10 Last-Minute Party Fixes (Slideshow)

"The number one mistake I see when hosts are setting up parties is that they do not consider the flow of traffic," says Rachel Sherwood, food stylist, culinary and entertaining expert, and author of The Pretty Plate.

Fix: Keep food and drink stations separate, which encourages guests to circulate around the party. "By separating them it forces guests to move and mingle," says Sherwood. "They can't just sit in one place with access to all the food and drink they want."