Your Ultimate Guide To Planning A Holiday Cocktail Party 

It’s the most wonderful time of year again, with dinner guests, meal preparation, gift-giving, friends, family, laughter, and joy. If you plan to throw a cocktail party this season or pour a few rounds on Thanksgiving Day, here are some tips to get through it, proper planning and a few pointers should help you get through this season without a hitch.

Tips for planning a festive holiday cocktail party:

Plan Ahead Of Time

First and foremost, avoid procrastination. Long before the busy season arrives, start arranging your holiday party. It is essential if you are using any external resources.

Hiring seats, tables, bands, food firms, or venues must be arranged in advance to ensure a suitable venue. Don’t forget it till the last second, or you will be scrambling. The last thing you want is your party to be a flop because you put off booking providers for your event too long. You will also need to start imagining what decorations, food, games, and music you would like to have.

Make Your Budget

You will need to create a budget when preparing a workplace holiday party. Make a list of priorities, from most important to least important, then plan the best party you can think of. Then figure out where your costs will be if you do that.

Start removing items from the list, starting at the bottom or least important, if your budget doesn’t quite match your strategy. Is it essential to have a band or one who can perform music? 

Finally, consider enlisting the help of your coworkers or friends for the celebration. Tell them that if everyone contributes a particular amount, you will be able to do more.

Make It A Themed Party

Making your corporate holiday party a themed event is another excellent way to ensure a successful occasion. You can, for example, pick from a variety of cultural themes and interpretations of the festival or throw a costume party.

Make Sure To Set Up Lights, Music, and Hallway Décor Ahead Of Time

 

If the venue is at your own house, make sure your home is dressed for the occasion as well! Dim the lights, crank up the festive music (or hire a real musician!), light some candles, and pour yourself a beverage before your guests arrive. Try to greet all of your guests at the door to give them a positive first impression of a joyful, festive holiday celebration!

The music sets the mood of your event. The flame of fire and mellow background piano is lovely. Deep reds, greens, and blues create a festive atmosphere. The color of your tablecloths will help to tie everything together.

Take A Poll To Choose What  Kinds Of Food To Eat

You will need some food to go with those drinks, and you will want to make sure it complements the cocktails properly. Allowing everyone to cooperate in the planning process is another simple method to make everyone pleased. Send out an email with a poll asking folks what they want to see at the party.

 

Foods, sweets, beverages, music, games, and other festive events can all be included. You don’t have to make all the arrangements just because you are the host. It is also good to form a party planning team to get some extra help with the planning.

If you are looking for creamy cocktails, the food should be light and airy. Snacks and canapés are sufficient. However, when it comes to creamy cocktail recipes, you need to be cautious, especially if hosting a large gathering. People will choose something more fruit-based because it is easy to get rather than hot and crowded. If you desire to serve a lavish meal, be cautious about the cocktail recipes and choose something light and refreshing.

Gin drinks are a great way to keep things light. Because the cocktails are the star of the show, it is better to choose your distinctive cocktails first and then figure out what food pairs well with them.

Here is River Street Liquor Store suggested cocktail party menu:

  • Avocado, Mango and Chilli Prawn Cups 

  • Duck Pancakes with Asian Plum Sauce

  • Spicy Fried Cauliflower Bites with Chilli Mayonnaise

  • Easy As Australian Rock Oysters with Caviar

  • Butter Chicken Skewers with Salad

  • Pulled Pork and Mushroom Sliders

  • Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

  • Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans in Puff Pastry with Apples

  • Salt & Pepper Roasted Shrimp with Lemon, Caper Cream Sauce

  • Beef Tenderloin Canapes with Horseradish Cream

  • Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tarts

  • Blue Cheese & Bacon Potato Canapes

  • Fudge Topped Cream Puffs

  • Festive Vanilla Pineapple Flirtini Cocktail

Prepare Signature Cocktails Ahead of Time

Follow this advice to ensure that everyone at your party, including the host, has a good time. Prepare one or two signature drinks ahead of time and serve them alongside a well-stocked self-service bar. Punches and bottled drinks are your best friends because they can be prepared ahead of time and kept chilled. 

Another benefit of reducing your menu is that it frees you to focus on other aspects of a cocktail party, such as glassware, liquor, mixers, and ice. Keep in mind that juice-based cocktails should be made the morning before your gathering. The reason for this is because juice might spoil if squeezed even one day ahead of time, resulting in sour drinks.

As a result, classics like the martini and the Manhattan are the easiest cocktails to serve at parties. They are the most accessible drinks to batch and store in the refrigerator because they are entirely made of spirit and wine and don’t require any new components like juices. 

Set Up The Bar With Wine, Beer, And A Cocktail 

 

If you don’t plan on hiring employees, don’t offer a full bar. Offer wine, beer, and a celebratory drink instead. Make the cocktail in advance and serve it from a pitcher.

 

What you will need are the following:

 

Glasses: For all of the drinks served, use the same kind of glass. It is straightforward!

Pour beer and chilled wine into a big bowl to ice them down.

Wine: red, white, and sparkling are perfect for the holidays.

Cocktail: is pre-mixed in a pitcher and ready to serve.

Tools: Keep a bottle opener and a wine opener handy.

Snack: At the bar, I propose a bowl of candied or spiced nuts.

Decoration: Don’t forget to decorate your bar area — it is, after all, one of the party’s center points.

Mixers and Essential Liquor

Even if you are only serving one or two cocktails that you have prepared ahead of time, keep these spirits available for ‘on the rocks’ drinkers and DIYers:

 

  • Whiskey

  • Gin

  • Vodka

  • Tequila

  • Rum

  • Brandy

 

Your guests may arrive with various tastes: some will be fascinated with your drinks, while others may only want a gin and tonic. Stock up on the following mixers to be ready:

 

  • Tonic Water

  • Lemonade or lemon-lime soda for a refreshing drink

  • Club or seltzer soda

  • Cola

  • Ginger ale or ginger beer

 

Also, keep plenty of lemons and limes available for your visitors who love to drink.

 

With the holiday season approaching, we at River Street Liquor Store at Savannah, Ga hope that you learn from what we have shared about some of our favorite party-planning techniques, as well as professional advice on organizing holiday cocktail parties. Whether you are throwing a small, sophisticated cocktail party or a large, wild party, we wish we have got you covered.

 

Cocktail party planning doesn’t have to be difficult if you follow these basic guidelines. Remember, the cocktails are the star of the show, so don’t go overboard with the decorations or the food. Simply purchase high-quality ingredients and practice your cocktail-making abilities to mesmerize your guests.

 

If you plan for a bachelorette party, we can help you have the best bachelorette party ever! Discover more tips and information about 7 Cocktails And Shooters For Your Bachelorette Party In Savannah, Ga.  

 

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