Entertaining is par for the course from November through the end of December. The holiday season is an especially festive time of year, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to celebrate.

Holiday hosts may wonder where to get started in regard to planning their events. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the process, but with some pointers just about anyone can have a holiday gathering worth remembering.

Don’t be scared off by social media

When Rebecca Jennings, Vox senior correspondent covering social platforms, was hosting Thanksgiving for the first time last year, she remarked that her social media feed was filled with tutorials that made her feel like everyone was doing it better than she. Although social media can be great for generating ideas, it also might put undue pressure on hosts who feel they need to measure up to the events being executed by professionals, or people with a lot more time on their hands.

It’s fine if a host can’t make everything from scratch or doesn’t have a home that looks like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Guests won’t be expecting perfection; they just want to have fun and spend time socializing.

Plan around the guest experience

Instead of getting bogged down on details related to decor, holiday hosts should direct most of their attention to the guest experience. They can ask themselves if a guest will even care about something they are considering having at the event. This can certainly save time and stress.

Keep everyone full

Great food often is at the center of a holiday event, and the menu should be designed to be a crowd pleaser. Work with familiar ingredients that may be presented in unique ways. For example, a traditional caprese salad can be transformed into finger foods by alternating cherry tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella and leaves of basil on skewers.

Don’t forget classics like roasted meats, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls and butter, and other hearty items. They will fill guests up and keep them happy.

Lighten the hosting load

Hosts can identify ways to alleviate stress and free up time to engage with guests. This may involve making the event a potluck where everyone is tasked with bringing a dish. Or, if budget allows, hire bartenders, caterers or a cleaning service to handle some jobs and free up time for hosts to mingle.

Plan for some entertainment

Music and entertainment can set the tone of the party. Create a playlist that includes a mix of holiday favorites and other tunes. Hosts who want to go above and beyond may want to hire a DJ or live musicians, or enlist a karaoke company to get guests involved.

Entertaining during the holidays, whether it’s a festive party or a formal dinner party, can go more smoothly with some simple planning.