There is certain sophistication about a cocktail party that makes such an event acceptable for both the Queen of England and Pamela Anderson to attend simultaneously and both to be cited for being stylish. Even T.S. Elliot paid tribute to this social mechanism in his work entitled ‘The Cocktail Party’. Little black dresses, tuxedos, lipstick, pearls, and martini glasses… these are a few of my favourite things.
As I so love cocktail parties (they are far more conducive to picking up girls than are night clubs) I thought I would impart a bit of my knowledge to you. Party the s#@t out of your home without the raucous, destructive force of denim clad, die hard, uncouth friends – by transforming each of them into a lady or a gentleman for just one evening – how very Cinderella!
A great cocktail party requires some planning and as it is not cheap you will need to save a bit of boodle for it – but I guarantee that it is well worth it – no party makes you feel quite like a million bucks, as does a cocktail party. So here is a rough guide on how to… throw a cocktail party.
Step 1: The hours
Step 1 is to establish a date and time – if it is for a special occasion send out invitations via e-mail or traditional post. If it is just a general get-together send out an sms or put the word out through friends. Cocktail parties are traditionally held between 6PM and 10PM in the evening and are generally no more than two to three hours in length.
But seeing as you are the host you decide – if you like your zzz’s or have work the next day use tradition as your cover to chip out those guests that hang ‘round until your booze supplies are exhausted.
Alternatively if you are a stay-up-all-night party animal, break with tradition and go wild partying until you drop. These days anything goes – your safest bet is to do what you’re most comfortable with.
Step 2: The Threads
Cocktail parties are the adult equivalent of dress-up! The only difference is that the suits and little black dresses fit; the pearls, lipsticks, and up-do’s no longer look ridiculous; the words of those crooners now make sense; and the taste of alcohol, rather than being repulsive, is quite satisfying.
So roll with it… when you send out your invitations be sure to let everyone know that smart is the order of the day – as an added bonus guests that are smartly dressed are always better behaved and so are less likely to cost you on breakables.
But if that’s not your scene don’t give up on a cocktail party altogether. Go for a theme - invite everyone to dress up retro chic...for instance. Pull out the old matric dance dresses or wedding dresses (depending on how old you are – don’t worry I won’t tell), haul out your old suit (even if it stinks of moth balls), or go to the nearest fancy dress shop and buy cheap & cheerful glad rags or feather boas – it’s all about making the occasion fun, which is the objective .
It’s important to remember not to become snooty. Don’t require black-tie of your guests or be too strict on dress code – it might cause bad feeling or discourage guests from turning up - a cocktail party should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience that people look forward to – half the fun is in the anticipation of the party.
Step 3: The Pad
A cocktail party is all about the mood or ambiance. The sound of ol’ blue eyes crooning in the background, the low rumblings of mingling guests, the dull ‘shshsha’ of ice in cocktail shakers, and the unexpected outbursts of laughter are what your little soirée is all about.
The trick is in the setup. You have got to set the tone of the evening with ambient music, by creating soft lighting, and making sure that people mingle.
Achieving this doesn’t have to cost a fortune either – go to your closest electrical or supermarket and buy soft lights – such as pinks or yellows – to replace your normal bulbs, just for the occasion of course. You should also strategically place a few candles around the room, just to add to the ambiance – don’t go overboard though and make the place look like a 15 th Century Gothic Cathedral – just light up the dark corners of the room. Light some incense sticks as well, really adds to the ambiance – remember ambiance is about all five of your senses not just sight and sound.
To encourage your guests to mingle, a rule of thumb is to only have enough seating for one out of every two guests. That way those unsociable people don’t just find a corner to squat in for the evening and cause the party to become cliquey. You should also move around the room chatting and introducing guests who have never met – a good host is a conversation enabler and makes sure that guests are happy and entertained. Adopt ‘crooner wannabe’ Robbie William’s mantra for the evening: “Let me entertain you”.
As for the music start off with a number of the classics, perhaps some of the ‘Rat Pack’, Tony Bennet maybe or if you like go a little more contemporary with Michael Buble. You can let the evening move on from there. It is important to have a number of other ‘beats’ on the side – remember – let the people decide, your guests will always have requests or change the music halfway through the evening and you should prepare for such.
