When was the last time you had friends or family over to your home for a party? Was it a birthday party? Holiday meal? No matter what the occasion, your friends or family were probably thrilled to be invited. After all, the best thing about having a get-together is spending time with one another.

Of course, you might have found it a bit stressful and hectic. But it doesn’t need to be. All you need to do is prepare a little on the front end, and entertaining will become infinitely easier. Not sure where to begin? Here are some tips to get you started.

• Decide On the Basics: When it comes to party planning, you need to decide on the basics first. When will your party take place? And where? What time? Once you establish these things, you can move on. (And, while it may be tempting to ask your guests for a date that works for them, you’re the host – so choose a date that works best for you!)
• Pick Your Party: Are you having a party for a special occasion? Birthday? Anniversary? Or, maybe you’re just planning a game night with friends? Or, perhaps there’s no special occasion at all. But be sure to let your guests know if there is a theme or special event taking place.
• Create Your Guest List: Then you need to decide who you are inviting? Keep in mind your occasion and how much space you have at your place so that all will be comfortable. Additionally, if you’re planning a sit-down meal, you want to make sure you have enough chairs and tables for everyone, while a cocktail party or more casual event may have some people standing.
• Make a Budget: Entertaining doesn’t need to cost you a fortune, but you should create a budget. A budget will prevent you from overspending and also serve as a guide for your party shopping.
• Plan a Menu: While you may be tempted to plan your menu before creating your budget, you should do it after to avoid overspending. Choose dishes that everyone will love and watch for sales to save some money. And remember, your food doesn’t need to be fancy – just delicious. Additionally, If you’ll be serving alcohol, you might limit what you’ll be serving to stay within your budget, too. 
  • And, be sure to ask your guests if they have any food allergies or restrictions so you can plan accordingly.
• Choose Some Music and Entertainment: Your guests may spend most of the party engaged in conversation, but it’s always nice to have some background music. Create a playlist that allows for conversation and fits with your get-together.
  • If you’ll be having children over, you might plan some special activities for them. Arts and crafts, movies, or games are always good choices.
• Allow Others to Help: It can be tempting to want to do it all yourself, but if you have guests who want to help – let them. It may be as simple as bringing ice or helping to hang coats – just don’t pass up the help.
• Do What You Can Ahead of Time: If you want to enjoy your own party, work to do as much as you can ahead of time. Clean your home, buy your groceries, set your table, prepare your food, set up the bar – anything that can be completed before your guests arrive will help.
• Let Your Guests Help Themselves to The Drinks: If you have a few things that need to be done at the last minute, you can always let your guests help themselves to something to drink. This will give you a few minutes to put on the final touches.
• Save the Dishes for Later: As you see the dishes starting to pile up, you may have a natural urge to start cleaning. Don’t do it. Save the dishes for later, and enjoy the time with your guests. 

Don’t let entertaining at home stress you out. Use these tips to prepare for your party and then spend all of your time enjoying your friends and family. Soon you’ll have entertaining down to a science and be hosting gatherings all the time.