Throwing a successful party requires a lot more than a well-stocked bar and good music. As public relations experts whose job it is to produce events that make a lasting impression, Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison know it’s the details that make the difference. Now you, too, can organize any party, for 10 guests or 1,000, on a budget of $50 or $500,000, from creating the concept right down to saying goodbye at the end of the night. Chic tips, creative ideas, irresistible recipes, and all the countless ingredients that make a party sizzle are at your fingertips in this hip and handy guide to becoming an event planner extraordinaire. You’ll find the experts’ best advice on:Creating a concept and a budget for any kind of partyChoosing the right location, whether you keep it cozy at home, camp out at the beach, or rent a local clubDesigning invitations, from classic to kitschySetting the mood with lighting, music, flowers, furniture, décor, and all the little touches that make a party extra fabStocking a thirst-quenching home bar, whipping up smart cocktails, and thinking of innovative ways to serve it all up in style Whetting the appetites of your guests, using insider secrets from chefs and tips on how to make fast food sophisticated, with sample menus for classic cocktail parties, luncheons, late-night bashes, and moreBeing a flawless host—or guest—with proper etiquette guidelines, gift ideas, Table Setting 101, and the 411 on posing for the cameraProducing a party from beginning to end with colorful case studies and detailed instructions for eight fierce fêtes, such as a Hamptons-style clambake, a Barbie theme party, an Indian dinner on a $200 budget, and a mani-pedi partyRe-creating our favorite drinks and dishes from the best restaurants and bars all over the world, like Nobu, Asia de Cuba, Trader Vic’s, Bungalow 8, the Delano Hotel, and Indochine Getting what you need. There’s a complete resource guide in the back, not to mention savvy tips from Puff Daddy, Russell Simmons, Lara Flynn Boyle, David Copperfield, Hugh Jackman, and Donald Trump. Read Less