With so many beautifully wrapped boxes of wedding linens, china, silver and crystal arriving at your door, don't just unwrap and store -- do something fabulous with all of your favorite gifts. Entertain. In style. At home.

Whether you're a gourmet chef or whether your style of "cooking" means picking up a couple of cartons of Chinese takeout, there is a style of at-home entertaining that suits you perfectly. And with our entertaining ideas, you'll be whipping up the party of the season in no time flat.

The Signature Cocktail Party
Think lux. Think glam. Think glitz. Or go with quirky, hip and cool. With Sinatra or Smashmouth on the stereo, a martini in your hand, and a handful of cosmopolitan and conversation-savvy friends, your living room will be transformed into THE place to be. Whether as the evening's entertainment, or the warm-up for a night on the town, a great cocktail party will set the mood for an unforgettable evening.

On a table or counter, set up and decorate a bar area where guests are encouraged to mix their own drinks. Stock your bar with an assortment of your sparkling new wedding crystal: martini, highball, double old-fashioned glasses, pilsners and wine glasses. Add a variety of liquors, mixers and garnishes and a cool cocktail shaker, and you're set for a swanky soiree. If your liquor cabinet is bare, start with basics like vodka, whiskey, gin, rum, and vermouth and choose mixers like fruit juices, sweet and sour mix, grenadine, sodas, waters and tonics. Keep vodka cold in a beautiful ice bucket, serve fruit juices and nectars in chilled glass pitchers, and set garnishes like olives, lemon and lime wedges, maraschino cherries and cocktail onions in small serving trays and bowls.

When the cocktails are flowing, it's important to give your guests a selection of substantial snacks to nibble on. Canap? need not be fussy or hard to make. If you're a kitchen novice, stick to items you can heat up or set out with minimal hassle. We love hot goodies like frozen mini-quiche from the supermarket or spring rolls from your favorite Chinese restaurant, crudit? (sliced raw vegetables), and good old cheese and crackers. Arrange your snacks on big, beautiful trays and platters and set a stack of china salad or accent plates nearby so guests can sample and socialize.

The Brunch Buffet
Nothing says "good morning" like the wafting fragrances of dark roasted coffee and fresh orange juice. Put favorites like The Beatles or Dido in the CD player, a bouquet of sunflowers on the coffee table, slip into a pair of comfy jeans and get ready to start the day off right.

If you're ambitious and have the tools to pull it off, a hot breakfast is always a hit. Belgian waffles and blueberry pancakes can be whipped up with mixes and kept hot in the oven, while crowd-pleasers like quiches and slow-baked French toast can be put together the night before and popped in the oven shortly before showtime. Still, easier choices like bagels and cream cheese or pastries and fresh fruits are always popular and can be put together in a snap.

Choose a table or counter top to devote to your buffet spread, and decorate it with a cheerful tablecloth, a vase of fresh flowers, and a stack of your prettiest china. Arrange your feast on large serving platters and boards, setting up accompanying smears, spreads and sauces in great bowls or even gravy boats. And don't forget to go the extra mile with crystal juice or iced beverage glasses, china mugs or coffee cups, a sugar and creamer set, linen napkins, sparkling pitchers of fruit juices and pots of fresh coffee and tea.

The Supper Club
Kissing cousin to a Pot Luck, where everyone brings a favorite dish, is the Supper Club, where members take turns preparing entire meals. Hosting a Supper Club event is slightly more complicated than just hosting a dinner party because the Supper Club is generally organized around a theme. Still, if you know at least two other couples who love to eat, to cook, and to entertain, Supper Clubs are a worthwhile effort and a festive, fun way to forge lasting relationships.

Choose simple menus that you enjoy cooking or prepare especially well. Basic dinner party menus usually feature a few appetizers, a green leafy salad (dressed up with simple additions like avocado, pear slices, hearts of palm, sunflower seeds or dried fruit), a main course (your favorite chicken, easy casserole, or if you're a budding gourmet, your culinary pièce de résistance), a few fresh vegetable or grain-based side dishes and a delicious dessert.

If you're a kitchen newbie, don't be afraid to pick up one or more of the dishes you plan to serve from a market or delicatessen. For example, if you've knocked yourself out whipping up a fabulous dinner for six, don't hesitate to serve a bakery cake or pie, or a selection of biscotti and cookies for dessert.

Use the evening to showcase your personal style. Bring out your best china and crystal, and get out all those great platters, tureens, and serving bowls you received as wedding gifts. Set fresh flowers and candles on the table, put your favorite tunes on the stereo and enjoy.