Not to mention, shopping needs to be done for your company holiday party, his (or her... fellas, we don't want to leave you out) holiday party and of course, the cocktail party you have to throw in who else's honor but yours. It's your time to shine and prove you know how to celebrate the holidays with panache. It's also an opportunity to show your friends and family that you appreciate them.
Whatever the reason you choose to use as the motivation for this year's get together, you'll need to address the following elements if you want to have a successful cocktail event:
Say No To Email
In the age of technology and with the ease that e-card sites like evite.com provide for sending out mass event invitations, it's very easy to be tempted to also consider these services for your holiday party but consider the alternative - your carefully chosen, meticulously worded, elegantly enhanced, perfectly stamped “printed invitation” arrives at your guests doorstep and once opened, becomes the centerpiece of the message board or refrigerator while the countdown begins.
Without even knowing it, you've made your guest stir crazy as they now decide whether or not to attend and if so, what to wear. Thoughts of who is going to be there and what everyone else is going to look like become the temporary obsession.
With just one carefully chosen, meticulously worded, elegantly enhanced, perfectly stamped printed invitation, you've given them new reason to live! Okay, maybe it's not that serious but you get the picture and you've got to admit there is a difference.
Regardless of which method you opt to use, make sure you select an invitation that ties into your theme and also fits your personality. Don't be afraid to personalize your invitation - minor enhancements such as glitter or a single rhinestone can go a long way. And always include a clear way for guests to RSVP and a date by which they need to do so. Choose a date about 7 days from the party date - this gives you a good amount of time to accept RSVPs from procrastinators and allows you to get an idea of how many hungry guests you should expect to arrive. Set the Mood
Music and lighting create the environment you welcome your guests into and should be considered with your party theme in mind. For the holidays, create a music mix that mixes holiday celebration in with your favorites. Using cinnamon is an easy way to remind guests of the holiday season. Give special consideration to little details like candles in the bathroom or placing seasonal flowers such as amaryllis as a focal point in your event space.
You should have adequate seating for your guest without overlooking the goal of interaction and may I, very quickly, revisit the candle suggestion? Candles are always a great way to create ambiance and invoke a number of physical chemical reactions in the human body including relaxation, sexual stimulation, and euphoria. Discover a scent for your cocktail party that reminds you of the feel of the night. Create wet and dry tea light candle floaters using materials such as pine cones, cranberries, and ferns. Remember the key to any successful event is your ability to tantalize all five of every guest's senses. Document The Fun
It's an unwritten rule in the business world that if you don't document it, it never happened…a rule that can also be applied to the planning of your cocktail party. Who's going to believe that you threw the Cocktail party of the century if you don't have the pictures to prove it? Depending on your budget you may want to consider hiring a photographer or videographer for the evening or maybe even purchasing disposable cameras for all of your guests and having them take photos of the evening. Before your guests leave collect the cameras and an email address and once developed, have them emailed to everyone. If none of these is an option because the budget just won't accommodate it, use your own digital or disposable camera or borrow a friend's. Don't forget to take candid shots - they capture the heartbeat of the party! Prep Time: Thirty-Six Hours
You'll have enough stress to endure with the hustle and bustle that is the holiday season. Take my advice and do yourself a favor: If you decide to host a cocktail party, DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! Thirty-six hours before the party you should have a final guest count and the ingredients for your party menu. Hopefully, you've already decorated for the season but if not, use time to clean and decorate. Use the day leading up to the event to finalize your gift bags and prepare your meal selections. Freeze your signature ice cubes and arrange the lighting. Do a “sound check” to make sure the speakers and music work and ensure the all the minor details are in place and ready to go on party night. Dress To Kill
The highlight to being the host or hostess is home court advantage. It also means there's no room for error and your hair, makeup and shoes must be right. That should be a breeze after all, the comfort of your own surrounding provides the perfect place to rock that form-fitting black tube dress and 4 inch stilettos with confidence and gracefulness. Pull energy from your adoring fans... I mean guests... as they comment and insist on what a lovely job you've done in pulling off a perfect night. You are the center of attention, embrace it in style. Leave Your Signature
If you don't already have one of your own, search the internet for a holiday cordial or cocktail that you can offer to guests as the signature drink. Buy trendy glasses to serve with and as an alternative to ice cubes consider freezing some of your signature drink in an ice tray as a way to keep drinks cold. Additional details, such as festive ribbon on wine flutes (which can also double as ways to identify drinks) will not og unnoticed by guests. Never Send Them Home Empty Handed
Regardless of the type of event, I'm a firm believer that you should never send your guests' home empty handed. Gift bags are an easy way to say thank you to your guests for joining you in your celebration and do not need to cost excessive amounts of money to be a success. Sweets are a huge treat so why not consider baking festive holiday cupcakes or baking up your homemade secret for sugar cookies for your guests to take home.
If baking isn't your specialty, consider wrapping holiday candy such as peppermints and chocolates in bright cellophane (using parchment paper against the food). Including a handmade tree ornament adds a personalized touch.
