
Pick one or two dishes to make from scratch and let the rest be simple, store-bought, or a potluck contribution — a stressed host is worse for a party than a slightly less elaborate spread.
Set up a self-serve drink station so you're not playing bartender all night, and prep anything you can the day before, including the table itself.
Music and lighting do more for atmosphere than most of the food — dim the overheads, light a few candles, and let a playlist run quietly in the background.




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