What do you talk about at a cocktail party?

What do you talk about at a cocktail party?

Ask the other person about him- or herself. People are flattered to be asked and love to talk about themselves. Be ready for a conversational pause and be ready to fill the void. Focus on safe topics such as current events, new restaurants, hobbies, movies, mutual family or friends, and sports.

Do you bring something to a cocktail party?

If you want to bring a guest to a cocktail party only do so if you get the host's permission in advance. Guests should always bring a hostess gift, which is something small like a bottle of wine, some gourmet chocolates, some fragrant soap or perhaps some nice cocktail napkins.

How do you dress for a cocktail party?

A party invitation with a cocktail attire dress code for men usually means that you should wear a suit with a shirt, dress shoes and a tie or bow tie. In some instances, just a blazer and a pair of dark-coloured jeans will be acceptable if the dress code is more casual.

What should a woman wear to a cocktail party?

For women, cocktail attire typically calls for a dress that finishes at or above the knees and high heels. Although cocktail looks should always appear sophisticated, they can also be fun and embrace exciting colours, embellishments, cuts, and unique accessories.

What is a cocktail party dress code?

When the dress code on an invitation reads "cocktail attire," it suggests a dark suit worn with a tie (a navy or charcoal grey suit is best) for men, and a shorter, party-ready dress for women, such as a little black dress or even dressy separates like a skirt and blouse.

What alcohol do I need for a cocktail party?

Unless you're P. Diddy, the only booze you need for a kick-ass party is vodka, rum, whiskey, wine, and beer. For mixers, make sure to have cranberry juice, club soda, Coke, tonic water, and lots of lemons. Fill pitchers with two premade concoctions like a rum punch or a signature cocktail.

How long should you stay at a cocktail party?

Most cocktail parties last about 2 to 3 hours, but how long will largely depend on how much food and drink you plan to offer. Make sure to have enough food and drinks for your guests so you don't run out. Expect to offer each guest about 2 to 4 cocktails, and allocate about 1 to 2 pounds of ice per guest.

How do you throw a cocktail party on a budget?

Food is one area you can save on for your cocktail party. Nobody is expecting a sit-down dinner, so stick to a small selection of light appetizers. Making a variety of dips to serve with a selection of crackers and vegetables is an inexpensive way to fill up a party tray.

How do you socialize at a cocktail party?

It's a cocktail party! So, have fun, move around, and talk to everyone — not just the host and their circle of friends as well as yours. Converse with other guests, the bartenders and servers, make friends with other people's friends.

What is appropriate for cocktail attire?

Why is it called a cocktail party?

Another popular story comes from New Orleans, where an apothecary by the name of Peychaud (of bitters fame) served a mixed brandy drink in a French eggcup. Eventually the drink was named coquetier, the French term for an eggcup. Peychaud's guests shortened the name to 'cocktay,' and eventually it became 'cocktail.

What is a cocktail dinner?

A cocktail dinner or food bar reception is where the format for the evening is like a cocktail party with guests mingling throughout the evening while being served passed hors d'oeuvres from servers who are circulating amongst the guests as well as food bars (or stations).

How much food should I serve at a cocktail party?

Scale Down Entertaining books often advise planning for six to eight bites per person per hour. But we find that the longer an event, the more you can downgrade this total. So for a three-hour party, we'd probably plan for each person eating 16 hors d'oeuvre rather than 24.

What is business cocktail attire?

As the name suggests, business cocktail is a balance between work-appropriate attire and a more playful party-ready spin. Tasteful accessories (like textured kitten heels) can instantly take your business look to the cocktail end of the spectrum, and never underestimate the power of tonal dressing.