It has been said that cocktail parties are in effect, an exciting opportunity to meet all the people your friends don’t like well enough to invite for dinner. Even if more than a part of this is true, cocktail parties remain proper and respectable and if you do it right, lots of fun. Guests, sip, sup and schmooze while the host entertains a multitude without having to seat rear-ends or stuff faces. A cocktail party comes off best when it is brief, has a focus or when it precedes another event elsewhere. The latter is best because in such a case, this leaves little time for anyone to take offense at anything said or overheard.
As far as your cocktail party guests are concerned, make sure you leave sufficient room for bodies to circulate without being on top of one another. It’s no fun balancing dip and drink while being crushed from all sides by an encroaching multitude. Try to invite people who are connected and know each other. These types of parties are usually not conducive to heavy conversation or forging meaningful relationships. Invite a few new faces if you dare, but if you do, make sure you introduce them to all of your other guests.
Avoid being a cruise director. You are a host or hostess and if your guest list includes many extroverts, there shouldn’t be too many wallflower-type problems. Have a friend keep a close on eye on anyone hanging too close to the walls. Pry them loose if necessary, but softly and kindly.
Have a few drinks yourself and none of this will matter at all. Whatever you do, have fun. From what I hear, there are no cocktail parties wherever we are all headed after we leave this bread, butter and ice cube plane.
Happy party!
Related Reading:
http://forums.families.com/kitchen-baths-amp-bedrooms,f392