The cocktail party can be held as a business function, or for family and friends. They were traditionally the before part of a dinner party where guests would gather in a room and drink themselves silly. It has now evolved to become a party theme in its own right.

Have a look at these following cocktail party ideas. I hope you get some fine suggestions, ideas and inspiration:

1. For your invitations, use cardboard to cut out a ladies shoe, a mans suit or a cocktail glass complete with straw and umbrella.

2. Consider hiring a professional cocktail maker if you’re charging your cocktail party to the company. They provide great entertainment and are well worth the money!

3. Failing that you could provide cocktail stations around the venue. Each table can have the ingredients and instructions to make classic cocktails. Great fun!

4. For your decorations, I would simply use black and white balloons.

5. For those with a budget, you could hire out a butler for the evening.

6. For music, you could hire out a pianist (budget dependant) or play Classical and Jazz. I would recommend something like Tosca, Eddie Harris or Bill Evans.

7. For food, you should try and get a wide range of small bites and nibbles. Concentrate on finger buffets and you can even hire out a waiter to serve the food. Go through the full course range from hors d’ oeuvres right through to delicious desserts.

8. Finally the most important part of your cocktail party…cocktails!!! Make sure that you don’t leave anything to chance, so over prepare for everything so that your guests are not disappointed. You will go through an enormous amount of the following; ice, glasses of all shapes and sizes, fruit for garnish, little umbrellas and straws.

9. Stock up on wine and champagne as cocktails will not be to everybodys taste. The most popular cocktails will be the cosmopolitan, the dirty and many different variants containing martini. Stock up on martini!!! Of course, also get in soft drinks and mixers such as orange, cranberry, lime and lemon juice.

10. Remember that the whole point of a cocktail party is that it is supposed to be a classy occasion. A little extra expense will go a long way to make your party memorable, so you really should consider the extras such as cocktail makers, chefs, waiters, butlers, musicians or even a valet to park your guests cars.

We hope you’ve found some useful suggestions here. If you would like even more Cocktail Party Ideas then we have many more to make your party go off with a bang. Our Cocktail Party Ideas will help you plan and prepare your party so that you and your guests have the best time possible that you will remember forever. Have fun!