Party Down: 6 Surprising Stats on the Art of Entertaining

Julia Child said, "A party without cake is really just a meeting." This crucial piece of advice captures the spirit of fun and indulgence that parties are all about. But there's a lot more to planning a party than just baking a cake!

What should you celebrate? What should you serve? What will your guests enjoy?

To help you answer these crucial questions, we've collected data on all kinds of entertaining topics to show you what's on people's mind.

Birthday Parties: Teenage Dreams, Proud Parents, and Heading Over the Hill

We probably shouldn't be surprised that "sweet sixteen" reigns supreme. With movies and television shows devoted to that greatest of birthdays, expectations are running high for a big bash and a new car in the driveway with an over-the-top bow on it.

The cake smash comes in second. First birthday parties are a huge rite of passage, complete with a stripped-down tot given their own cake for them to demolish in the safety of a high chair. We know who this party is really all about—the parents. They've got a lot to prove, especially if they want everyone to know they can still throw a hip party even though they have a kid.

Perhaps the most surprising discovery in birthday popularity is that 50 is the new 40. Technically, 40 has been known as the official "over the hill" birthday, but 50 has a strong third place showing and a comfortable lead over 40. Maybe they need to start making "Yup, still over the hill" balloons?

Holiday Parties: Halloween. Period.

If you're thinking of throwing a Halloween party, you'd better bring your A game. Halloween has more than double the online interest of its closest competitor, the ubiquitous Christmas party.

On the plus side, people love Halloween parties. You have plenty of ideas for decorations, unique themes, and cool costumes are expected.

Unfortunately, that means your guests will probably be invited to more than one Halloween party. Best to run your date by close friends and make sure you've got an awesome enough party that people won't want to leave after five minutes to check out the next one.

 Want a party without any competition? Consider Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, or Diwali, none of which even crack the top 10.

Milestones: Marriage & the Baby Carriage

Four out of the top six results are wedding-related, from the initial engagement party to the wedding itself. If you're friends with a bridezilla, you may want to block off a few months of your calendar. Groomsmen and bridesmaids: you've definitely got your task cut out for you, there's a lot more interest in throwing a killer bachelor or bachelorette party than there is about throwing a bridal shower.

But the hands-down winner is the baby shower, which may have something to do with the fact that people love shopping for baby stuff or that they want to show an expecting mom a really good time since they know she'll be partying a lot less after the baby shows up.

Considering a graduation party? Go for it, people will probably enjoy the break from all the weddings and babies.

What to Eat: Have Dinner, Skip Dessert

Some say that dessert parties are all the rage, but as the "age of the cupcake" subsides, it looks like dessert parties never quite caught on. Our data shows even the unusual party for lunch or brunch is generating more interest than dessert.​

The long-time mainstay, the dinner party, continues to dominate. Surprisingly enough, the ever-popular cocktail party is trailing far behind.

What to Drink: Keep it Sweet

Speaking of cocktails, if you want to set up a bar or create a signature drink, it may be good to know what kind of drinks people are interested in. Vodka is comfortably in first. It's excellent for mixing and can be used as a base for a wide variety of cocktails. Tequila and rum, which also tend to be used in sweet drinks like margaritas and daiquiris, are also popular.

Whiskey-based cocktails may be enjoying a renaissance, but they're still pretty far down the list. And apparently G&T's aren't nearly as popular as you'd expect. Have vodka, tequila, and rum on hand for a well-stocked bar. Make sure you've got some tonic and limes for the classic vodka tonic, and some cranberry juice for the popular Cape Codder.

Watch What's Happening: TV Parties

Not every party has to be for a big celebration, some of the most common parties these days are TV watching parties where friends gather to watch a show as a group. Some meet weekly while others gather for season premieres or finales.

One of the first shows to start TV viewing parties is still the most popular online: "Survivor." The drama of reality television is best appreciated with a crowd, especially if you're cheering on a hometown contestant.

"Breaking Bad" caused a huge stir with its series finale last year, leading to parties everywhere so rabid fans could share their theories for how it would end and then watch it happen together. It's not surprising to see two more cable shows with rabid fanbases also making the list, with "Game of Thrones" and "Walking Dead" both bringing people together.