A guide to party planning shows how to select invitations, themes, menus, table settings, music, lighting, flowers, and decor for weddings, holiday parties, formal dinners, and cocktail parties.

Includes food and drink recipes; table settings; food substitutions; cocktail party tips; food and beverage proportions; hints on preparing food with wine; ideas for organizing and scheduling; and more.

From the elegant hors d'oeuvres to the sparkling Champagne, cocktail parties are loved by everyone. But fun as they are to attend, the thought of hosting one can be a little daunting—until now. With Bite Size, legendary chef François Payard shows home cooks how to prepare simple, sensational appetizers that will leave guests impressed and hosts with energy to spare. François knows how to throw a good party. In addition to his renowned New York restaurant, Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro, he runs the upscale catering company Tastings. Several times a week, he prepares sophisticated canapés and light bites for hundreds of people. In Bite Size, he presents a collection of his favorite recipes made easy for everyday cooks. Along with chapters on meat, fish, vegetable, and cheese hors d'oeuvres, François includes a wealth of helpful hosting tips, hints, and serving suggestions—try serving soup in shot glasses, for example. The innovative recipes use simple, easy-to-find ingredients for spectacular results such as Prosciutto-Wrapped Gnocchis, Sweet Corn Madeleines with Caviar and Crème Fraîche, and Crab and Mango Salad in Apple Cups. Each recipe is accompanied by a lush, full-color photograph of the finished dish. Whip up a few of these easy Bite Size treats and pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly—it's time to enjoy the party!

Town & Country sets the standard for gracious living, and this most elegant guide to entertaining shows how to make any occasion unforgettable. Each stunning photo is an inspiration: every table looks beautiful, every dish delicious, every decoration exquisite. Whether the plans include a formal dinner, relaxed buffet, cocktail party, open house, or outdoor event, these ideas plus loving, careful planning will ensure success. Here are basic guidelines for being a good host and advice on finding the approach that's right for you and appropriate to the celebration. Inside stories from those renowned for their entertaining abilities reveal how they make people feel comfortable and get them to mingle, how they handle the cooking and decorating, and how they stay cool and collected through it all."The author lives in Philidelphia, PA."

A completely revised and updated edition of the top-selling book from one of the leading beauty and fashion magazines, InStyle Parties is the must-have resource for anyone looking to host chic parties without stress or guesswork. The editors of InStyle offer their expert advice on hosting any type of celebration. Whether a baby shower, dinner gathering, or holiday affair, you'll discover how to transform your tabletop to fit the theme, get ideas for the perfect invitations, and learn the shortcuts of posh party prep. Each chapter has a menu of recipes—including a signature cocktail—a timeline of what preparation to do when to make the day-of a breeze, and a party favor or activity to keep guests entertained. This elegant, full-color book is sure to inspire and help any hostess throw a stylish at-home party right down to the napkins!

Lisa Vanderpump has become the breakout star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her unique mix of sparkling glamour and down-to-earth style has appealed to thousands of fans. On the show, viewers can see her hosting dinner parties and running her popular Beverly Hills restaurant Villa Blanca with what can best be termed "easy elegance." Now Lisa shares her tips and tricks for creating the perfect gathering: whether you're hosting a cozy winter dinner for six, throwing a poolside BBQ, or just hanging out with your closest friends, Lisa has just the menu and entertaining hints that will make it both simple AND divine. Lisa offers simple d'cor ideas and more than 50 recipes in mix-and-match menus for any kind of "Day", including: - Cozy Days: Wintry days, rainy days, snuggle-in days -; Sexy Days: Intimate Dinners for 2020 by the fireside or by candlelight -; Days to Impress: Formal dinners fit for friends, heads of state..or when the boss comes to dine. -; Holidays: Celebrations, English Christmas, New Year's, Anniversaries -; Sunny Days: Picnics, Pool Parties, and Barbecues -; Lazy Days: Informal Get-togethers, lunches, having the girlfriends over -; Darling Days: Tea parties, baby showers and kids' parties -; Frantic Days: 10-minute meals to whip up from pantry staples

In her first book, noted hostess Stephanie Booth Shafran shares her secrets for planning and giving brilliantly executed parties at home. Taking at-home entertaining to an entirely new level, sophisticated L.A. hostess Stephanie Booth Shafran--recently named by the Salonniere as one of the top hostesses in Los Angeles--has a gift for celebration. From the table settings to the decor to the color-coordinated menus, every party she hosts showcases a myriad of inspired elements. In her first book, she shows readers how to set the stage for eight parties, from an elegant housewarming in her Jeffrey Bilhuber-decorated home to a classic California pool party to a festive Christmas brunch. She also shares advice on palette creation--blue and white for a ladies' charity luncheon, and deep burgundies for a gentleman's wine and cigar party. Each chapter ends with tips for that theme, whether it is entertaining alfresco or having parties for a charitable purpose. Shafran also includes a guide to her party essentials: inspiration, invitations, flowers, tablescape, linens, seating, the bar, and select recipes.