

Naturally, I had to ask Maye which dish she’d be most upset to see missing from a game-day spread; without hesitation, she answered “buffalo chicken dip.”

“Buffalo chicken dip is non-negotiable for hosting for any game day,” she said. “My family, growing up, we had huge Super Bowl parties every year, and the dip was always the star of the show.”

These days, it shows up in her household constantly. “Whether we’re just sitting on the couch watching football or I’m hosting a bunch of girls over for an away game, there’s always buffalo chicken dip.”

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a buffalo chicken dip to go make; Ann Michael’s orders!

Shop Ann Michael Maye’s Wayfair faves

►Related: The 7 tailgate cocktails every sports fan is drinking this season

This article originally appeared on 10Best.com: Ann Michael Maye has 1 game-day hosting rule (and a dip she refuses to skip)

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Reporting by Kyley Warren, Special to USA TODAY 10BEST / 10Best.com

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This story was originally published October 22, 2026 at 10:51 AM.