I need help planning a cocktail party in december for 25 adults.?!
Answers: I am having a holiday party with cocktails & hourderves (spelled way wrong) I need some tips on what to do and what not to do. Do you spread the food out throuout the house. Do you set up a bar or make drinks when they come in. Do you need seats for everyone. I would appreciate any pointers.
Most important is, what is the relationship of these 25 people? Friends? Co-workers? Do they all know each other and are you sure that at least everyone of them knows 2-4 other people?
Let's work on the assumption that my last question is a yes. In that case it is certainly good to have a seat for every person but don't feel obligated to have everyone in the same room at the same time.
How elaborate do you wish to be with the bar? Beer and wine only or all-out? As a rule of thumb I always make sure each guest is served his/her first drink. After that, unless you have someone to tend bar all night, tell people to feel free to help themselves. That being said, make sure to keep an eye for everyones beverages; a glass that's only 1/3 full might as well be empty as far as I'm concerned.
Another note for the bar, try to be well stocked but don't go overboard. Someone who drinks rum and coke will pretty much enjoy rum with any Cola (Though be careful with this particular drink. There is actually a federal law on the books that states if a person specifically calls for Bacardi, they cannot be served a substitute without being informed. just an interesting tidbit)
Food I always find the most difficult because no matter how I try to disburse it, people will seem to do with it what they want. They'll either take whole platters to whereever they are congregating or they'll simply avoid sitting all together and huddle around the food.
My best advice here is make sure everything is small and as few bites as possible. Dips are good and easy. My specialty is bacon wrapped shrimp. Whatever you plan to serve make sure its very easy to grab and doesn't get your fingers too greasy, dirty etc.
Hope this helped.
A "real" cocktail party is generally about 2 hours long, a well-stocked bar and several hors d'oeuvre. Your guests shouldn't be sitting, they should be standing and mingling... it's your job to keep that happening. Food placed here & there should help that along. Try to enlist the help of a friend to tend bar... guests who help themselves over-pour.
Try to find recipes you can make ahead, so you can enjoy the party.
Stuffed mushrooms freeze well; make some deviled eggs; a cheese board with seedless grapes & dried apricots; cherry tomatoes stuffed with your favorite cream cheese spread; etc. Six or 7 different kinds is fine, because you want to shuffle them all out to dinner after the party. Good luck!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/et_pa_en...
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/ck...
http://cocktails.about.com/od/partieshol...
Bar for drinks was set up. Table for nibbles was set up away from bar and the coffee station was a stand alone area away from bar area.
Low mood music, fragrant candles, lovely centerpiece on tables.
Decorated tree & lights. Holiday Sparkle as it were.
The above web sites have lots of ideas, maybe one will tickle your fancy.
Have been to a few Christmas cocktail parties over the years:
They were BYOB and Bring an appetizer/finger food.
Here's some of the things that have been on the Menu:
Note --absolutely nothing was served or brought that had icing.
Just pick and choose what works for you and your guests. Different areas will have different food preferences.
Beverages & BYOB:
Colas, Coffee & fixings, Vodka, Rum, Fruit juices
Glasses, garnishes, ice
Rolled tortillas with meat sauce, cheese
Veggie tray with cauliflower, broccoli, celery, carrots,
bell pepper strips, radishes--various dips
Nuts, shelled
Sausage balls
Sugar cookies
Brownies with nuts
Ginger Bread
Plain cold oven pound cake
Navel oranges and strawberry/banana yogurt dip
Zucchini chips with fresh salsa
Brown bread bits with cream cheese and hot pepper jelly
Potato salad balls in tiny cake papers
Mini fruit muffins
Deviled Eggs
Small ham biscuits
Ham & cheese kabobs on toothpicks
Cherry & pineapple kabobs on toothpicks
Bourbon balls
Fruit cake
Spinach dip and crackers/sweet bread
Chicken Breast strips/tendars (no bones)
Pizza bites, not slices
