When it comes to hosting and throwing a cocktail party, you want to make sure it’s an event you’re proud of for guests to attend. What is a cocktail party? It’s a party usually held in the early evening where cocktails and other alcoholic drinks are served, with guests coming dressed quite formally for the evening. To give you a good jumping off point on how to host a cocktail party, we put together some tips and tricks to make you the party planning expert. 

Cocktail Party Planning

1. Select the Guest List

When hosting a cocktail party, the first thing you will want to do is decide on your guest list. Cocktail parties tend to be a classier event where people get dressed up and enjoy nice drinks with good company, so you will want to make sure you select your guests carefully. These types of events are only as fun as the guests make it, so choose to invite people who will bring the party to life. Depending on whether you have a larger gathering or a more intimate gathering, will affect the rest of your party planning.

2. Choose a Venue

Now that you know how many guests you want to invite, you will want to select an event space. A good place to start is searching for cocktail party venues near me, and narrowing them down based on your needs, wants and the aesthetic. Another factor to consider when choosing a venue is whether or not they have an event planning team behind them. This will make your life ten times easier having a team that can help you plan and being able to run cocktail party ideas past them. A venue who has a team behind them tends to be very organized and can cater and assist to make sure your event runs as smoothly as possible.

3. Decide on a Theme

Next, you will want to choose a theme for the event. Now that you have the venue, you can plan accordingly to the aesthetic of the event space. The theme should come to life through the décor, the furniture, the table decorations, food displays and the invitations. Your theme should touch everything to make your event cohesive. You will also want to choose the dress code based on the theme you’re choosing. This will help guests come prepared and get into the spirit of the event upon arrival. This is a fun way guests can participate and celebrate at your party.

4. Pick a Date and Send Out Invitations

Now that you have decided on a location, a theme, and a dress code, it’s time to pick a date and send out the details. We always recommend sending out invitations at least 4-6 weeks in advance to give your guests plenty of time to add the event to their calendar. Depending on the time of season, 8 weeks in advance may be appropriate. Make sure to include all the details about the party like time, address, theme, and dress code so guests can show up prepared and ready to party.

5. Create the Menu

Finally, you will want to put together the food and drink menu. You will first want to decide on the style of cocktail party catering you would like such as hors d’oeuvres, buffet style, walking waiters, individual plating, etc. For drinks, will you create your own cocktail bar or hire a bartender for the party that specializes in craft cocktails? The food and drinks will bring this party to life so make sure you’re clear on what you’re envisioning. 

At Piovra Group, we specialize in making special events come to life and would love to help you host your next cocktail party.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Should I choose the venue based on the size of my party?
A: We do recommend that being an important factor so that you don’t have a tight, cramped space for guests or a space too spacious where your event feels empty and awkward.

Q: If I can’t decide on a theme, can Piovra Group help me plan that?
A: Of course! Being in the event industry, we can help you plan during any phase of the party planning process.

Q: Can the venue help me with staffing?
A: That is quite possible, it just simply depends on the venue you end up choosing. Some venues are more robust with third party partners, while other venues simply offer the space.