In theory, throwing a cocktail party is a fantastic way to socialize and celebrate with friends. But in reality, hosts often bite off more than they can chew and end up "working" their party instead of enjoying it and stressing over logistics instead of relaxing with their friends and family! Hiring a dedicated bartender is one solution, but this isn't a fit or an option for many events and isn't the focus of this blog:) (Feel free to comment below if you want us to write a blog on planning a cocktail party with a bartender, too:))

The great news is that with a little creativity and preparation, you can host a stress-free cocktail party that allows you to enjoy the event without a professional bartender. In this blog post, we will share essential tips for creating a self-serve bar and ensuring your guests have a great time while you relax and partake in the festivities. Are all of the following suggestions sexy and glamorous? No, definitively, they are not. BUT ironing out these details in advance will make the party much more enjoyable for you and your guests!

1. Create a Dedicated Space for the Self-Serve Bar

A dedicated bar space is essential to hosting a stress-free cocktail party. This designated area will serve as a central location where guests can help themselves to drinks of their choice and leave host or hostess beverage gifts, like bottles of wine or spirits. (It will also make it clear to guests which beverages are intended for the party vs not.)

If you expect many guests to congregate around the bar simultaneously, plan to locate the bar separate from the food area. This way, "traffic" will flow more smoothly around the party, and no one will wait in line for drinks or food longer than necessary.

2. Set Up Your Infrastructure

Ensure that there are trash and recycling bins placed near the drink and food areas, and you have plenty of backup trash bags available. Stock hand soap and paper towels or hand towels for guests' use. It's always handy to have a broom dustpan and a mop available in case of breaks or spills. If you're hosting your event in a "raw" or "blank" event space and you don't have access to running water, make sure to have other solutions for handwashing and hand sanitizing!

Ensure you have an adequate supply of glasses (and a plan for what guests should do with used glassware), napkins, and ice, with an ice scoop readily available for guests to help themselves. Placing the ice in a colander or large strainer and then inside a second bowl will help tremendously when the ice melts- instead of guests fishing around in a bowl of water with a few cubes of ice, the excess water will drain out of the colander, leaving the ice high and dry and ready for scooping:)

Consider providing a variety of garnishes, such as sliced citrus fruits, fresh herbs, cherries, and olives, and colorful cocktail umbrellas or swizzle sticks, to add an extra touch of elegance to their drinks. This way, guests can personalize their cocktails to suit their preferences while making each person's drink identifiable, avoiding confusion about whose glass is whose. Remember to provide tongs, spoons, or skewers for the garnishes to keep everything sanitary and presentable.

3. Pre-Batch Your Cocktails

Pre-batching cocktails (Cheeky's specialty!) in pitchers or punch bowls is the secret to hosting a hassle-free party. Choose a selection of signature cocktails and mix them in advance, making sure to label each pitcher or bowl with its respective drink. Pre-batching allows guests to serve themselves easily and enjoy a variety of cocktails without a dedicated bartender. Remember to provide clear instructions on how to serve and garnish each cocktail to enhance the experience! Need ideas on how to batch cocktails like the Espresso Martini, Margarita, Penicillin, or Cosmopolitan Cocktail? Check out our super short, informative how-to videos here, and purchase cocktail sets here. Need more of an overall primer on batching cocktails? Check out our Batching 101 video here and comment below if you'd like us to make a video for any cocktails in particular!

4. Prepare Your Other Drink Offerings

Are you serving wine/beer/soft drinks in addition to cocktails? If so, pre-open (or minimally remove the foil from) multiple bottles of wine in advance of guests arriving. The quantity depends on the number of guests attending- leave a wine key in a prominent location near the wine if you'd like guests to help open wine throughout the evening.

Stock beer, white & rosé wine, and seltzers on ice, and remember to provide non-alcoholic drink options! Bottles of water, seltzer, non-alcoholic beer, cola, tonic, etc. are all commonly requested beverages at parties, and it's a thoughtful touch to place your non-alcoholic options in a dedicated (and labeled!) bowl or cooler with ice for easy identification.

5. Stock Back Up Beverages

Keep extra pre-batched cocktails, wine, and beer in a fridge or cooler nearby to quickly replenish the bar when needed. Want guests to help monitor the bar? Make a sign indicating where the backup stock is, and ask them to pitch in if they see you're running low!

In conclusion, if this list seems overwhelming, breathe, relax, and take it step by step! By creating a dedicated self-serve bar, pre-batching cocktails, and setting out a few items here and there, you can design an event where everyone can relax and have a great time. So, next time you plan a cocktail party, embrace these tips and enjoy your cocktail party stress-free!