THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A PARTY PLANNING CHECKLISTIf you make a checklist and stick to it, everything else is easy.When planning a party, there are several elements that must come together so that the event can be a smoothly run success. The hostess must think of things such as the guest list, the food and drink menu, the location, and the music or DJ service. Determining How Many People to InviteDepending on the amount of space your party area has as well as the occasion, the guest list may need to be limited. If the party is for a birthday or promotion occasion, too many guests may make the guest of honor feel crowded. Another reason for limiting the number of people is for budget reasons. A good hostess loves to treat her guests well, but if it is cost prohibitive to do so, it's best to pare down the list.Planning the Food and Drink MenuOnce you know the number of guests that will be attending your party, it is easier to make the food and drink menu as well as the shopping list. If you are serving bite-sized appetizers, you should plan on 4-6 per person per hour. As for drinks, the average guest will drink two Alcoholic Beverages during their first hour at the party.To save money on your food and drink offerings, it is common for hostesses to put out buffet-style appetizers such as a cheese tray, vegetables and dip, or a hot dip with crackers or chips. Many hostesses also make pitchers of a house drink in advance in order to cut down on custom drink requests and waste.Deciding on the Music or Hiring a DJIf the party will be a smaller affair at your home, it would be best to decide on a playlist and use your computer or a stereo system to broadcast the music. If the event will be large and held at a civic center or other big location, a DJ would save you time and would be able to broadcast music over a larger area more effectively.Now that the guest list, the menu, and the music have been taken care of, you will be free to enjoy your event and your guests without worrying that you may have forgotten an important detail.