Top 10 Tips For Planning The Perfect Party

Whether you're putting together a small dinner for a few close friends or planning a big birthday bash, here are our Top 10 tips to ensure that your party is unforgettable.  

1. Start With Art  Whether you email or mail them, send out interesting invitations. Old-fashioned paper invites are always fun to receive. You can print a design and cut and glue it to colorful paper. Add accents such as ribbons or charms for a little extra touch. We love the website DesignHerGals, which allows you to create a party diva in your own image -- from the hair to the clothes (like the adorable shower invites above).
   
2. Mix It Up  One sign of a remarkable host or hostess is a person who can gather an eclectic and compatible group of individuals. Guests love to mingle, meet new faces, and make friends.
   
3. Light Bright  A little mood lighting always goes a long way. Whether you're throwing a swank cocktail party or an intimate pasta dinner: candles, candles and more candles!
   
4. Turn It On  Whether it's a mellow cocktail affair or an all out dance party, nothing energizes a gathering like the right music. Surf iTunes and put together a custom playlist with songs to suit different phases of the evening (cocktails, dinner, dessert and wind down).
   
5. Spruce It Up  Clean up your pad before the bash, of course. But that includes toys... and mail... and dog dishes. And not just the living room, because guests will find their way into the most remote corners of your house.
   
6. Offer Amenities  Doll up your guest bath with little niceties such as spray air freshener, extra toilet paper, clean hand towels, liquid soap, a fragrant candle, and breath mints.
   
7. Relaxed Refreshments  It's important for guests to enjoy the party, but equally important for you to enjoy it! Plan refreshments and food that won't leave you sweating in the kitchen. Stick with recipes that don't need a lot of last minute prep. Make a "to do" list ahead of time and be sure that you can have almost everything on it done before guests arrive (which includes a nice leisurely primping and pampering session for yourself).
   
8. Personalize It  Add your own personal touches to a gathering. Place a favorite quote or line from a favorite poem on each guest's dinner plate or gather photos of each guest and place them around your home. Come up with your own ways to make a party yours.
   
9. Give Goodies  Every person of every age loves a goody bag to take home at the end of the night. A small parting gift, whether it's a tiny pouch of candies, a polaroid party snapshot, or a mix CD of songs, will leave lingering memories of what a wonderful time they had.
   
10. Stay Safe  If you choose to serve alcohol, be sure all your guests are sober before you let them walk out the door. Don't be afraid to cut off the flow of wine or beer at some point, if it's the best way to ensure everyone's safety.