[header] How to prepare for a dinner party without fuss [title] Plan well in advance. [step] Planning will reduce a large amount of the stress. Use lists to detail what is needed and work in shopping visits, travel times, preparation times, storage areas for food prepared in advance and a detailed list of " what to do on the night ". 
It is a also a very good idea to keep a record of your dinner parties so that former ones inform your next plans and make it easier to know what to do, as well as what to avoid. [title] Invite a reasonable amount of people, not a horde.