Step 4: Bar Keep
Step 4 is the business end of your party – the conversation lubricator – Drinks!
As it is a cocktail party you are throwing it would be a good idea to serve cocktails at the party. But here’s the thing – there are literally thousands of cocktails to choose from so where do you start? And how do you cater for what people like?
Insider tip : Most people don’t know a damn thing about cocktails other than the fact that two is enough to get them wrecked. So the truth is that you will have to play the mixalogical maestro for the evening. Don’t bother asking people which cocktail they want – most people don’t know this either. Simply ask if you can mix them up a drink and if they like it sweet or stiff.
Draw up a short list of cocktails you feel confident in making – three or four will be more than enough – learn the recipes or write out crib notes – that way you look like you know what you’re doing and you can play it cool. It also makes the whole event a lot cheaper as you buy fewer ingredients and can be more prepared.
Preparation is important – cut up all your garnishes, make up a vat of simple syrup and buy plenty of ice (I find that the ‘scubs’ ice bags that you can buy at your grocery store work really well) in advance - that way you will have more time to socialise and entertain. Glassware is also important. Ensure that you have enough of every type of glass to cater for your party. Ensure that you have cocktail glasses (at least 3 for every 2 guests present), wine glasses, and tumblers (ensure 2 for every 1 guest). Also get some paper cups in case you run out of glassware. [If you fear too many breakages I suggest you get in some cheap glassware from places like the crazy store – but remember: what is the point of having all those lovely glasses if they never get used?].
You will also need some basic equipment such as: 1. A shaker, 2. A garnishing knife, 3. A chopping board, 4. A few swizzle sticks, 5. A few pourers, and 6. A zester.
Check out some of our fantastic cocktail recipes – choose a range of both sweet and stiff cocktails so as to cater for all tastes and make sure you get all the required ingredients.
Make a few punch bowls – one alcoholic, one not – which you can set up in a self-service area. That way your guests can easily op-out of the cocktails part of the evening if they really don’t enjoy them without the uncomfortable jeering and coaxing of friends. It also serves as a gathering point allowing guests more opportunity to mingle.
In addition you can set up a self-serve bar area with cool drink, juice, wine, beer and simple mixers. Leave some wineglasses and tumblers as well as ice for the guests on the table away from the cocktails. That way you can focus on the cocktails without having to fuss over boring drinks that people can make for themselves. By setting aside a self-serve bar area you can also ask people to bring a bottle or a six-pack (1 per 2 people sharing) of what they enjoy – you are still supplying the cocktails and so won’t be seen to be cheaping out. Most people prefer to bring a little something to the party as it allows for an icebreaker as they walk in the door and also creates a sense of contributing to the occasion –so even if you didn’t request that guests bring a little something accept, graciously, what is given.
Step 5: Fing’r lick’n…
Ever wondered how cocktail sausages or cocktail crackers got their name. SPOT ON!
Nothing compliments a Cocktail Party better than a few ‘nibbles’; or if you prefer, finger food. So make an effort to have a few platters or trays of finger food floating around the room. Enlist the help of a guest – it gets them mingling - to offer your guests a little something.
Again it is all about preparation – have everything ready before your guests arrive. If you need to heat it all up have it on the heating tray and have your oven ready to rumble for the arrival for the first guests. While the sausages, spring rolls, and whatever else is heating up you should have some cold meats, cheese & crackers or crisps out with a few dips for your guests.
A good guide is approximately 6 bites per guest for the hot stuff and a bowl or platter of the cold stuff per 4 guests. Always hold a little extra in reserve though, as there are always finger-food-mongers who eat more than their share and so clear the trays quicker than you can blink.
Now all that is left is your hangover and the cleaning-up which I am sure you need no advice on.
As a parting shot, however, here are a few points to remember:
- Ensure that you have enough parking space on your property, if not get your guests to organise a group lift – parties can attract high-jackers or thieves – and besides the fewer people who drive the more people who drink.
- Organise a lift for someone who has had too much to drink and is driving.
- Designate a smoking area outside of the house
- Let your neighbours know that you are having a party – so you don’t get angry phone calls or police calls at your front door.
RSS Feeds