About Barware

Have a successful cocktail party.

Step 1:  Send out written invitations for large and formal affairs, telephone or e-mail for smaller ones. Include the nature of the party (cocktails); the occasion, if any; the date, and the beginning and ending times of the party, cocktail parties are generally between 6 and 8 p.m.

Step 2:  Make arrangements for a caterer and bartender if your party will be large (over 25 people), and your budget permits. Otherwise, prepare a cocktail menu and plan out how you will prepare everything ahead of time.

Step 3:  For drinks, plan to have wine and beer, as well as supplies for several kinds of cocktails. Have non-alcoholic alternatives on hand as well, and be sure you’ll have enough ice.

Step 4:  Remove large pieces of furniture or clutter from the room you plan to hold the party in. Set up two large tables - one for drinks, the other for hors d’oeuvres - a good distance from each other or at opposite ends of the room, to cut down on traffic around them. Set plenty of drink coasters around.

Step 5:  Set up chairs and smaller tables around the room. Comfortable folding chairs and tables are adequate and easy to move around.

Step 6:  Decorate with table linens, candles and simple floral arrangements. The complexity of the arrangements and quality of the linens should reflect the formality of the event.

Step 7:  Ask your guests for their coats as soon as they enter and hang the coats on a coat rack, in a coat closet or lay coats across a bed in an unused bedroom.

Step 8:  Tell your guests to help themselves to hors d’oeuvres. If there is no bartender, ask your guests what they would like to drink and serve them yourself.

Step 9:  Have a few party games up your sleeve to break the ice and encourage your guests to mingle.

Tags: drink coasters, glass tumbler, Glassware