There are only three things you need at every party: interesting people, good food and a great attitude. If you have those three, everything else will either fall into place or not seem like such a big deal if it goes all wrong.

That said, there are certain decoration guidelines to keep in mind. If you're serving food that requires a fork and knife, be sure you have enough tables and chairs so guests don't have to juggle their glass, silverware, napkin and plate. If you want guests to mill around, push tables against the wall or remove extraneous furniture to encourage mingling and spontaneous dancing.

As for the specific decorations, that all depends on your budget, taste and the type of party you're throwing (see party themes below for inspiration). Also key: clean towels in the bathroom, piles of napkins near the food and drink areas, and lots of candles for flirt-friendly lighting and ambience.

The key to being a great party planner is to know your audience. You know not to invite non-drinkers to a beer bash or vegans to an all-meat BBQ, but you’ll also want to find out if your guests have other dietary restrictions, food allergies and preferences for a smoking or non-smoking atmosphere.

The same goes for the style of party you throw. Some people may not initially be comfortable at a formal dinner, while others may feel out of their element at an informal get-together.

Also, if you plan a party with a dish or theme that people might not be familiar with (an oyster-shucking party or murder mystery dinner, for example), some guests may need some guidance. If you sense that a guest is ill at ease, find out what’s wrong or steer them to a group of outgoing guests who can show them the ropes.

Once you've settled on the type of party you want to have, it's time to decide on your guest list. Include some fresh faces among the old friends to give guests a chance to meet new people as well as catch up with long-standing pals; just invite 25 percent more people than you'd like to be in your party to make up for those who can't make it. If you're planning a big bash you expect to go well into the wee hours, print out your Evite invitation and drop it off at nearby neighbors' with a note saying you hope they'll drop in. After all, a neighbor with an invite (and advance warning) is less likely to call in the boys in blue when your party soundtrack blares on past their bedtime.

Unless you're planning a late-night blowout with a large crowd (and you have really cool neighbors), set an end time to the shindig using the "Include an End Time" option on your invitation to ensure critical mass during the party. Otherwise, you're likely to get a few people early, a few people late, and never the crowd that makes a party really come to life — not to mention the fact that you may get stragglers arriving long after you wish the last guest had said goodbye. The length of the party depends on the kind of party you're throwing, but three to four hours is usually about right. Send out your invitation two weeks ahead of time for maximum turnout; if it's the holidays and/or a special occasion like a shower, make that four weeks instead.

Next, make getting organized easy with Evite's party-planning checklist, set a budget using our party budget estimator (allowing at least 10 percent for unexpected last-minute expenses), and figure out how much alcohol to buy using our drink calculator.

A week before the party, start clearing space in your refrigerator and freezer to make plenty of room for food and drinks — now is not the time to stock up at the supermarket on anything but party supplies. Clean your house, shop, figure out music, pick out your party outfit and do everything else you possibly can well before the big day. Prioritize everything into must-dos and would-be-nices, get the must-dos done first and tackle as many would-be-nices as you can before the doorbell rings.

Once the first guest arrives, take a deep breath, open the door and let whatever's not done go. A stressed host is no fun. Besides, your job as host is not just to provide food, drink and music. It's also to help your guests make connections and have a good time, and you can't do that if you're in your apron stuffing mushrooms in the kitchen.

Instead, greet your guests at the door with a tray full of drinks and introduce your cousin to your college roommate. But instead of just, "Nancy, Nathan; Nathan, Nancy," try building a bridge with "Nancy, you must meet Nathan. Nancy just booked a week in Niagara Falls, and Nathan's stepdad owns a souvenir shop there." Think hobbies, neighborhoods, musical tastes — whatever common ground you can come up with to launch strangers into conversation. Ask wallflowers to help fetch drinks for other guests, giving them something to do while still getting them to meet people.

Finally, do not under any circumstances clean up during the party. Pile up the glasses and dishes in the kitchen, soak the tablecloth with the syrah stain in the tub and deal with it all in the AM (or at least after the last guest is out the door). After all, nothing kills a swinging evening like a little Palmolive.

What makes great party food? Anything you can eat in one bite that doesn't drip, crumble or require silverware. Fortunately, that could mean almost anything if you present it the right way.

Want to serve soup? Pour it into mugs or shot glasses so guests can sip it on the go. Love quiche? Serve individual mini tarts. Just make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew. Prepare as much as you can in advance, and don’t serve anything fussy you’ll have to watch and stress about during the party.

Sure, beer works. So does wine. But a signature cocktail (particularly a famous retro one with a funny name) puts the festive in your festivities and takes the pressure off your guests — no need to figure out what to ask for when there’s a get-the-party-started cocktail already ready and waiting for you. A premade pitcher also makes it easy for you, since you can limit the number of liquors you have on hand and leave the mixing during the party to the DJ.

Harvey Wallbanger (serves 6 to 8) • 1 cup vodka • ½ cup Galliano • 4 cups orange juice Combine all ingredients in a pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Be sure to also have plenty of water on hand to keep partiers hydrated and a special nonalcoholic drink for teetotallers (no, a token two-liter bottle of Diet Coke doesn't count). If you're serving Harvey Wallbangers, for example, try a pitcher of half orange juice and half ginger ale. That way, those who’d rather stay sober don't have to stand out from the crowd — just be sure to keep the pitchers on opposite ends of your bar so they don't get confused.

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