How would you throw a party?

How do I throw the party of the year?

• I want to throw a great party that everyone will come to and talk about. We are all going to be 15 but i dont know how to throw a party that will be remembered. I need to figure out how to throw a big party in a small space but also how to throw the party so i will be remembered.

• Answer:

  * STEP 1: Find a reason to celebrate. Whether it's a holiday, a special occasion, an achievement, a big announcement, a new endeavor, a job well done or a journey completed, the reason you're partying will set the tone. See 316 Throw a Dinner Party for more ideas. * STEP 2: Pick a date that allows ample preparation time. Consider catering, decorating and entertaining needs when choosing the date. * STEP 3: Decide on a guest list. Take into account the size of your dining table, party area or rented venue. For cocktail parties, you'll need 4 to 5 square feet of space per person. Expect 70 to 80 percent of invited guests to show up for a large event. * STEP 4: Spread the word with flair: Invites that reinforce your theme add an exciting buzz. For example, attach potluck invites to inexpensive potholders if guests are expected to bring a dish. Specify the dress code (if there is one). * STEP 5: Determine the party's tone and style (celebratory, elegant, themed). Keep in mind the time of year, what you're celebrating, and how formal or casual you'd like it to be. * STEP 6: Plan your menu a week in advance. Consider flavors and combinations that reinforce your theme. What you serve is almost always determined by what's in season. Read 301 Plan Theme Menus, 315 Plan Party Foods Ahead and 316 Throw a Dinner Party for more ideas. * STEP 7: Consider serving beer and wine, plus one cocktail you can premix in batches, such as margaritas or sangria. Hire a bartender if your group is larger than 30 and you're serving cocktails, wine and beer. (Three to four drinks per person for a two- to threehour party is standard.) See 328 Set Up a Bar and 336 Hire a Bartender. * STEP 8: Spread out the food and drinks so there's a smooth flow to your party. If you don't want people in the kitchen, direct the traffic to other rooms--an outdoor bar, for example, or put most of the food in the living room. Hire servers to pass hors d'oeuvres. * STEP 9: Buy a few yards of colorful silk or other bright, textured fabric. Use it as a table runner or wrap it around the middle of the table for a splash of color. See 103 Decorate for the Seasons. * STEP 10: Enjoy yourself and your guests. Fun is contagious: Relax, pour yourself a drink, eat--and have a good time. Overall Tips & Warnings * See 344 Plan a Child's Birthday Party and 388 Throw a Block Party. * Most people end up in the kitchen because that's where the host is. Do the prep work ahead of time so you're not stuck by the stove. * Label dishes so that guests with food allergies or on restricted diets will know what's in them. * Give neighbors a head's up several days in advance. If your guests stayed late, the party got noisy or street parking became a nightmare, stop by your neighbors' house the following morning with extra dessert, flowers or a bottle of wine. * If guests are bringing food, ask them to cook their dishes ahead of time. You won't have time or space for a gaggle of chefs to finish off their contributions in your kitchen. * Display a bar menu so guests know what you're pouring, especially if you're featuring a sensational signature drink. * If you're throwing a potluck, firm up food assignments when guests call to RSVP-- that way you won't have duplicates or an overabundance of one course.