how to throw an elegant cocktail party

Right now I'm sitting with my laptop and a cup of coffee in my big comfy bed, dreaming up my next cocktail party. Cocktail parties are some of the easiest to organize due to their simplicity...you can throw a fun, engaging party and have time to enjoy it yourself. If you've never tried it, go for it!

preparation

Pick a date and invite your guests by phone or email, giving 2-3 weeks advance notice. You can count on about 6-7 of every 10 people you invite to attend. Don’t be afraid to invite some new faces or mix groups of friends who have never met!

Arrange furniture so that partygoers can move easily throughout the room without any embarrassing mishaps. Offer seating for 20% of your guests – while mingling is the party’s objective, everyone needs to take a break once in a while. Guests should also have a clear spot to leave their discarded plates and glasses.

Align music with the theme or the atmosphere you want to create, without making it difficult for guests to speak. If you have an iPod, create a party playlist in advance.

Avoid overhead lighting. Instead rely on floor and table lamps, and safely placed groups of candles for mood lighting. Don’t bother cleaning much since the party is guaranteed to be crowded, dimly lit, and make a mess of your home. The only two things you need to worry about? Hiding clutter (you don’t want guests looking at your credit card statement, do you?) and cleaning the bathroom. Almost every guest will visit the bathroom during the course of the evening, so make it spotless and offer fresh hand towels, easily accessible toilet paper extras, good liquid soap, and hand cream.

planning the bar

To keep the event both elegant and affordable, offer a few signature cocktails, plus wine and nonalcoholic beverages.

Some of my favorite party cocktails:
spring: bellini
summer: gin fizz, sangria
fall: apple cider martini
winter: hot mulled cider with a splash of rum

Each guest will drink an average of two drinks the first hour and one drink each hour thereafter. Have drinks ready as soon as the first guest enters the party. It helps calm nerves and encourages people to mingle.

Have on hand one bottle of wine per eight guests for any non-cocktail drinkers. Food and wine from the same region tend to go together, so if your menu focuses on food from a specific country, serve wines from the same place. Always have plenty of plain and sparkling water for non-drinkers with lemons, limes, or berries for garnish.

A one-liter bottle of alcohol yields approximately 22 mixed drinks and a 750-ml bottle of Champagne fills six regular Champagne glasses. Determine how much alcohol to purchase based on how many guests are attending and what kind of bar you're going to have. Also plan on having a half pound of ice per guest and if in doubt, err on the side of extras in case there are unexpected guests or one drink is more popular than others.

planning the food

According to Epicurious, a party that takes place outside of a mealtime should offer guests 5-6 hors d'oeuvres choices, with each guest taking 1-2 of each choice. Parties that take place during mealtime should offer guests 8-10 hors d'oeuvres, with each guest taking 2-3 of each choice.

Some of my personal favorites, depending on the drink selections and season:
fresh fruit
turkey pita wraps with cucumber ranch dressing
grilled kabobs
chilled walkdorf salad
apple tart ramekins
almond barquette
mini creampuffs
veggies and hummus
mini pumpkin pie slices
toasted canapes with nutella and fresh hazlenuts

If space is limited, place hors d’oeuvres buffet-style in a centrally located spot. Otherwise, group the food in smaller portions around the room, encouraging guests to mingle. Decorate trays with berries, flowers, leaves, or herbs (edible – just in case!)

You can keep food hot in an oven at about 125°F until you're ready to serve – plan on introducing food about 30 minutes after the first guest’s arrival. Remember to have at least 6 napkins, 2 plates, and 2 of each necessary utensil for each guest. Don't forget to sample the food yourself!

When you’re ready for the party to wind down – or you’re noticing signs that the party is dwindling on its own, like abandoned wine glasses – begin offering coffee. People will soon make their way to the door. To help those last stubborn guests get the hint (we all know them), begin clearing glasses and dishes. Once everyone has gone, relax - you can clean up the house tomorrow!