Dear Just Be: I’m planning a holiday party. Do you have any helpful tips?

To some people throwing holiday parties is fun, and to others just stressful. Keeping parties fun is not hard to do. Below are a few simple tips for you to use when planning your holiday party.

The first, and really only rule to live by when planning an event is, don’t sweat the small stuff. The small stuff always comes together and no one notices the small stuff except you. (I learned this during my five plus years in event planning.) Just make sure you have covered the basics: food, drinks, plates, utensils and fun.

When it comes to food, don’t make it too extravagant. People do nothing but eat during the month of December, so majority of your guests are not going to eat too much, so don’t waste the time. Keep in mind how your guests will be partaking in the food. Will they be sitting down or standing up mingling with guests. It might be obvious, but don’t serve an item that needs to be cut, or that has a lot of liquid to it if you want people to stand around with their plates.

For drinks the general rule is two drinks per person for the first two hours and then one drink per each extra half hour. Don’t go out buying every kind of wine or hard liquor there is. Do be sure to have: vodka, rum, whiskey, wine, beer, cranberry juice, club soda, Coke, tonic water, and lots of lemons (the last five items are for mixers). Buy more of the wines and beers you like because you will be the one consuming what is left over.

Decorations are not needed unless you haven’t decorated your home for the holidays. What ever you have up for the holidays keep, no need to add more especially if it means it limits the space that your guests can move around in. Don’t forget to have some background music. Music helps add to the feel of the event.

Be sure you to take small steps in organizing your party. DO NOT do everything at the last minute. Start preparing days out from your event. One day go purchase the drinks. The next day purchase plates and utensils, or polish and get out your plates and utensils. The day before the party, purchase and prepare some of the dishes. If you have a spouse or roommate that can help you, enlist their help!

The final tip. Enjoy yourself. Your guests have come to see you, and the mood of the party will be greatly determined by your energy. Guests feel and feed off of your energy and thus determine the feel of the event. Doing tasks ahead of time instead of at the last minute will help you be more relaxed and excited for the party.

For ideas on how to plan a unique holiday party check out About.com