5 Tips for Hosting a Memorable Cocktail Party
Whether you’re throwing a party for a reason or having friends over “just because,” hosting a cocktail party is perhaps the easiest and most glamorous way to entertain. The lack of a seated meal helps keep costs low, while also ensuring minimal prep and cleanup.
But there’s a lot more to hosting a successful soiree than creating a guest list and buying booze (and tasty alternatives for designated drivers). Here are the five keys to hosting a memorable cocktail party.
1. Build Your Bar
You don’t need a formal wet bar to create a central area for serving drinks. Your bar can be anywhere that offers easy access to libations and glasses. So get creative and repurpose an armoire or a built-in cabinet — or even a light fixture, as in the Australian kitchen in the first photo.
Serving in small spaces may require a little extra resourcefulness. A bar cart is a great go-to, or you can create a whimsical vignette, as blogger Sara Bates did with a repurposed vintage suitcase (shown at left).
The bottom line: The only things you really need are booze, napkins and glasses within easy reach in a central location. Stock good wine, beer and standard spirits such as whiskey and vodka, along with appropriate mixers. And always buy more ice than you think you’ll need.
2. Serve With Style
Leave the red Solo cups for your next barbecue, and opt for appropriately shaped cocktail and wineglasses instead. If you’re hosting a small group and don’t want to buy new glassware, adjust your cocktail menu to fit the kinds of glasses you have. There’s just something awkward about sipping a martini from a wineglass.
And there’s no shame in opting for plastic to avoid washing dishes all night. Clear plastic rocks glasses can accommodate a variety of libations, from margaritas to wine.
You’ll also want to take care to protect your furnishings with coasters, so this is a great excuse to splurge on the pretty set you’ve been coveting.
Just remember that your guests probably won’t carry their coasters with them when moving from one area to the next, so be sure to have more coasters than you do guests. Spread them evenly throughout your space, concentrating on areas where people are most likely to gather as well as your most vulnerable pieces of furniture.
More Tips for Hosting a Memorable Cocktail Party
5 Tips for Hosting a Memorable Cocktail Party
