8 Tips on Being a Stellar Hostess ...

The mood you set depends on the type of party you are throwing – but every party has a mood. Festive, celebratory, sophisticated – whatever the case may be, it's your job to make sure the mood matches the theme. That may mean making sure everyone is smiling, that the music plays, or that the lighting is right – or all of the above!

If you have activities at your party, it won't look good if you don't participate – so it's a good idea not to have dancing at your party if you hate to dance. Whether it is dancing, or simply eating, having cocktails, or playing party games, you need to join in the fun. Otherwise, your guests may not want to participate either.

Being a host or hostess means making sure every single guests feels welcome in your home – or wherever the party is being held. You should greet each guest upon arrival, let them know what is where, when things will be happening, and so on. And that's just the first step.

Naturally, you need to circulate among your guests. It would be rude to spend the whole party talking to just a select group of people. You will have time to catch up with old friends or people you really want to see. However, the first order of business involves stopping in to every group.

And you need to help those groups form, break apart, and form again. You need to give your guests a hand in mingling with one another, especially if not everyone knows each other. That way they will have more fun, and you can know that old friends are mingling with new ones, and perhaps forging new friendships with each other.

You can also introduce guests to other guests – and when you do so, it's great if you know personal anecdotes and appropriate details to share. Remember Bridget Jones? Her anecdotal introductions sort of backfired on her, but if you know things that guests have in common, it's totally fine to share them – as long as the details are appropriate, and won't embarrass anyone!

No empty glass and no empty plates: those are generally the rules of hosting a party. You don't necessarily have to keep plying everyone with food and drinks; they can choose that for themselves. However, you don't want them looking around for places to deposit their dishes, either.

This may seem selfish, but it's actually one of the most important things you can do. If you aren't having any fun, why would your guests be having fun? Hosting a party is hard work, but it doesn't mean you can't have a good time!

Some people are natural born hosts and hostesses – and others really have to work on it. Ahem, ahem. Do you have any tips on how to throw a great party?

Top Photo Credit: carolineissilly