Planning a Cocktail Party

A cocktail party is a business and fun all wrapped up in a pretty little fun package. And the bow on the gift wrap? It requires half the effort of dinner but double the potential to impress. Follow this guide for an easy and hassle-free party that's sure to set the bar. 

Style: 

There are three ways to do a cocktail party- Full Bar, Themed party, or Signature Cocktail bar. Unless you already have a full bar set at home or planning a big party where you're pulling all the stops, a full bar is expensive and unnecessary. Themed and Signature Cocktail bars are easier to handle with one or two types of alcohol and a variety of mixers, plus wine, beer, and nonalcoholic drinks.  

Invites:

 Plan for somewhere between 6- 20 people for your party. Any less and it's no longer a party and anymore, you'll have to hire servers and bartenders. The invites can be designed to match the theme or be simple with some good typography. Include the start time and end time of the party and dress preferences if any. You can also do opt for e-invites or just invite the guests over phone for a more informal gathering. 

Space: 

Choose the area for the party and arrange the furniture so that guests can move freely across the room. Have enough seating for 10- 15 % of the guests set out in clusters against the wall. In smaller spaces set the food station at the center of the room. Otherwise, have mini food stations set at different corners to encourage guests to lap the room. For a themed party, have understated decor pieces strategically positioned through the room to create the vibe. Lighting can also be used in a theme color. Appropriate music in the background and some flower arrangements placed at food stations and at the bar for maximum visibility will add to the appeal. To help guests mix their drinks, print the recipes on cards and place them at the bar.  

Drinks:

 Pick two easy but well-loved cocktails to serve and stock up to serve a lot of those. If these can be pre-mixed and kept in pitchers even better. Set out the pitchers, ice buckets, glasses along garnishes so the guests can serve themselves. You will need a total of three or four glasses per guest along with all the basic bar tools (preferably two sets), bottle openers, a small knife and cutting board, zesters and towels. Guests would also expect neat serves, on the rock’s versions of the available spirits as well as beer and wine in ice baths. Also have two nonalcoholic options on the menu and coffe for those who need sobering up. Set out water in visible areas for the guests to stay hydrated.

Garnishes:

 Have basics like olives, pickled onions, cherries, lemon and lime wedges, mint, salt, and superfine sugar. Also add bolder options like chilies and cinnamon sticks if you like. Alternatively, add fresh herbs, edible flowers, or berries in the water before freezing them to make ice pull double duty as garnish too.  

Food:

 Hors d'oeuvres are the perfect serves for cocktail parties. Small enough to eat in a bite or two, they let your guests easily navigate the room while munching on them. Choose one cooked item, two that require assembly and a few snacks. If you're throwing a cocktail party outside of typical meal hours, five or six types of hors d'oeuvres with two serves of each for one guest is a good estimate. However, if the party takes place during meal hours, plan for more and ensure there's enough to go around so that no one drinks on an empty stomach. 

Apart from these, have on hand some fillers like nuts, olives, popcorn, breadsticks and dips in case the guests are hungrier than anticipated, unexpected guests arrive or to set out for your early guests. Also, ensure that there are ample options for vegetarians on the menu. Don't forget to put out cocktail napkins as finger foods can be messy and plan a drop-off area for the guests to leave the used plates and glasses. Include a bucket for any leftover liquid and a trash can. This minimizes the mess and makes it easier to clear.