How to host the perfect A-list party

DRY vodka martinis are in, mini burgers are out. And if Carrie Bickmore, Hamish Blake or Sam Armytage aren't there don't bother.

Lavazza Italian Film Festival at Como cinema. Valmorbida family (L-R) Jamie, Amanda, John, Michelle and Lisa Valmorbida

ELDERFLOWER tonic, dry vodka martinis, anchovy butter, super chilled Peroni, serious champagne, mini pavlovas and doughnuts are hot.

Things on skewers, dips, excessive selfies, mini burgers, looking-over-your shoulder and last-to-leave-guests are not.

This is the gospel according to Australia's leading party planners.

And if Carrie Bickmore, Hamish Blake, Sam Armytage, a Packer or a Stokes are not on your guest list, then pffft, why even bother hosing it?

With tongue firmly planted in immaculate cheeks, a credible crew of renowned event and party planners gave news.com.au a peek inside the world of preferred party guests and a list of party do's and don'ts now that soiree season has kicked into gear.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE ULTIMATE PARTY LIST

Jesinta Campbell and Buddy Franklin at the 2013 AAMI Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

When it comes to the right food to soak up all those martinis, party expert Judi Hausmann thinks it's all about one mouthful only.

Hausmann, who hosts mega events for names like The Star, Sony, Virgin, Proctor & Gamble and the Merlin group says she is over awkward canapé moments.

"When you are trying to talk, hold a glass and juggle a troublesome piece of food, it's not a good look,'' Ms Hausmann laughs.

"I hate mini burgers and things that you have to dip as I'm petrified of double dipping germs.

"And I'm not a fan of events where there are too many speeches and MCs shouting over the crowd trying to make people listen to endless stuff.

"Keep it simple and brief and then let people get on with having a good time.''

Public relations guru Nikki Andrews, whose clients include Tiffany & Co, RM Williams, Dolce&Gabbana, Charlie Brown and Christian Loubotin, agrees.

Kate Peck from MTV.

"I think we are over this 'have-to-have-guests' culture," says Ms Andrews who was behind the infamous series of Cointreau Balls in the 90s.

"Party must-haves include inviting 'real' family and friends. Other things that make a party rock include a piñata (for the kids and even grown-ups), a good mix of youngies and oldies, no excessive selfies, keeping it private, handwritten invitations and thank-you notes. Amazing flowers like peonies, frangipanis, gardenias and hydrangeas; great music and guests arriving with a small gift are also fantastic additions."

There has been a return to clean and organic food and the classics.

"If you want to give you liver a rest fruit teas from T2 which are served cold in a punch bowl are the bomb," according to event planner Naomi Parry, of Black Communications which look after Paspaley, Veuve Clicquot, Range Rover and Simon Johnson.

Paula Abdul and Carrie Bickmore at the Channel Ten Program Launch at the MCA, The Rocks, Sydney.

"It may be the only thing on the planet that tastes great but doesn't have any calories,'' she says.

"Of course you can always blow your guests away with an amazing champagne like Ruinart Blanc de Blanc served in giant Riedel wine glasses instead of the usual champagne flutes."

So who does it pay to have on the invite list?

"We never get tired of well mannered, good value, fun guests who simply have something to contribute as opposed to standing in a corner avoiding eye contact and everyone else in the room,'' says Camille Thioulouse from Lynette Phillips' MAXMEDIALAB Lab which hosted a mega Moet & Chandon party recently in Melbourne on the eve of Derby Day.

"We hand-picked every guest and every single one, in some way or other, is invited because they can contribute either as a gregarious guest or they have that certain style that just 'is'.''

Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch on the red carpet at Australian Commercial Radio Awards. Picture: Adam Smith

THE ULTIMATE PARTY LISTS

The It Set:

Jessica Hart & Stavros Niarchos

Ashley Hart & Buck Palmer

Nicole Trunfio & Gary Clark Jr.

The Romance was Born duo of Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett

Hamish and Zoe Blake

Andy Lee

Nick and Miranda Tobias

Jessica Gomes

Jen Hawkins and Jake Wall

Lindy & Michael Klim

Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall launch her JLH Shoe range with drinks at The Park Hyatt Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney. Pic. Richard Dobson

Christine Centenera and Josh Goot

Danielle Spencer

Isabelle Cornish

Kris Smith and Maddy King

Chris Colls and Alexandra Agoston

Jesinta Campbell and Buddy Franklin

Jordan and Zac Stenmark

Dion Lee

The MKR 'Bondi Boys' - Luke and Scotty

Any of The Shire's sensational Tozzi clan

Actress Pia Miller

Tim Robards (of The Bachelor fame)

MTV and Myer chick Kate Peck

Red Carpet Premiere of a Few Best Men at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction Westfield. Elizabeth Debecki.

The If-Only-We-Could-Get-Them-There Set:

Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton

Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin

Elizabeth Debecki

Kristy Hinze and Jim Clark

Russell Crowe

The Edgerton boys

10 years celebrations at Bondi Icebergs. Eve and Deke Miskin.

Geoffrey Rush

Deke and Eve Miskin

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness

Carrie Bickmore (if only she could get out at night after The Project duties!)

Jodhi Meares and Jon Stevens

Georgia May Jagger

Any of the Hemsworth hunks

Artist David Bromley

Perennially clever Barry Humphries

Jim Clark and Kristy Hinze at the Jon Bon Jovi concert at the Star City Casino in Sydney.

The Party Faithful Set

Business woman Ann Peacock

PR pro Lil Romano

Hotelier Terry Schwamberg

The Island's Julian Tobias

Real estate agent-to-the-stars Victoria Morish

Sam Armytage

ModelCo boss Shelly Barrett

Ben Fordham and Jodie Speers

The young Holmes à Court's - Charlotte, Bridget and Tim

Kate Waterhouse and Luke Ricketson

TV journalists Ben Fordham and Jodie Speers at their wedding at Sea Farm Estate on the NSW Central Coast, 01/10/2011. Pic credit Today Show.

Sophie Monk

Charity cheerleader Skye Leckie

Karl Stefanovic

Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur

Dinosaur Design's Louise Olsen & Steve Ormandy

Megan Gale

Seven exec Michael Pell

David and Lisa Campbell

Melbourne's Jane Kennedy and Rob Sitch

Carla and Eddie Maguire

Eddie and Carla Maguire at the 2013 AAMI Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

The Established Set

The Packers - Gretel, Ros, James et al

Carla Zampatti and daughter Bianca Spender

Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch

The Symond family - John, Stephen and Deborah

The O'Neil clan of boating and interiors fame

Carla Zampatti and Bianca Spender at the launch dinner of the new U Milk Nespresso machine held at The Whitehouse Fashion Design School in Surry Hills.

The Stokes family, especially young Ryan

The Otto thespian clan

Sharyn Storrier and Robert Lyneham

The Sydney Playfair and Coppleson families

The Lew and Fox families in Melbourne

The Paspaley family

The Baillieus, Myer and Valmorbida families all in Melbourne

Lavazza Italian Film Festival at Como cinema. Valmorbida family (L-R) Jamie, Amanda, John, Michelle and Lisa Valmorbida

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