As an event planner, I have realized that the most important things in a party are not the streamers and balloons we have inherited as party staples. It's about the great food and spirits, and making sure they match the atmosphere in which we're serving them. For example, you would never serve barbecue at a
black-tie affair, and you would never dream of serving white wine spritzers at a football party. There is a time and place for everything!

While planning any event or small gathering, you should always sit down and really think about the message you are trying to send and the true purpose of the party. Whenever I am planning an event, I think about the client and the guests they are inviting. The theme of a party is very important!

I always say, "go big or go home." When hosting even a simple event - from dinner with the girls
to fight night with the guys - you can never go overboard theming the food and drinks to the occasion. We all know that mimosas and Benedicts pair well, just like we know there is no greater match than cold beer and hot wings. It's like they were just meant to be together.

Other examples of great "couples" in the food and spirits world are sushi and sake, and what could go better with a Tex-Mex-themed event than Patron margaritas? We knew when these two crazy kids got together, they were going to go the distance.

Once you have selected your menu and drinks in accordance with your overall theme, you can focus on the atmosphere. Have you ever walked into a party and seen the host or hostess running around like a headless chicken, ensuring that the roast isn't burning and the place cards are set? As guests, it's natural in these situations to go into support mode, saying things like, "What can we do to help you?" While this is gracious, you don't want your guest to feel as if they have ended a shift at the diner on the
way home!

So make sure you give yourself enough time to complete everything so that all you need to do is greet them at the door and offer them a beverage. This will set the mood for a relaxing and enjoyable evening with great food, drinks and conversation. What I have just said might make most of you say, "Yeah, right! Hosting a party is a lot of work! 'Relax?' That's a joke!"

Well, relax. I do know that hosting can be stressful, but as a wise man once said. "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" As long as you seem cool, calm and collected, so will your guests. As long as you have the key ingredients of fabulous food, sophisticated spirits and a welcoming atmosphere, anyone can host a spectacular event - big or small.