How To Host An Old Fashioned Cocktail Party
Learn how to throw a classic old fashioned cocktail party with these simple tips that are sure to impress your guests at your next party.
This year for my birthday, instead of a regular poker night, something I have been doing for almost ten years now. With the same group of women mind you. I decided to make it a themed poker night. A fancy old fashioned cocktail party to be exact and while I did the research on this, which mostly consisted of studying old movies. I saw a few things that were apparent in each of them that I relied on for my cocktail party. It’s no surprise that a few of them have made my old fashioned tips for hosting list.
Now I can give you a long list of old fashioned drinks that were served at cocktail parties all those years ago. Things like a whiskey cocktail, the perfect old fashioned recipe garnished with an orange peel or a classic martini. All of which are great choices. But you really don’t have to have an elaborate cocktail menu or a full bar to host an incredible old fashioned cocktail party.
Instead you can follow a few of these simple steps and create a memorable evening with ease.
Getting Started
The first thing to consider when you plan any event is really the guest list. Let’s face it, the guest list says it all and really is the key part of planning. So create a great guest list, and if you want to deliver it in the most proper of ways, i.e old fashioned, you could send out a formal invitation in the mail. However, you can still get away with an informal invitation too. Just make sure to highlight the dress code for the evening as this is not always implied these days. And exactly why we are doing this old fashioned style! To bring back the idea of a sophisticated evening.
Dress Up
This is probably obvious however, not everyone will dress up for your old fashioned cocktail party as I noted earlier. So on the invitation whether that is in the mail or in person, make sure to let them know to wear their best dress or suit when attending. Think mad men if you need inspiration or any Grace Kelly film for that matter. Making the cocktail party formal is so old fashioned and is a great way to add class to the evening.
Set the Mood
The start of any great cocktail party, especially an old fashioned one, is in the ambiance. Setting out flickering candles, twinkle lights and tea lights about the room will create a romantic touch that will only enhance the old fashioned music playing. If you have a record player, even better. The background music can include a combination of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Natalie Cole, Django Reinhardt, and even smooth jazz tones just to name a few. If you don’t have a record player, no problem, just ask Alexa to play “classy classics News eve” and you will be set for a great evening of music.
Lastly, if hosting during the fall or winter or even early spring, if you have a fireplace, light it. Or if you don’t, try playing a fireplace loop on your tv which adds a nice touch the living room. Remember, when using the tv, you can do this year round since there is no heat involved.
Cocktail Party Menu
The cocktail party menu should consist of finger foods. Things like mini quiche, shrimp cocktail, fresh fruit and cheese platters, even cocktail weenies will make for great easy grabs for your guests to enjoy with their cocktails. They are easy and old fashioned. If you don’t have someone to walk around serving the appetizers, you can do this just as successfully with a buffet table. I set out multiple food tables around the room with different finger foods that way guests could mingle and not feel like they need to stay in one area to eat.
Create a Home Bar
Probably the most important feature here that makes this an old fashioned cocktail party and not just a standard gathering is setting up a home bar. Many people actually had drinking stations or a makeshift home bar for entertaining in their homes. They’d have on hand things to make their own cocktails and luckily for me, I inherited many pieces from my grandmothers home bar. Bottles she’d keep her rye whiskey in and even an ice bucket with different types of glasses for various drinks. Many of which are pretty easy to find in antique or second hand shops. So if you don’t have anything, you can try scoping out some local spots to find a few classic pieces.
A bar set up does not have to be anything extravagant. a simple table with a cloth, bottles, glasses and a bucket of ice will suffice. A great old fashioned thing I went with that worked wonderfully was serving an old fashioned punch instead of a signature drink. This way guests could serve themselves and the punch bowl was quite a pretty centerpiece for the bar itself. Plus I didn’t have to know any cocktail recipes by heart which for me is a major bonus.
If serving a punch, make sure there are plenty of glasses, a ladle, and regular ice cubes should anyone wish to have it. This Christmas punch was a hit!
Activity
Something I think that is often overlooked is the value of a party game. Now this is not necessary if you have enough people to mingle with and have lively conversation with. However, something that works well to bring everyone together is a game and in this case it simply must be an old fashioned game.
For us, this meant poker and on my invitation, I mentioned the poker game and let guests know there was a 10 dollar buy-in for the pot. This way, they came ready to play. Other old fashioned games you might consider are charades, murder mystery, who am I, Pictionary, and never have I ever. These are all great ways to create a fun cocktail experience for your guests.
Final Thoughts
Hosting anything can sometimes be a little nerve wracking to many of us. Especially if you don’t host very often or you’re more on the introverted side. After all, there are so many details to consider. From cleaning the house to what we are wearing and everything in between. I have found that adding a theme can actually make planning a little easier and exponentially more exciting then your average run of the mill gathering. With having said that, it is still a gathering so there is planning involved.
So if you get a little flustered or begin to start overthinking things, I want to bring you back to the main point of this entire post, and that is to have a good time at an old fashioned cocktail party. Otherwise, whats the point of throwing one? Right? So with that in mind, try not to take things too seriously. If a guest forgets to rsvp or your creme puffs don’t turn out. The night is not a bust. Nothing has to be perfect for it to be successful and when you can relax and unwind with your guests, it gives a good energy to your event whether that be an old fashioned cocktail party or an afternoon tea.
Cheers to hosting with style!
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