Party with a plan

For a memorable and affaordable gathering, try these 25 tips from event organizers and stylish types around the ciy

(Aram boghosian for the globe)

1. Instead of a caterer, do the food yourself. You can make really simple hors d'oeuvres in advance, so you don't spend the evening in the kitchen. Try baked brie, goat cheese, and fig jam wrapped in prosciutto with a balsamic dipping sauce, or a spinach dip in carved-out bread. Trader Joe's is a good stop for cheese plate supplies.

2. Alcohol can get expensive, so rather than offering everything, serve a few things and do them really well. A big bowl of festive punch or spiked mulled cider is inexpensive. Always have at least one red and one white wine option.

3. Use einvite.com to design creative and professional-looking invitations. They've got beautiful holiday invites that starts as low as $100 for 100.

4. Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and the Crate & Barrel sales rack are great for serving dishes and decorations.

5. For your soundtrack, borrow holiday CDs from friends or co-workers and burn them onto your iPod.

6. Decorating gingerbread men or sugar cookies in holiday shapes is a fun, inexpensive party activity. Set up a table with cookies, candies, and frosting in tubes. You can give out prizes for the most creative or colorful cookies. Bonus: The cookies double as take-home favors.

7. Make sure people RSVP. If you have an accurate headcount, you won't waste money on food or beverages you don't need.

8. Use fruit instead of flowers for decorations. Bowls of lemons and cranberries and are less expensive than flowers and you can use the fruit.

9. Serve Prosecco instead of champagne.

10. Use a fancy filtered pitcher for water so you do not have to buy bottled water.

11. Buy cases of wine. But even if you have cheap wine, invest in real champagne or wine glasses. Doesn't a real glass make everything taste better?

12. One word: Potluck.

13. Serve pasta as a main dish but add something decadent in small quantities like white truffles or caviar.

14. Use linen napkins. They're fancier than paper napkins and you can reuse them.

15. Open your cabinets. Find ways to creatively use dishes, glasses, and bowls that you've had forever. Maybe the glasses your kids use for milk could be vases or containers for dried arrangements. And Mason jars are great.

16. If the size of your guest list necessitates a caterer, go ahead and hire one. But maybe there's an opportunity for some of mom's or gram's recipes in the mix. Perhaps you could do half of the cooking, and the caterer could do the other half.

17. Lighting makes any event look more expensive. If you are having a large cocktail party, get some uplights and a sheet of cheap, colored gels to put over them. Place them around the room for a posh look and wow factor.

18. Have a hot cocoa bar and ask guests to bring their favorite additions: mini marshmallows, chocolate-covered spoons, cinnamon, and liqueurs.

19. Reuse the trimmings of your live Christmas tree to make wreaths and centerpieces.

20. Make paper snowflakes to hang in clusters above tables and in corners.

21. If you live near a wooded area, take some fallen branches and spray paint them white for a cheap, easy decoration. You could also add glue and glitter.

22. Drape tables in thin white cloth and place white holiday lights underneath for a lovely glow.

23. Dissolve four tablespoons of Epsom salt in beer (stale beer works just as well). Apply to windows or small glass votives for a frosted look.

24. Carve a stamp of your favorite winter shape (star, snowflake, etc.) out of a potato and use tempera paint to stamp and spice up plain brown paper for packages, plain-colored napkins for a party, or invites and envelopes.

25. Instead of flowers, try a collection of candles of varying heights or some antique containers or found objects. More natural materials like birch branches or evergreens are also inexpensive.

Tips from Casey Buchanan of craftster.org; Marlo Fogelman, owner of Marlo Marketing; Kerri Foley, co-owner and event planner for Pigalle and Marco restaurants; Jessica Lynn, owner of Leokadia boutique; Linda Matzkin, president of Hopple Popple; Susan Verge of Longwood Events; AJ Williams, founder of Creative Events.