PARTY TIPS YOU CAN’T IGNORE

Courtney Caplan shares some of her best strategies:

■ Make sure you are planning for the right number of people.

■ You don’t want to run out of ice. You don’t want to run out of liquor. You don’t want to get in the car to retrieve something.

■ There’s nothing wrong with following up with those who have not confirmed attendance, because you want to accommodate the right number of people.

■ I’d rather have way too much and then plan another party to use it. Have a leftover party. You want variety and you want to make sure you feed everyone.

■ Learn from each hosting experience. Take notes the day after. What did people not touch? What didn’t they drink?

■ When planning a big social event, first, pick a date. Then a location. After that, settle on an estimated budget. Send out save-the-date notices at least six months in advance.

■ Even for a small event with friends, send a quick save-the-date email. I don’t like Paperless Post (or other digital invitation apps) as a save-the-date notice. Send me an email. Then I can find it if I lost it.

■ When choosing a location, think about its capacity and climate control. You can plan the best party ever, but if your guests are hot, that’s the one thing they will remember. ■ Consider providing transportation. ■ If renting a special-events venue, take your full budget into account. Some places can be appealing, but they might come without tables, chairs, equipment, dinnerware. Renting all that costs.

■ Existing decor and staff also play significant roles in one’s choice of a venue. They can make or break your event. Ask: Can you negotiate with them?