Discover the secrets of ... the perfect weekend break.

Dig out your fancy frocks and polish your dancing shoes: the party season's about to kick off with a popping of corks and a clinking of glasses!

While throwing the perfect party is always a great idea in theory, if you're the one who has to plan it, what felt like a sparkling idea can start to lose some if its fizz. But whether it's a family party, a gathering of friends or a knees-up for work colleagues, with a little organisation and a lot of festive cheer it's easy to throw the party of the century... and enjoy it too!

Click on the categories below for hints and tips on how to throw four fabulously different events.

House Party

A house party can be as big and bold as you like and it's ideal for occasions when you're finding it difficult to get the numbers down.

  • Guest list: The more the merrier, but don't go mad - remember people may bring friends!
  • Food: Depending on how much work you want to put in, you could provide anything from nibbles to canapés to a full-blown buffet.
  • Drink: Buy some alcohol to get things started, but ask people to bring a bottle to ensure your budget doesn't go off the scale. To really get things going, make a bowl of punch.
  • Dress code: Decide how smart you want things to be, or choose a theme for fancy dress (just make sure yours is the best costume in the house!). Themes could be anything from superheroes, to 1960s / 70s / 80s, or what you wanted to be when you were little!
  • Entertainment: If on the off-chance you have a friend with record or CD decks, see if they'll come and act as DJ for the evening. Alternatively, make a compilation on an mp3 player and just let it run. If you're after other forms of entertainment, why not hire a karaoke machine or dance mat, write a quiz, or devise other party games?
  • Finishing touches: Decorate your home with candles, flowers and fairy lights for that perfect party feel. Leave a few disposable cameras lying around to capture any drunken party moments.
  • Don't forget to: Clean the house, make space in your fridge, put beer and white wine in to chill an hour before the party, make lots of ice, and ensure you have lots of bin bags, toilet rolls, corkscrews and bottle openers. And remember to tell the neighbours!
  • Make it easy by: Decorating the house the day before so you're not running around at the last minute. Buy disposable paper plates and plastic glasses - or, for a more environmentally sound approach, ask people to help with the cleaning and washing up the next day.