A successful party needs a good atmosphere and aside from being a great host, carefully chosen music and lighting go a long way to getting the party started.
Lighting
Start creating a mood before your guests are inside by adding some fairy lights, lanterns or candles along your path outside. Dimmed lighting works well for most gatherings, and for a romantic dinner you might want to have just a few candles, or some coloured tea lights in a large glass bowl of water.
Music
The kind of music you choose depends on the party – for drinks and canapés or a buffet upbeat music that you can turn up later in the evening for some dancing is best. If your budget doesn’t stretch to a DJ, make a playlist of party tunes on your iPod.
If you can, have quieter areas too for people who just want to chat – there’s nothing worse than being at a party and not being able to hear a word anyone is saying!
If you’re having a romantic dinner, by all means go for a bit of Barry White, but making a playlist of tunes that mean something to both of you as a couple, or hits that came out at the time you got together, will mean more.
Party trivia... "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."