Embrace the Spirit. Be the New Cocktail Star.
Having a cocktail party is a great way to spend time with friends and family over tasty drinks and snacks without having to go out to a noisy, packed bar or restaurant. In addition to socializing, cocktail parties are a great way to make new connections. Hosting cocktail parties and entertaining guests is a popular way for professionals to network, socialize, and have fun.
If you’re throwing a cocktail party for the corporate team, food, booze, mixers, and ice should be the first things you would think of when it’s a cocktail. Even for the most seasoned hostess, throwing a cocktail party—whether it be ultra-chic and on-trend or classically exquisite—can be a daunting undertaking. Albeit with some planning ahead and some useful suggestions, you can calm your nerves.
Sirwiss network of event planners are truly the best in the region, thus, cocktails are just a drop in the bucket compared to the other events for them. If you want to throw a killer corporate cocktail party, read on. they have in their event calendar. To host the next corporate cocktail and make it a blast, keep reading.
A Corporate Cocktail Event: What is it?
A cocktail party is an excellent alternative to dinners that discourage movement and conversation. Since everyone is standing and able to enjoy food and beverages while conversing and mingling, cocktail parties facilitate networking. To create optimal conversation and meeting opportunities and to develop strong relationships with and among your guests, you must execute flawless cocktail party planning.
Define the Format
The term “cocktail party” has multiple meanings. You should give some serious consideration to the format that best suits your requirements. Is a cocktail the best option for the afternoon or the evening? Is it a part of something larger, like a conference or an annual workplace event? Who exactly are the people that are joining you? Y our goals for the conference, such as expanding your professional network, finding new clients, strengthening relationships with current clients, and so on. The answers to these questions will help you structure your event.
Reserving the Ideal Venue
Oftentimes, the location of an event is a crucial strategic consideration. Even more so in the case of a cocktail party, where the venue must meet both your objectives and your visitors’ expectations. Participants will be welcomed in a venue that is exceptional, distinctive, or highly representative of your business, theme, or industry. Your event’s venue will serve as the first impression for your attendees, so choose it with care. Don’t be afraid to stand out and seek out unanticipated settings to make them feel special. Moreover, let’s not overlook the practical aspects. Your location should be accessible by both public and private transportation for the convenience of your visitors. Finally, outdoor green spaces, if conceivable, are always desirable.
Plan Your Event for a Weekday
This may seem obvious, but it is necessary to emphasize nonetheless: most professional events take place during the week. Your guests are more likely to accept a work lunch or evening engagement if it is held during the week. Observe any additional professional events that they may attend. Share the date of your cocktail party well in advance for practical reasons and to ensure their attendance.
Cocktail gatherings are typically held either side of the evening meal. If you are hosting earlier in the evening, suggest that guests arrive at five or six o’clock; if your event will continue late into the night, suggest that guests arrive at eight or nine o’clock.
Getting Your Guests to Show Up
To ensure that your guests attend on the big day, send out a standard “Save the date,” followed by a handwritten invitation and some reminders. Several mobile apps, such as Google Calendar, iOS Calendar, Facebook Events, and others, make it simple for people to save your event in their calendars, so take advantage of them. Create a customized registration platform to manage your invitations and registrations; this will simplify planning and save you time. On the day, you’ll have all of your guests’ information in one place and will be able to control admissions if you like.
Selecting the Ideal Service Providers
The ambiance of your cocktail party is as significant as the location itself. Create a space where your guests will feel comfortable approaching strangers and striking up conversations. The site might be divided up into several sections, entertainment could be planned, and booths could be set up. You should pay close attention to the individuals you hire to offer services, as well as any speakers or performers you want to hire. Forget about overly formal speeches and presentations; the cocktail style allows you to spend time with existing and new customers in an informal setting. Choose brief speeches and prod your audience to get involved.
What Do You Serve at a Cocktail Party?
While cocktail hour has traditionally been an opportunity to indulge friends, family, and coworkers, this does not necessarily call for elaborate fare or drinks.
Liquor
Determining how much alcohol to stock is a further challenge in party preparation. Cocktail menu selection can be beneficial. You can print a menu of a few signature cocktails in advance, and then purchase the alcohol accordingly.
A signature bar is a popular option for parties; your drinks menu will include a variety of cocktails for your visitors to sample throughout the evening. Find a balance between sweet, sour, and bitter flavors, and infuse your party beverages with seasonal botanicals and garnishes.
Food
The canapés served at a cocktail party are carefully selected to complement the drinks served, which often have pronounced sweet or bitter flavors. Speak to your caterers about making a variety of sophisticated and light cocktail party canapés that are bursting with nuanced and delightful flavors to go along with the beverages.
Having enough wait personnel to circulate with trays and check on guests regularly is essential. To throw a cocktail party at home or in a location that lacks adequate space for the catering staff, it is recommended that you hire the necessary equipment from the caterer in advance. Keep in mind that people’s attention is drawn to the smallest of things, so use attractive boards or colorful baskets for canapé trays and embellish them with moss and edible flowers.
Decorate for a Cocktail Party
Have a single-minded focus in every moment and communicate it to the vendors helping you throw the party. Having a theme, no matter how basic, ensures that every facet of the event, from the set design to the performances, is carefully considered in relation to one another.
Lighting
Immerse your guests in vibrant hues, a warm, pictorial atmosphere, or a customized digital projection. Employ a professional lighting technician who understands the needs of your location and how to bring your idea to fruition.
Decor and Furnishings
While the bar will undoubtedly be the focal point of the space, don’t neglect the remainder of the room. Fresh floral arrangements from your florist will add a hint of opulence, while extravagant lighting and burning candles will give the evening an enticing, ethereal quality. Rent soft furnishings and establish a seating area apart from the dance floor. If you have a theme in mind, discuss it with your party purveyors and work together to come up with unique ideas for your cocktail party.
Entertaining Guests
Interactive Bartenders
Since the drinks will be the highlight of the party, you may make them a part of the show by introducing your guests to the art of mixology. Your guests can be entertained and intrigued by a number of activities that relate to the event’s topic or serve as a diversion while they try out the various beverages.
A Photo Booth
Partygoers gravitate toward activities where they can participate, and a photo booth or set provides just that. Use floral, glitter, graffiti, or vintage designs to complement your event’s theme, or create a custom backdrop that perfectly captures the spirit of the occasion.
Performers
The average duration of a cocktail party is between two and three hours, so it’s nice to give your guests a short break from the chatter so they can enjoy their drinks and soak in the atmosphere. Arranging a stage and coordinating its correct lighting and decoration with your event’s caterer and venue vendors is a must. The addition of a dance group, stand-up comedy performance, or DJ can turn any space into a one-night-only hotspot. Break the fourth wall by having your party’s entertainment perform as a roaming act, or even better, by having them serve the beverages. Aerialists might be hired to descend from the ceiling and fill guests’ champagne flutes, and stilt walkers can be hired to maneuver through the masses in gorgeous costumes that match the event’s theme.