About Barware

If you’re nervous about hosting an upcoming dinner party, relax for a moment and think about how you can improve your hospitality skills. First of all, brainstorm ways to take the pressure off of you and your family. Begin cleaning and decorating the house well in advance so that everyone isn’t tense and irritable just before the guests arrive. Take the time to set up little conversation pieces in common areas – maybe a coffee table book or some framed photos from a recent vacation.

Besides being polite and courteous, a good host will always be prepared with the necessary party supplies. In a dinner party context, this means tasty yet tasteful hors d’ oeuvres and plenty of libations. You’ll need classy stemware for the dining room table and cocktail glasses for the pre-meal socializing. Be sure to set out an abundance of drink coasters if you’ll be congregating around a wooden table.

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.