Cocktail parties are a great way to catch up with friends, but they can also be used as networking opportunities for professionals. Whether you decide to host a party at home or hire a venue for the evening, it’s important to make sure your guests feel comfortable and are all having an excellent time. It’s also a good opportunity to let everyone feel sophisticated, as cocktail parties have always had a glamorous feel to them. If you want to throw an excellent cocktail party that oozes sophistication, here are some top tips.
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Send Out Formal Invitations
While it is easy to create a group chat and send DMs to people these days, consider sending out formal invitations to your cocktail party instead. This can make the event feel more special to your guests, and you can pick invitations that fit in with any theme you want to have for your party to help everyone get in the mood, too.
Have a Dress Code
If you want the evening to feel more sophisticated, everyone needs to look at the part. Make sure to include a dress code on your invitation so that your guests know that they are expected to make an effort. Smart-casual looks are usually great for cocktail parties, but if you are choosing a particular theme, such as the roaring 20s, for example, let your guests know they will need to add some vintage glamor to their outfits.
Choose the Drinks Carefully
It’s important to make sure that everyone at your party is catered for, and not all of your guests will particularly want to drink cocktails. Wine and beers are a must, as well as delicious soft drinks for guests who are either driving or prefer not to drink alcohol. When it comes to choosing which cocktails to serve, make sure there are plenty of crowd-pleasing classics, and perhaps a few modern concoctions that are popular, too. You could even hire a bar service if you’re hosting the party at home for a professional finish to your drinks.
Provide Food
You must make sure that there is plenty of food for your guests to eat, otherwise, people will get tipsy, fast! Appetizer-style food is traditionally served at cocktails parties and having plates of cheeses, olives, crostini with various toppings, and other popular light bites are all perfect. Just make sure that there is plenty to go around so that no one goes hungry at your event.
Provide Entertainment
Even though your guests will be mingling with one another, it’s still a good idea to have some kind of entertainment in case there is ever a lull in the conversation. For example, if you are hosting a cocktail party in a beach house in Bangkok, one way to add a sophisticated touch is to find musicians for hire in Thailand to come to your venue. This is the perfect kind of entertainment for this kind of party, and you can hire a performer to come to your home or a venue if you have chosen to hire one. Find the perfect pianist or solo singer at alivenetwork.com.
If you would like to throw a cocktail party over the festive season, or have another special occasion coming up, use these tips to make it a more sophisticated affair that you and your guests will love.
Read also: How to Dress to the Christmas Company Dinner