How to Host a Cocktail Party

Planning and Invitations 

The secret to cocktail party hosting is all in the preparation. Start with the occasion: is it a celebration or just an excuse to gather with friends and family? This type of event can be as lavish or as low-key as you wish. Once you set the tone, it will help you make key organisation decisions.  

Refine the guest list 

Once you’ve decided how formal you’d like the party to be, you’ll need to think about how many people you intend to invite. If you’re hosting a party at home, working out how many people you can accommodate comfortably is essential.  

Get extra help (if needed) 

The smaller the affair, the easier it will be to organise on your own. If you’re planning something more elaborate, you might want to consider calling in extra help, be that friends and family, caterers or bartenders. Remember, you want to have fun too, so don’t give yourself too many tasks to do on the day. 

Consider the start time 

As Waugh noted, timing is everything. A cocktail party typically takes place either side of an evening meal, so if you’re hosting before dinner, don’t expect it to last more than two hours.

Invite guests over for five or six o’clock, and, if you’re sending invitations, be sure to note the timings so they can plan the rest of their evening accordingly. For those organising a post-dinner party, the schedule can be less strict – kick-off proceedings at eight or nine o’clock and see where the night takes you. 

Dress Codes 

A traditional cocktail party dress code hits the sweet spot between smart-casual and black tie. If your event is being held during the early evening, you’ll want to factor in the transition from day to night, too. 

For women, we’d recommend a semi-formal dress, jumpsuit, or trousers with a blouse or blazer, worn with heels, dressy flats or sandals. For men, a matching suit or blazer-and-trouser combination would be the most appropriate choices, and it’s worth noting that a tie isn’t strictly necessary. 

Decor and Ambience 

Cocktail party decorations come in many forms, from the novel to the more refined. It all boils down to the type of event you’re throwing and the mood you want to create. When it comes to elegant cocktail party at home ideas, we’d recommend faux flower centrepieces to add a fresh and colourful twist to tabletops.  

Choose welcoming lighting 

Lighting is key to creating ambience, so make sure you’ve got lots of floor and table lamps to create a soft, welcoming glow. Candlelight is a great way to set the warm tone for the evening ahead. Our LED alternatives are great if you’re worried about an open flame. Fairy lights strung from the ceiling or along mantelpieces will add an extra dose of sparkle.  

Set the mood music 

Nothing sets the mood better than music. Jazz or soul are traditional choices for these occasions. If you prefer more modern tracks, more mellow, softer tempos will set a relaxing ambience. Alternatively, choose your favourite playlist and let the songs inspire the rhythm of the night. 

Drinks and Food Menus 

Unsurprisingly given its name, the drinks are the main attraction at this type of event. There are a few different ways you could serve at your home cocktail party, depending on the theme and formality of your event.

Pre-prepared drinks 

For a super-easy hosting option, offer a selection of specific cocktails which are pre-prepared and ready to serve on arrival. We’d recommend offering two or three different cocktails and one mocktail for non-drinkers. Appease all palates with a mix of sweet, sour and bitter flavours, and don’t be afraid to have fun with the recipes – everyone likes a new twist on an old favourite. 

Mix signature and popular serves 

If you’re hoping to take a more polished approach to entertaining, consider hiring a bartender or mixologist who can whip up different drinks for your guests on demand. Alternatively, offer a unique creation of your own which you can make fresh to order.

Whatever you serve, don’t forget to offer other options for anyone who isn’t a cocktail fan, such as wine, beer and soft drinks. 

Set up the home bar 

For a more informal occasion, you could set up a home bar, complete with a selection of spirits, mixers and garnishes, and allow your guests to help themselves. Print out recipe cards as inspiration and include novelty straws, stirrers and a mix of glassware for a playful twist.  

Focus on appetisers 

“Not too much food” was how Waugh described his ideal event. Almost a century later, that remains a common theme of cocktail parties. Make it clear that a full dinner will not be served on your invitations and offer a few different canapés for people to try, being mindful of diverse tastes and dietary restrictions.

The main requirement for cocktail party food is that it is small and doesn’t need cutlery. Anything that can be consumed in one bite or two is a winner, as people will likely be standing with a drink in their hand. Arrange cheeses, meats and other cold or hot bites on wooden boards or elegant chargers, and be sure to leave out napkins in an easily accessible place.

There are plenty of cocktail party recipe ideas online, but, if cooking isn’t your thing, you could hire a catering company to work their culinary magic. Give them the drinks menu in advance so they can pick out flavours that complement the cocktails you’ll be serving. 

Relax and enjoy your party 

Once you’ve done all the hard work, it’s important to wind down and have fun. The best host is one that’s enjoying themselves. So while you need to attend to people’s needs, it’s also important to relax into the flow of conversation. After all, the whole point of your cocktail party is to catch up with loved ones - and enjoy a drink or two, of course!