Great Entertaining takes up where cookbooks leave off—providing a wealth of knowledge on party planning and party giving culled from successful hosts, caterers, florists, and other party professionals.

Drawing upon her own experience as an entertaining specialist, Bettie Bearden Pardee has distilled these practical suggestions and pointers into a quick and easy reference guide. At a glance, you will get an overview of such entertaining essentials as the following:

-Creating the guest list
-Deciphering a party rental contract
-Entertaining in small spaces
-Decorating and organizing secrets
-Pre-party checklists
-Hostess gifts—and what to give and what NOT to give
-Conversational gambits for surviving a party bore
-Easy, elegant, and economical floral choices

And most inviting of all—how to have fun at your own party.