UNLESS you've been living under a rock for the last few weeks you'll probably be getting ready to party.

Christmas and New Year is the party season for millions. It's a time when we can let our hair down, dispense with office politics and learn to really enjoy ourselves.

Yet although it's a season of cheer, there are times when being the hostess with the mostest can get a little too stressful.

Going to a party is great, but if you're the one who's planning it you might feel left out in the cold.

Alison Price, party planner to the stars, says that with detailed planning, plenty of preparation and a little creativity, you can rival the poshest of parties and have a great time yourself.

With planning parties for Sir Elton John, George Michael and Dame Judi Dench under her belt, Ms Price has been enlisted by Marks & Spencer to help plan their party.

The company has launched a new range of party food to tantalise taste buds and soak up the alcohol.

All the recipes have been based on Ms Price's original cocktail snacks that have been served up at many of the parties she has planned.

I started developing the food at the beginning of this year, It's just the same as we serve at our parties, said Ms Price, who is a Cordon Bleu chef.

The idea is to keep things small and fun. There are mini hamburgers and hot dogs, mini sausage and mash, Moroccan food and duck parcels.

These have been served at number 10, and you can buy them at M & S."

She says that although planning a party can sometimes involve catering for more than 1,000 people and stretch long into the night, it's a job she feels privileged to have.

"We're extremely lucky in that we've got access to places and people we would never have in normal jobs.

"We never take it for granted. You have to be as good, or better as your last party.

Your bash might not be held at the Tate Modern gallery, or in one of London's plushest hotels, but you can still make the night an evening to remember.

One of the most worrying things is knowing whether there are enough nibbles.

If your party is expected to last between one and one-and-a-half hours, then allow eight to nine pieces per person.

If it's two to two-and-a-half hours, then increase the amount of food to 10 to 12 pieces. A three-to-four-hour party will require 12-16 pieces per person.

Drinks are as, if not more, important. Ms Price says you should allow three over-sized glasses per person.

Take into consideration the amount of people you have invited and don't forget to take into account the amount of space you have in your fridge and freezer.

If you're serving wine, remove the cork and then put it on ice. It's then ready to be served immediately it's needed and frees up space in the fridge.

If you want to serve cocktails, a lot can be made in advance. Keep a really good variety of fresh fruit juices and cocktails so there will be a lot of choice. Fridge space is vital for food, so instead get a big bucket and cover drinks with ice.

Having a successful party can be easy. Make a list a couple of weeks beforehand so that you find out if you need anything, such as serving dishes.

The food that has been created by Ms Price and the team at Marks & Spencer is actually very classy, yet simple.

The brie-and-cranberry parcels melt in the mouth and the cajun chicken bites have a kick in them.

There's a huge variety of vegetarian foods, such as the crostini selection and vegetable filo pastry tartlets.

All this food is very easy to serve and present, it doesn't take much imagination, said Ms Price.

There are other things that can be used extremely well to get guests talking.

You can do smooth soups served in shot glasses, sandwiches can be cut into shapes and salads can be served on teaspoons.

If you have planned your party down to the last mouthful congratulations, but if you think it might all end in a blind panic, don't stress.

If you start preparations a few days before you'll be able to enjoy the night as much as everyone else.