by Rajul Punjabi

When you’re ready to get the party started with your love, a classy yet simple get-together at your place might be the perfect fix.

Here are our top ten pointers on how to make it the event of the season:

1. Keep it intimate: Remember that the population of your dinner party should reflect the size of your home. Smaller groups also mean better conversation and fewer distractions.

2. Seat Strategically: Set a small table so people can converse without yelling. The best way to encourage conversation is to sit guests boy, girl, boy, girl…but don’t seat guests next to their dates or mates!

3. Rotate, don’t speed-date: Rather than spending 30 seconds per guest, relax, engage in conversation, and separate from your significant other.

4. Pick a theme: Don’t let it be just another dinner party. Agree on a theme that’s incorporated into the cuisine and music and signature cocktail (like Baileys Affogato) It will make you, and the event, more memorable for guests.

5. Don’t Be a Hero: Rather than slaving over a hot stove, prepare one signature main dish that’s a sure-fire hit. Then dispatch him to the prepared foods section at Whole Foods for the rest of the fixings. Your mantra: A non-frazzled hostess is the one with the mostest…smiles.