Having a dinner party should not be the end all, be all to your hosting forays. Your guest list is made up of friends and you have already been in plenty of social situations with them before. If memory serves, your college years together have produced some pretty crazy and embarrassing stories already. Would one more night really subtract from how they already perceive you as a person? No. But if the party went well, that would surely lend you credence.

Hoping to impress your party guests with a fabulous dinner this season? Hope no more: here are the tips to help you throw a killer dinner party.

The Guest List

Health and lifestyle blog, Greatist, writes that to host a successful party, you need to start with the guest list. If you have two friends that are arguing on Twitter over today’s current political climate, it’s best not to have them seated together at the same dinner party. They will capitalize on the conversation and turn what should have been an enjoyable night in with friends into chaos. If Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives franchise is of any indication, inviting guests engaged in an ongoing feud will only make your other guests uncomfortable and spoil the evening.

 The Menu

When it comes to the menu, a good host is aware of their guests’ food allergies and preferences. To make sure that your main course will be enjoyed by everyone, include in the invitation a section asking about exactly that: food allergies and preferences. Give them a list of options (no more than three) for the hors d’oeuvres that they can check and blank lines for them to fill out listing their allergies. To make sure you get your responses back in a timely manner, include a stamped return envelope in the mailed invitation. Some people will complain if they are required to use a stamp and envelop of their own.

Whatever you, do not send an electronic invitation to your guests. Word associations with dinner parties include the elegant, tasteful and refined. An electronic invitation is cheap and tawdry.

You will want the guests you do invite to be on good speaking terms and to share similar interests. This will keep the flow of the conversation moving and give room for everyone at the table to speak. Dinner parties are about good food and conversation; one party pooper can make your party run afoul very quickly. 

The Venue

More than likely you will be hosting your dinner party at home. Your guests will congregate around the hors d’oeuvre table and wine bar, and you’ll want to make sure that both are clean and finely styled. This isn’t an outdoor barbecue; paper cups and plates aren’t going to do it. The decoration of the hors d’oeuvre table, wine bar and table setting will need to be polished and fashionable. To highlight your wine selection, the Alessi-designed oval stainless steel tray will bring your guests attention to your superb tastes. The Seletti dishware tabletop collection will bring in a playful take on the traditional dinnerware setting. The cheese available on your cheese platter can be finely cut using the Blomus FROMA cheese slicer. By offering your guests the very best, they’re going to have the very best time.

The Music

Music is subjective. Like a work of art or a novel, not everyone agrees on the message. Sometimes it’s just the sound of the piece that can aggravate one listener while another begins to move their body to the beat. To keep everyone happy, choose music without song lyrics. There are choices in jazz, classical, downtempo electronic and folk music that will give your party a lovely low soundtrack to play in the background.

One last piece of advice? Don’t stress out too much! Dinner parties are supposed to be fun, so eat, drink and be merry!