Set to Celebrate: Just Add Guests

The next five weeks are easily the most party-intensive of the year. With Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's, there is no shortage of reasons to have in the neighbors, gather old friends and new, get to know co-workers in a whole new (hopefully, not fluorescent) light.

If the only thing holding you back is that it all seems like too much, think of it this way: There's a party out there with your personality on it, one that can play to your strengths without stressing you out.

Do you like getting out the silver and linen and serving a multi-course meal followed by lingering conversation with a few close friends? A sit-down-dinner type, for sure.

Or would you like to invite more people than you have dining chairs for, then savor the informality that blossoms when guests serve themselves, sit where they like and go for seconds? Line up a buffet.

Or maybe your vision blends crowds and conviviality, an excuse for sequins, more emphasis on mingling than on menu, with a possible dash of impropriety. Can you say cocktail party?

With the conviction that the world can use more reasons for us all to get together, we've found three intrepid party-givers to talk to us about getting ready for a sit-down dinner for eight, a buffet for 20 and a cocktail party for 50. Yesterday's Food section dealt with planning menus for these events (you can also find them on http://www.washingtonpost.com/food). Today, we walk through Prepping (send invites early this time of year), Propping (candles, serving spoons, plenty of chairs) and Music (are you after deep conversation or dancing?). And because the success of the party depends on the guests, we've thrown in a smattering of reminders about Manners (stay out of the host's medicine cabinet).

And mostly, enjoy.

Belle Elving