Planning An Exciting Cocktail Party

Throwing a cocktail party is one of the most impressive and fun ways to entertain and although even the word sounds glamorous, hosting a cocktail party needn't bust the bank.

Cocktail parties are an easy bet for hosts because guests don't expect to be fed, other than a few nibbles, making them far cheaper than hosting a dinner party and, at the same time, more memorable.

Here's how to throw the perfect cocktail party:

Theme: Decide on a theme for the event. Are you going for thirties Great Gatsby glamour? Or a sixties Austin Power vibe? Asking people to dress for the occasion will really add to the event. It needn't be full-on fancy dress, even just feather boas and ties makes a big difference.

Decide on drinks: Cocktail parties could be hideously expensive if you had to provide all the drinks yourself. Instead, decide in advance what drinks you'll serve and ask friends to bring certain items when you invite them, so you know you'll have enough for three or four great choices. Alternatively, just choose one cocktail and theme the night round that. If what you serve becomes your signature cocktail, so much the better. I once had a great night hosting a champagne cocktail party. It actually wasn't very costly because of course we weren't drinking real champagne – you don't need to because you're going to add other ingredients anyway – but it gave the party a real air of decadence.

Stock up: Trawl charity shops for cheap glasses – it really doesn't matter if they don't match. Beg, borrow and steal cocktail shakers. Remember to stock up on all the things that guests probably won't bring but which make a cocktail party such fun: paper umbrellas, cocktail cherries, olives, lemons and limes, sugar cubes and cream. You'll need lots of ice too, which you can buy in big bags from the freezer section of most supermarkets, though I've always just asked the bar downstairs to fill a couple of bags for me – they've never refused.

Create a playlist: The right music is key. You're probably aiming for a slightly retro vibe, which will be ruined in an instant if you just leave your iPod on shuffle and out pops Beyonce. It pays to make playlists in advance. Because you're going retro you probably won't need to buy much new music – just rifle through what you've already got, as well as in secondhand shops. Easy listening is a good rule of thumb for cocktail party music.

Set out your stall: Before your guests arrive, turn your kitchen worktop into a bar, laying out glasses and ingredients, together with a few recipes. When guests arrive, show them where everything is and offer to mix their first drink. After that it's down to them. You'll find that people start out very serious, diligently following the recipe for the perfect Mojito, then gradually become more free-spirited as the booze kicks in. At my last cocktail party I discovered three people in the kitchen at midnight, none of whom had known each other before, all giggling and trying to come up with the most outlandish drinks. Cocktails are a terrific icebreaker.

Cocktail Party To Enjoy Life

The first step in cocktail party provision is to create your guest list. You do not want to target one personality type. Variety is the spice of life. Include guests that are interesting, cheerful, forthcoming and friendly. If you ar hosting a business cocktail party, don’t be afraid to exclude friends. If your business is aerospace engineering, your neighbor would probably not have much in common with the other guests. So carefully select the right guests for the proper party typeOnce your guest list is created, you need to create a budget and a checklist. Be sure to consider everything when creating a budget. You will need to allow for: food; invitations; cocktails; bar supplies; ice; drinking glasses; decorations; a bartender; a caterer. A bartender and a caterer ar optional, of course. A checklist will keep you on track with your cocktail company provision and keep you from forgetting something.

The third step is to send out the invitations. You want to send these out at least two weeks in advance of the cocktail party. Invitations can be professionally printed, or easily made by you using some of the pop software products available. Be sure to ask your guests to RSVP.

The next step in cocktail party provision is to create your menu. Cocktail party menu provision allows you to get originative with the food. Cocktail party food usually consists of “finger food,” such as hors d’oeuvres and appetizers, creating great flexibility. Decide how you plan to serve the food: on trays or buffet style. Plan to place small bowls of snacks and nuts about the room so guests can nibble. Include foods that can be prepared a day or two in advance. This will save you time and stress on the day of the party.
Now for the fun part: the cocktails! You can serve wine and beer only, or you can prefer for a stocked bar. For a fancier style party, you may wish to consider champagne. An important consideration in Cocktail Party Planning is whether or not to hire a bartender. One option is to set up a bar area, and allow guests to serve themselves. If you ar hosting a large party, a bartender is a wise choice. You will be busy with other host or stewardess duties. A bartender can be useful in monitoring the guests to be sure none of them ar drinking too much to drive.

It is not a bad idea to have a designated driver on hand if you can swing it. It is not uncommon astatine really large parties to have a “taxi” service so to speak, which consists of a van and a teetotaler. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If a designated driver is non an option, have the phone number handy of a reputable local cab company just in case.

There are some other things to remember when cocktail party planning. Make sure you have enough serving dishes and glasses. Depending on the cocktails you serve, you may need the following: wine glasses; highballs; tumblers; martini glasses; beer mugs; margarita glasses. You will need plenty of ice. Allow non only ice for serving, but for icing down beverages as well.

Basic stock bar beverages include vodka, red and white wines, beer, and whiskey. A more advanced bar would admit gin, tequila, vermouth, triple sec, bourbon, and rum.

Beer kegs are a great option for a party. They can be chilled in advance and your guests get beer on tap. Don’t forget mixers! The most common include: orange juice; tonic water; cola; ginger ale; oranges; lemons; limes; margarita mix. The mixers will depend mostly on what cocktails you offer. Include soft drinks and bottled water for those that ar not drinking alcohol. Prepare to offer coffee as well. You will need coffee, sugar, cream, mugs, coffee maker, etc.

Select the euphony you plan to play, and have CD’s on hand anterior to the party day. Do your shopping a few years in advance. Try to get as much as potential done before the day of the party. The day before the party, do your decorating, set up serving tables, and set up the bar area. You will be busy on party day with other activities, such as table setting, icing down party beverages, creating your flower arrangements, and preparing any food items that need to be fresh, such as fruits and salads.

Be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to review your checklist. You will need time to get dressed for the party. Be a little selfish if you can; take a nice restful soak in the tub and unwind before the party. You want to be totally refreshed when your guests arrive. You successfully completed your cocktail company planning, so now you deserve to enjoy the event. Relax and have fun. Your guests will enjoy themselves much more if they see that their host or stewardess is enjoying the party as well.