Cocktail Party Planner: 8 Easy Steps for a Scintillating Soiree

Love a cocktail party? So do we! They’re the perfect backdrop for virtually any celebration, whether it’s a bridal shower, birthday party, or corporate get-together. Plus, they don’t take a ton of time and effort to plan. 

With this handy guide, you’ll create the perfect cocktail party with ease. You’re just a few steps away from planning a soiree your guests will love.

8 Steps to Plan the Perfect Cocktail Party 

Cocktail parties are a favorite for many reasons. They offer a chance to dress up without being too stuffy or formal, and they usually come with great food and drinks. Best of all, you can plan a cocktail party to celebrate a host of events — from birthday parties and bachelorette celebrations to work gatherings and more. Here’s how to plan a cocktail party in eight easy steps. 

1. Decide on a Theme

The first step in planning a cocktail party is deciding if you want a theme. While you don’t need one, choosing a theme can make selecting beverages, food, and decor easier. Some popular cocktail party themes are based on decades — like a 1920s-era Great Gatsby party, a totally awesome 80s celebration, or a cool 90s theme party. You can also choose a color-based theme like a white party or a neon affair. Another idea is to center your theme around cocktails, such as a Gin & Juice party.

2. Choose Decor

Whether or not you choose a theme, setting up decor can help create the mood you want. For a birthday cocktail party, hang a banner for the birthday honoree. Balloons and confetti are a great way to spice up any cocktail space. Floating light-up balloons can create romance while candle-lit tables add elegance to the evening. You could also opt for eco-friendly party decorations.

3. Get Crafty With Cocktails and Drinks

When it comes to cocktail parties, drinks are the stars of the show. Serve up classic cocktails like margaritas and old fashioneds or work with a mixologist to create signature cocktails for your event. Garnishes are an easy way to dress up drinks so use citrus wedges, edible flowers, or mini umbrellas to suit your theme.

It’s also a good idea to serve non-alcoholic drinks during cocktail hour. Make specialty mocktail recipes or have soft drinks, juices, and pitchers of flavored water on hand.

If you opt for DIY drinks, make sure you have the right equipment. A cocktail shaker is essential and a shot glass will help you make the correct measurements. If you’re adding muddled fruit, a strainer will help you infuse flavor while preserving the presentation. Make sure to stock several different types of alcohol, like tequila, vodka, rum, and whiskey.

4. Select Your Menu

If you’re having a laid-back social gathering, you can’t go wrong with finger foods that guests can snack on all night long. Make-ahead appetizers like dips, meatballs, and crostinis are all easy options.

If you’re hosting a cocktail soiree that’s a touch more formal, serve elevated hors d’oeuvres like smoked trout croquettes, goat cheeses-stuffed dates, and oysters with a warm butter mignonette.

Cheese boards and charcuterie boards are another great option for fancy nibbles. Mix up the ingredients to reflect the colors of the party theme or seasonal celebrations.

5. Pay Attention to Glassware and Serveware

Once you’ve settled on a food and drink menu, think about how you want to present those items. You can hire a catering company to offer passed-tray hors d’oeuvres for a formal event. If it’s a casual get-together, consider setting up a snack table and use ceramic dishes to hold finger foods and other delights. Don’t forget to set out cocktail napkins and small plates to make eating easier for guests.

For drinkware, metallic goblets add a sophisticated air and are ideal for Roaring 20s-style parties. Trendy ribbed cocktail glasses are great for a retro vibe and you can’t go wrong by serving classic cocktails in their respective glasses.

6. Draft a Playlist

As the party host, you want to create a fun environment for guests to enjoy. Set the mood by creating a list of jams to play at the cocktail party. You can match the music to your theme if you’ve chosen a specific era. Alternatively, you can choose a pre-made playlist like chill evening music on apps like Spotify.

7. Set a Dress Code

If you’re hosting a themed cocktail party or a fancier cocktail dinner party, consider setting a dress code. You can ask guests to dress in specific decade attire if that’s part of your theme. In general, cocktail dress code is a gray area between formal and casual. Add advice for guests in your digital invitations to help them pick the perfect outfit.

8. Make a Guest List and Send Invitations

No party is complete without the guests! Start by figuring out who you’re inviting and how many people your budget can accommodate. Once you’ve finalized the guest list, start drafting your invite. Include the event location, date, and time along with the reason for the celebration. Also, mention if there’s a dress code and if guests need to bring anything — like a dish to share or a gift for a party honoree.

5 Gorgeous Cocktail Party Invitations, From Fancy to Fun

Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about the cocktail party with a beautiful cocktail invitation from Greenvelope. Each invite is completely customizable so you can create a personalized design. Best of all, it’s easy to keep track of who you’ve invited, who’s RSVP’d, and who you’re waiting to hear from in the online dashboard. Here are some of our favorite cocktail party invitations to inspire your upcoming shindig.

1. Colorful Cocktails Invitation

Design: Stacey Meacham Design, LLC

Perfect for a summer soiree, this colorful cocktail invite is great for inviting folks to an outdoor cocktail party. The blank space on the card’s backside has plenty of room for additional information about your dress code, parking, or any other must-have details.

2. Cocktails and Conversation Invitation

Design: David Michuki

This Art Deco-inspired invitation features crisp lines and a simple background, making it perfect for elegant cocktail parties. Use it for hosting a housewarming cocktail party or for an evening gallery viewing at a local art studio.

3. Cocktail Trio Invitation

Design: Kid Collective

This bright and bold invitation is the perfect way to ask guests to join you for a colorful cocktail event. Use it for a birthday celebration or a bridal shower. Customize the design by changing the color palette and choosing your preferred typography.

4. Getting Lit Invitation

Design: Paper Raven Co.

The holidays are a popular time for cocktail parties. Celebrate the happiest season of all with this festive invitation. Choose from three curated green designs or make your own by choosing hues from the color wheel to match your party theme.

5. Classy Cocktail Invitation

Design: Llinella

Classy and chic, this sweet cocktail party invite is ideal for bridal and baby showers. The retro cocktail styling also makes it a great option for 1920s-theme parties. Choose from five different pastel-hued backgrounds for an enchanting invite. 

Plan a Picture-Perfect Cocktail Party

Planning a cocktail party is as easy as following this eight-step guide. From choosing a theme and decor to crafting a menu and planning the entertainment, you have what you need to pull off the perfect event.

When hosting a cocktail party, turn to Greenvelope for all of your party planning needs. Not only will you find hundreds of invitations but our Stationers blog is packed with resources from cocktail party ideas to etiquette tips and more.