Planning a chic, elegant cocktail party is more about introducing an easy stylish flair into your home’s ambience than about spending way too much money on complicated set-ups and props. A carefully maintained home bar can be converted into a sophisticated and elegant cocktail space and a regular drawing room into a fashionable mingling spot with some clever decor, lighting, food and cocktail ideas.
Some simple tips can turn your weekend gatherings into something more than just a group of friends gabbing over a slice of ‘za. They can become immersive experiences, fuelled with creativity and imagination, levelling you up as a successful home host.
Pick A Clear, Subtle Theme
One of the first things about elegant hosting is cohesion. Every element has to work together to produce a collective feeling that drives the party into one whole vibe. This can be anything, including a colour-based theme like a monochrome dinner or black and gold formal cocktail hour.
Other ideas for the theme can be around the food and drink roster such as a Mediterranean mezze motif or a wine and small plates gathering or a straightforward cocktails and canapés night. Let the theme guide your food, drinks and decor without making the party space too gaudy.
A Menu That’s Curated, Not Crowded
An essential tip for hosting a successful house party is imbibing the oldest virtue in the party playbook: less is more. Plan a food and drinks menu which follows this adage and choose about 4-5 excellently executed items instead of hoarding up on a bunch of munchies and cooked snacks.
A couple of small bites, one delicious main, a single flatbread or carb on the side and a delicious dessert can be a concise food menu for an elegant evening. This also keeps food prep manageable and introduces a sophisticated refinement into the party spread.
Make-Ahead Dishes
The true charm of an elegant party comes through when the host participates actively in socialising with the guests. If you are too busy in the kitchen cooking for everyone to actually come out and interact with those attending the evening, the party might quickly begin to scatter.
So, choose make-ahead dishes that require minimal prep during service and which taste good when they are well rested. Pasta salad, dips and crostinis and cheese boards are among some classic options. With these, you can actually be a part of the party, drive conversations and build up the vibe and ambience.
Create A Signature Drink
Do away with opening up the full bar to a multitude of drink options. Instead, keep only 1-2 signature cocktail alternatives at hand which can be blended for guests with subtle customisations to garnishes and mixers, according to their preferences. One cocktail, one mocktail and a single wine or beer option should suffice.
Go for batch cocktails which can be prepped and chilled ahead of time and garnish them just before serving. This makes the cocktail bar look chic and aesthetic and cuts down on a lot of last-minute blending and mixing chaos that is bound to occur at a bar featuring an open-ended menu.
Styling The Decor
This is where the party spells sophistication at its finest. Soft, warm lighting and the glow of many candles transforms your drawing room into an elegant weekend party space. Elevate this atmosphere with simple floral centrepieces, uncluttered coffee tables, comfortable seating, thoughtfully garnished and refined appetiser platters and conversation zones where guests can talk comfortably.
The decor will make all the difference, coupled with soft background music like a light jazz or any instrumental notes which set the tone of the party. The music can be built up gradually but keep the volume in check to avoid disrupting ongoing conversations.