Cocktail Party
Who doesn't like cocktail parties, you get to dress up in little cocktail dresses and drink all manner of great concoctions culminating in the wearing of little cocktail umbrellas behind your ears while dancing away to "Girl's just wanna have fun"!
The idea of hosting a cocktail party seems to turn people into nervous wrecks, but it's really quite simple. Read through the lens, bookmark it or take notes and you will be throwing cocktail parties on a regular basis.
Table of Contents
Invitations
First things first are invitations
So who would you like to invite? Make a list, and make sure you don't forget anyone important.
Now you have to find the perfect invites to send. You can make them yourself on the computer, invite people verbally or by email.
However, I have found some fun ones for you. Courtesy of Cafepress, there are some really cool postcards and greeting cards that you can adapt for your invites.
Now you have to find the perfect invites to send. You can make them yourself on the computer, invite people verbally or by email.
However, I have found some fun ones for you. Courtesy of Cafepress, there are some really cool postcards and greeting cards that you can adapt for your invites.
Invites on CafePress
GildedMartini Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Price: 19.99 
Cocktails! Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Price: 17.99
TiniTime Postcards (Package of 8)
Price: 7.99
Then again you can recycle your junk mail into individualized invitations which look fantastic.
- Junk Mail Postcards
- Let DIY Network show you how to turn your junk mail into great party invitations.
What Should People Bring?
What do you ask your guest's to bring? This is completely up to you. A friend of mine used to have a cocktail party every year for his birthday, he supplied venue, disco and food and his guests supplied everything else. Quite simply the parties were huge and on everyone's invites were a bottle of alcohol and a bottle of non-alcoholic mixer and you brought along what was on your invite.
Food
First comes the nibbles that you will have on the tables and bar for people to have with their drinks. This could be chips, nuts etc a recipe we sometimes use is for Spicy Peanuts.
Spicy Peanuts
2 egg whites
3 tsp sea salt
2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp caster sugar
500g unsalted peanuts
Preheat oven to 150C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Whisk egg whites until frothy and then add in the salt, paprika, chilli and sugar. Stir to combine, once it's well mixed add in the peanuts.
Spread the peanuts in a single layer on the baking tray and bake for 15 minutes or until almost dry, stirring occasionally.
Cool completely on tray and then they are ready to serve. Keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days if you want to make them ahead of time.
Now to be a responsible host you will need to supply other food besides nibbles. Casual finger foods are probably the best, everyone has their own favorite recipes or you can look at these:
Spicy Peanuts
2 egg whites
3 tsp sea salt
2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tbsp caster sugar
500g unsalted peanuts
Preheat oven to 150C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Whisk egg whites until frothy and then add in the salt, paprika, chilli and sugar. Stir to combine, once it's well mixed add in the peanuts.
Spread the peanuts in a single layer on the baking tray and bake for 15 minutes or until almost dry, stirring occasionally.
Cool completely on tray and then they are ready to serve. Keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days if you want to make them ahead of time.
Now to be a responsible host you will need to supply other food besides nibbles. Casual finger foods are probably the best, everyone has their own favorite recipes or you can look at these:
Party Food
An array of different ideas for your party food.
Music
You need to adapt your music to the type of party you want. My idea of a great cocktail party also includes dancing, but you may prefer a more sophisticated party where everyone stands around talking, eating and drinking.
For dance music you can't go past the 70s and 80s to get everyone's feet tapping.
For dance music you can't go past the 70s and 80s to get everyone's feet tapping.
Let's get this party started
Then there are the jazz and classical sounds for your more sophisticated party.
A selection of modern and dance music is always good as it will appeal to a lot of your guests, unless everyone likes just one band/singer a combination of bands works much better.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, THE COCKTAILS
There are so many cocktails to choose from that I recommend you decide in advance on what ones you will offer. Make up menu's for people to choose from. I also make up a special crib sheet for who ever is acting as Bartender for the evening. The crib sheet includes what glass to serve cocktail in, how to make the cocktail and what garnish to use - leave nothing to chance, that way you can relax.
Check out Lou's Cocktail Lounge for some fantastic cocktail recipes or buy yourself a great cocktail book.
Check out Lou's Cocktail Lounge for some fantastic cocktail recipes or buy yourself a great cocktail book.
Amazon Cocktail Recipes
The Morning After
After the party, you may feel a little seedy; blame it on lack of sleep if you must, but if you can admit to it being a hangover check out this article for the answer:
Hangover Cures
I remember reading once that Martha Stewart always gave her guests a couple of asprin to take home after a party.......not sure if it's true, but what a cool idea.
Hangover Cures
I remember reading once that Martha Stewart always gave her guests a couple of asprin to take home after a party.......not sure if it's true, but what a cool idea.
Your Invitation
You are invited to Lou's Cocktail Party
Your Say
Tell us about your cocktail party.
LaraineRose wrote...
My cocktail parties are pretty tame now. Usually nobody wants alcohol in the punch. This is a nice lens though and a lot of good ideas. I've lensrolled you to my Maureen O'Hara lens. I'm sure that she still likes cocktail parties.
Posted November 04, 2008
Lou's Cocktails Blog
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