11 Mistakes No Host Should Ever Make

For some, entertaining can be effortless. You've attended enough parties to know what you love about them. Your host or hostess creates a warm and inviting home, the food is excellent, and your cup appears to be bottomless. They make hosting seem so simple with their signature cocktails and immaculate living rooms. Since they are able to pull off an event with such grace and ease, surely you will too...right?

Click here to learn the 11 Mistakes No Hostess Should Ever Make (Slideshow)

The secret to throwing a great party isn't a mystery. Most people will tell you the must-do's for a successful soirée without a moment's hesitation. But what many fabulous party throwers neglect to tell you are the things they don't do, as these mistakes can turn a party from fun to flop in a short amount of time.

While you aren't required to do a list of things for a party, there are certain things you can never do at an event you are hosting. For instance, the simple act of losing track of time could cost you everybody's good time, beginning from the moment you decide to mail out invitations. Skipping details like RSVPs and not preparing in advance can make your party even more stressful than it needs to be, resulting in another sin against hosting: losing your cool.

So you can have a completely successful party, you have to learn the dont's as well as the do's. We rounded up the 11 mistakes you never want to make as a host or hostess, so your party appears as effortless as all of those celebration gurus. To learn what not to do, click through our slideshow!

This story was originally published on March 17, 2014.