Party Like a Pro

HOW TO LOOK HOT ON INSTAGRAM
For night-time pictures, I just chuck a black and white filter on it, turn up the brightness and turn down the contrast. Night-time party photos are usually taken with a flash, so this makes the pic look nice and soft and dreamy and makes you look less shiny and gross. "As for posing: the fake laugh every time. And if you're standing with someone, make sure you stand nice and close together otherwise you just look awkward." - Maddy Budd, blogger

HOW TO HAVE GOOD PARTY HAIR
"There are a few things to consider, including the type of party you are going to and what you have decided to wear - this usually helps with the decision of up or down - your dress fabric and texture and what works best with the neckline.

"There's something about the laid-back cool of bedhead-polished big-barrel curls. Brushed-out waves give an effortless solution to evening hair. Throw your hair up. Try a loose, low-tied ponytail: I would even consider accessorising with ribbon, or try it with a deep side part with sea salt-textured hair with a polished wave or a sexy dishevelled beehive - 60s-inspired with a sweeping fringe - perfect to offset a glamorous party gown. Or how about a 40s-inspired uncontrived faux bob, or something a little more romantic - centre-parted, loose around the face and low-braided chignon?" - Matt Benns, creative (and salon) director Stephen Marr

HOW TO ROCK A COSTUME PARTY
"You can never underestimate the importance of detail when considering fancy dress. If I'm dressing as a woman I like to go the whole hog including panties and Leg-a-Long pantyhose. Some people like to use fake chicken fillets to fill out a bra ... I prefer to use proper chicken fillets - they look more authentic and come in handy when you're hungry on the way home." - Jeremy Wells, Radio Hauraki co-host and television personality

HOW TO ELEGANTLY EAT A CANAPE
"Quickly, so you can have another one! The real trick to canape eating is making sure you're always in the 'flight path' of the waitstaff bearing the trays laden with goodies. Positioning oneself just close enough to where they exit the kitchen but not so close that you appear too keen or greedy, if you know what I mean, is key. It's up to the caterer to design finger food that's easy to eat with one hand, that won't spill down a frock with each bite, and that is served at just the right temperature so that popping a whole canape doesn't scorch the roof of guests' mouths." - Nici Wickes, Viva food editor

HOW TO ACT BUBBLY WHEN YOU'RE REALLY BORED
"With Champagne in hand, identify someone in the room who you think will have a good sense of humour, make a beeline for them and strike up a conversation! It works every time." - Anna-Lise Sharma, brand manager for Ruby

HOW TO WALK IN HEELS AFTER A FEW COCKTAILS
"Stop, drop and roll." - Phoebe Loloma Trezevant-Miller, co-founder of private events company Ya Ya Club

HOW TO COPE WITH THE HANGOVER FROM HELL
"There are varying degrees to my hangovers, which I must say, occur only on the odd occasion! But when a really bad one strikes, I tend to chill down a packet of Monte Carlos, grab a two-litre bottle of chocolate milk, head to my man cave and watch old reruns of Breaking Bad - it's a tonic. If I'm on the run, a couple of Blue Breeze barbecue pork buns sort me out ... I hope my personal trainer is not reading this!" - Mark Wallbank, co-owner of Blue Breeze Inn and Moo Chow Chow

HOW TO CRAFT THE COOLEST GUEST LIST
"The most crucial aspect of any event is collating the guest list. I tend to think of it as a formula. What a lot of people forget is the social politics; one person invited can jeopardise a plethora of non-attendees. The best guest lists are normally unknown or unseen. Understanding the personality of the event matters also. A vibrant loud interactive event will entice a specific guest, my job is to think how to manipulate the tone of the event for the other type of guest, and also figure out how to provide guests an experience at the event. Too many events these days include the same names and lists; my policy is to create events that adopt a lottery invite list, everyone can show interest but only a select few make it through." - Vinci Gin-Nen, director of event agency 101 Collective

HOW TO ENJOY YOUR OWN PARTY
- Be organised with your food, drink and atmosphere, that way the party will take care of itself. Make sure everyone knows where the loos are, where the drinks are and what time food is coming out. If you are cooking dinner then make sure you are cooking something you are good at: don't experiment on the night. Have easy to grab snacks for grazing, there's nothing worse then being hungry at a party.

- Serve simple classic drinks: no one really wants to wait for a crazy cocktail to be muddled (unless you have a bartender to knock it out for you). Coco Locos (prosecco over a scoop of lemon sorbet) are easy and fun to get people started. I would go back to good old-fashioned spirits with mixers at a party, we have an amazing selection of spirits and mixers in New Zealand - support your local artisans and find who does your favourite gin, whiskey, colas, tonic and ginger beer, then garnish with lemons, mint or cucumber.

- Serve interesting wine varieties so people who wouldn't usually try them experience something new.

- Tell everyone to choose five party songs each and lock them into your playlist.

- Include your guests in the cooking, serving and setting up of things; everyone loves to feel included so give them a job, be it lighting the candles, setting the table or refilling drinks. A party needs people!

- Damaris Coulter, co-owner of Coco's Cantina