AisleDash

You are obviously an authentic and creative party planner -- what are three things you think every successful party (wedding, shower, housewarming, etc) should have?

1. Party Theme
Your theme can be anywhere from very specific, such as "Old Hollywood Glamour," to as general as a simple color or color palette. Not only will choosing a theme help you keep the look of your party cohesive, it will also help you stay sane in the planning process by narrowing down your options and helping to guide your food and decorative decisions -- from the style of the menu and the color of the drinks to the look of the table and party décor.

2. Signature Drink
In addition to the standard sodas and cocktails you might be serving, create one extra-special "signature drink" tailored to the look and theme of your party. You can even give it a fun name centered around the theme or the guest of honor. For example, a "Tiffany's Tidal Wave" martini would be perfect for a beach-themed birthday bash. Make sure to dress up the drink with fun garnishes so it looks as good as it tastes!

3. Music
It might sound simple, but the truth is that nothing puts people in the party mode as fast as good music! And something you definitely DON'T want at your party? Silence. Music is also a great way to play up your theme, and always remember to tailor the style of music to the crowd and type of occasion that you're celebrating. If you're hosting a party in honor of someone else, make sure to include some of their favorite tunes!

What are your favorite default hostess gifts-something original and easy to pick up for the hostess who constantly impresses?

For me, the originality usually comes in the form of how the hostess gift is presented, meaning the "coolness" factor of its own packaging or wrapping it in a stylish way. It's fun to give out-of-the-ordinary gifts like uniquely shaped bottle openers or funky coaster sets, but those aren't always easy to grab in a pinch. I like to give bottles of cooking oil or grilling/dipping sauces that are packaged in cool bottles (such as O Olive Oil or Terra Medi), the tried-and-true bottle of wine -- embellished with a cool gift charm or bottle tag (wine-o cards are a great choice), or a contemporary note card set, especially if I can find one that features the hostess's initials.

In terms of weddings and pre-wedding parties, what are some important details (and party-making tips) you find the average person overlooks?

1. I've found that the layout of a party space isn't always utilized to its maximum potential -- especially at home parties. It's important to spread the food and drink stations out so that everyone isn't huddled -- or worse, crammed -- into one small area of the party, which often happens because people seem to gravitate towards the food and drink tables. Keep the appetizers, drinks and desserts separate and spread out from each other, and for large parties consider splitting the bar into 2 or different 3 areas and having appetizers on both sides of the room.

2. Dress up your place settings! There's so much opportunity to get super creative with your table settings, so don't let it go to waste. Embellish napkins with bands of ribbon, feathers, decorative papers, seashells, etc. and place them right smack in the middle of the plate. Even the simplest napkin folds look great with fun decorative elements like mini starfish, river rocks or oversize flower blossoms placed on top, and placing coasters or beverage napkins under wine glasses is an easy way to add a splash of color or pattern into the mix. Because you get to multiply the look across every place setting on the table, the overall impact of even small details becomes huge.

You have such a comprehensive favorite finds section -- a nice go-to place for all brides and party throwers to peruse the latest products for gift ideas, but what is one product that has come in handiest for you in planning and throwing parties?

For an all-around product, I'd have to say drink charms, because those are one thing we have out at pretty much every party we host at home. Without them, it's almost inevitable that you'll run out of glasses or end up with a million half-empty bottles laying around after everyone forgets where they set their drink at least once and reaches for a new glass or bottle. Our get-togethers are usually pretty casual, so we tend to use versatile products like Wine Lines, Beer Bands and Vinotagz the most.

And, finally, if you could impart one piece of entertaining advice onto AisleDash.com readers, what would it be?

Don't feel like you have to be a domestic diva on all levels! Focus on what you're good at and love doing, then divvy up other responsibilities to friends, family or the local restaurant down the street. For example, I genuinely love getting creative with decorations and food presentation, but am by no means the world's greatest chef -- or my house's greatest chef for that matter -- my husband easily holds onto that title! So when I host baby or bridal showers at home, I usually focus most of my efforts on the decorative side and leave the majority of the cooking to my co-hosts or the guest of honor's favorite take-out joint. (Usually my co-hosts are okay with the latter as well!) As long as the food tastes good, no one ever seems to care whether I spent all morning in the kitchen slaving over it or spent 20 minutes running down the street to pick it up!

And if you ARE a whiz in the kitchen but don't enjoy the decorating side as much, enlist the help of a creative friend or family member, or just copy a party design that you love straight out of a book or website!

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If you would you like to get great party ideas (themes, decorations, place settings, etc), recipes, fabulous finds or just want to take a look at a fantastic entertaining blog, check out Hostess with the Mostess at HostessBlog.com.