While it may seem like it will never happen, there will come a time when the pandemic is over, and everyone can safely gather together with friends and family again. What better way to celebrate this return to normalcy than with a cocktail party hosted at your home? Here are five tips for planning the perfect post-pandemic cocktail party.
Tips for Planning a Post-Pandemic Cocktail Party
Choosing Your Attire: After being cooped up at home for so long, everyone will be itching to dress up and get fancy. With so much lead time, you have no excuse not to find the perfect cocktail party outfit. It’s easy to find regular and plus-size party cocktail dresses and can also find cocktail dresses for hire online, eliminating the need to get out to the stores during this challenging time. Use this party as an excuse to get all glammed up so that you feel your best.
Choosing a theme for the cocktail party will help make everything more memorable and guide your friends on which outfits to choose. Some of the most unique yet popular themes include your favorite movie character theme, witches and wizards, and medieval royals, knights, and nobles.
Planning Your Food: One of the best things about a cocktail party is that there is no need to layout a formal dinner spread. Instead, you can lean on appetizers and finger foods that allow your guests to mingle with each other while they graze. Good choices include tea sandwiches, cocktail meatballs, bruschetta, a charcuterie platter, and mini desserts. You can choose to go with a theme or simply put together an array of your favorite foods.
Cheers to That!: You cannot have a cocktail party without putting some significant thought into the drink list. Depending on your budget and personal preferences, you can choose to offer a fully stocked open bar where guests can create their drinks. Or you can keep it simple by providing a few different types of beer, a red wine, a white wine, and a few specialty cocktail drinks. When planning your budget, it is a good idea to estimate two to three drinks per person for a party that will last a few hours. Be sure to have plenty of ice and mixers on hand.
Hire Some Help: The last thing you want to happen is not enjoying your party because you are so busy doing all of the work. You can avoid this by hiring some help for your party. You do not even need to spend a fortune to make this happen. Consider hiring a few high school students to clear away dishes and keep the food tray stocked. College students wanting to earn some extra cash also make great bartenders.
Focus on the Little Things: Once you have the prominent elements in place, it’s time to start thinking about your party’s little details. A well-executed music playlist can set the tone for the cocktail party. This is something that you can prepare now while you are waiting for the pandemic to pass. The room lighting can also make a significant impact on the vibe that you are looking to create. Gathering all of your supplies and experimenting ahead of time will make it easier when the event gets closer.
Even though it will be at least a few more months before people can safely gather, now is an excellent time to start the planning process for your epic cocktail party. Not only will the early planning ensure that everything is ready to go when the time comes, but it will also give you something positive to look forward to during this difficult time.
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