by Jessica Oaks, author, freelance journalist

The holiday season can be a chaotic time for a lot of people, between shopping for Christmas presents and arranging travel plans to see your family, throwing a dinner party just sounds like added stress. Do you want to throw a party for your friends, but are overwhelmed just thinking about it? Relax, throwing a dinner party to spend time with some of your favorite people
The Invitations
Whether your party is meant to be formal or casual, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on fancy invitations. In fact, you don’t have to spend any money at all. If you want something a little bit more official than a Facebook invite, create an invitation
On
The Entertainment
No party is complete without the entertainment. For a dinner party, the entertainment should be subtle and not overbearing. Think of it as a conversation piece in case there is an awkward silence or people run out of things to say. Entertainment can be easily found at home. By using home-entertainment providers like
The Food
The food is the star of any dinner party, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do all the cooking. If you don’t have time to stir up a three-course meal, consider providing the main dish and asking each guest to bring a side for a full meal. Making your dinner party a potluck can make it a communal experience for everyone to get involved. Tis’ the season for giving after all,and there is no better way to spread the love than sharing a variety of homecooked meals with your closest friends.
The Bar
Providing a good holiday spirit or alcoholic beveragecan help create the perfect ambiance at any party. Keep it simple by providing a few options that guests can mix themselves so you are not running back and forth, trying to