Cooking is a good unifier. It gives people the opportunity to work together.

The look of the table immediately gets people in the mood.

New needs and requests add to the fun of it.

The disaster is always greater to the one having the event. No one else really notices -- they are busy having a great time.

A meal is the whole experience of getting together and sharing with friends. It is more than food.

It doesn't have to be overwhelming. It's not worth the effort -- you don't have to do everything yourself.