Lemondrop

Sometimes, you can do everything right when you're throwing a party -- awesome snacks, the perfect cocktails, the ideal setting. But the one factor you can't control is the people there.

Even when you think you've put together a good invite list, things can go awry because, unlike cocktail weenies or votive candles, people have minds of their own.

Just ask the following hostesses, whose soirees went bad faster than a sour-creamed-based dip left out overnight.

Business With Displeasure
"I threw a dinner party when I moved into my new place. I invited a few friends and told them to bring their significant others. My best friend had just started dating this new guy who was a hot-shot business type. He seemed a bit smarmy, but I figured I could deal. Once we sat down to eat, though, I knew I hated him. He put in his cell-phone headset and started taking calls at the table. He actually shushed the rest of us at one point because he was 'talking to a client.' Finally I pulled my friend aside and got her to step in, but the whole mood of the dinner had already been ruined." -- Erin, 28

Up in Flames
"My sister threw a great Halloween party last year. Everyone dressed up, she had decorations everywhere, and the food was great. The only problem was that she invited a college friend of hers who is totally immature. He always has to be the center of attention and will do anything to get it. He came dressed as a magician and whenever he wasn't getting enough attention, he would command that the entire party come to a halt so that everyone could watch him do a trick. His last trick involved waving a candle around and making things disappear. Well, he started waving it and as he was doing so, somehow my sister's curtains caught on fire. He didn't even notice at first and kept going. It wasn't until my sister started screaming that he realized what he had done. We threw water on it, but the party was pretty much done after that." -- Dominique, 25

Who Brought This Creep? Oh, Right. My Boss.
"For my 30th birthday I decided to go all out and rented a small venue to celebrate. I made sure the DJ was great, because I love to dance, and invited everyone I knew. I also told people they could bring friends. I figured, the more the merrier, and my boss even showed up with his cousin. The cousin was a little weird, but seemed nice enough. A few hours into the party, I started getting complaints from all my female friends. My boss's cousin was on the dance floor trying to grind against every girl out there. I couldn't tell my boss his cousin was a perv, so I tried to just deal with it. It was so gross that eventually everyone stopped dancing and it killed the party." -- Samantha, 31

Not Safe for Work
"I broke up with my long-term boyfriend right before Christmas of last year. I helped throw the office holiday party, and I couldn't face it alone, so I brought a girlfriend who had also just gotten out of a relationship. She met me there, and I was a little taken aback by her outfit choice. She was wearing a tiny shirt and an even tinier miniskirt. We got a lot of looks when we walked in, but I wasn't too concerned. But apparently, she was a lot more upset about her breakup then I thought, because she used the party as a way of getting over her ex ... by flirting with every guy there. This included the married CEO who was really uncomfortable. Finally, I dragged her out of there, but the damage was done. The next day, multiple co-workers mentioned how inappropriate she had acted." -- Melissa, 35

Crashed Bash
"I put together a very low-key family party for my parents' anniversary. I didn't invite extended family because they wanted it to be really small and intimate. Well, somehow word got around and my overbearing second cousin found out and flipped she wasn't included. She got all the info and crashed the party. We dealt with it the best we could, but she acted hostile to everyone. I toasted my parents and it was really beautiful. When I finished, she got up and said she wanted to do a toast. I thought it would be more awkward to say no, so I let her. She blasted me for not inviting her, called my parents mean, and just yelled and cursed at everyone. Finally, my brother got her to shut up, but we were all so rattled it was hard to get past it." -- Erica, 27

Never fear, guys. We've got solutions for the situations above to help you get your party back on track. If you've ever had a horrible guest at your party, let us know how you dealt with it in the comments.

How you can avoid hostess regret:

When Dealing With Creeps: Be firm with the guest in question, but be diplomatic. Try to see if you can resolve the situation gracefully by dropping a few well-placed hints. If you ever decide to speak to a bad guest, have the conversation alone in a private space so nobody's embarrassed.

When to Deal With a Bad "Plus One": There's nothing worse than when a friend brings a bad date or a boss brings a total skeeze. Unfortunately, you have to grin and bear it. Try to distract him for a while to give your guests a break.

When Dealing With Spotlight Hogs: Pull the superstar aside and tell him there's someone you're dying for him to meet. Then introduce them to the most charming/equally-monopolizing friend you have.

When Dealing With Overly Flirtatious Friends: If you notice one of your pals grossly hitting on other guests, it's your duty to step in and save the day. Say there's an emergency that needs tending to, pull her away, and let her know she's being inappropriate.
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