Party Planning
Everybody should believe in something
I believe I’ll have another drink.
—Source Unknown
You need not live in a mansion, mingle with the A-listers, have your own limo on standby or have the title Esquire to enjoy a wonderful martini party. You bring the spirit and we’ve got the down low on planning. A great martini party has three key components: atmosphere, edibles and elixirs. Create all 3 and you’ll have a party to remember. Planning in advance helps to create these 3 components in harmony without making you pull your hair out! It truly is the key to being able to relax and enjoy your party once it arrives. Taking the time to plan out these details ensures that the preparation and party will run smoothly. A martini party should be fun, relaxing and have a smooth flow. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of your most honored guests (and friend) to help plan out all the details. It will be a great way to spend some extra quality time with a friend.
ATMOSPHERE
Plan on around 4 hours starting somewhere in the cocktail hour range (6-7 P.M.). A good number of guests is between 8-12. This is enough guests to encourage mingling among each other without people going off in groups. Choose the area and make sure it is large enough and has plenty of comfortable seating and mingling room, but still feels cozy. 
If you think twelve people in 500 square foot room might feel awkward; try twelve people in 20 square feet! And of course - make sure there is room for a martini mixing area. A bar table height counter top or table is a great place to set up a bar if you don’t have a built in or portable bar top.
Invitations:
Plan sending out formal invitations about 3-4 weeks in advance. Send them either through the mail or send an electronic invitation using www.evite.com with one of our custom designed Martini Themes. We are always adding more so be sure to check back with us later. Have an idea for a custom designed invitation? Send us a note and tell us about your idea. We’ll see if we can make it for you! Be sure and specify your theme (if you are choosing a specific style/theme) and your desired attire. On that note, why not make it cocktail attire! Suites and cocktail dresses are always a classic choice that help anyone get in the martini mood. Other ideas include going retro and black tie-spy. For fun you could list Martini as your guest of honor.
Theme:
Pick a theme for your party. A theme adds excitement and fun to your party and helps give you direction when you plan your food and beverage menu, décor and music so they can complement each other. See our helpful list of theme ideas below to start the wheels on a theme you can have fun with. Once you have your theme, it should be easy to select a few pieces of décor that add to your theme. For example, a retro bar sign, some great retro music and dim lighting can quickly create the perfect ambience for a retro theme. You don’t need to break the bank to pull off your theme.
THEME IDEAS
- 20’s
- 60’s
- Black tie only
- Masquerade
- Housewarming
- Happy Hour
- July 4th
- Red White and Blue
- Dessert
- Use edible invitations (i.e. cookies or chocolate bars) with the who, what, where and when inscribed in icing.
- Have a dessert bar complete with ice cream, shortcake, chip cookies, berries and cream
- Garden
- A few beautiful flowers is all is takes to dress up any room for a garden party.
- Music: classical music
- Favor: Mini flowerpots with snacks in them
- Birthday
- Vegas
- Murder Mystery
- Spy/James Bond
- Movie posters and spy favors will help guests bring out their inner-spy
- Martini Theme
- Color Scheme: You want to match the classic style of this classic cocktail. Try using silver, black and green tones.
- Chocolate
Martini Music:
The martini is the ultimate symbol of style and sophistication and the music that accompanies it should be lounge-like and cool. Anything jazz and classic will help set the mood. 
You can always tie your music in with your theme, as well (i.e. James Bond).
Decorations:
Simplicity is the key. There’s no need to overdo it with decorations in every nook and cranny that scream a specific theme. Why not just pick up a bouquet of flowers, a few candles and a few different colored light bulbs? Make the theme ever present in your invitation, drink, appetizer, and music selections, which are already going to require time and preparation. Use martini glasses for serving snacks. Use cocktail shakers as vases for your fresh flowers and you now have a stylish and cool Martini-themed party. If you want to spend the theme to turn your space into a Casino for a Vegas theme, I’m not going to tell you not to; in fact, I’d love an invitation to your party, but if just the thought of spending that much time on decorations exhausts you, then turn to simple and stylish accents in your space that require little time to prepare.
TEMPLATE PARTY PLANNING TIMELINE:
| 5 Weeks in Advance: | Select a theme |
| 4 Weeks in Advance: | Create and send invitation (www.Evite.com) |
| 3 Weeks in Advance: | Plan your menu and decide on décor and/or music |
| 1 Week in Advance: | Call non-RSVP guests |
| 2 days in Advance: | Purchase perishable food except fresh meat |
| 1 day in Advance: | Prepare food that can be refrigerated (i.e. sauces, veggies, etc.), clean house!, prepare any party games/favors, decorate and arrange room for party, defrost any frozen foods and refrigerate beverages |
| 4 Hours in Advance: | Prepare Food |
| 2 Hours in Advance: | Get dressed (but keep an apron/napkin near) |
| 1 Hour in Advance: | Reheat prepared food |
| 20 Minutes in Advance: | Set out food |
| 15 Minutes: | Light candles, start music, quick-chill martini glasses (if necessary) and ditch the apron |
Finger food, appetizers, antipasto, aperitif, canapé, cocktail, dip, hors d’oeuvre, munchies, relish, samples, spread, tasty snack - no matter what you call it make sure they are tasty. Plan your menu well. Instead of going to the store and buying anything that “sounds good”, sit down and give your theme, preferences and guests some serious thought. There are so many resources available at your fingertips (this is one of them) with great martini and party appetizers. Keep your menu down to 3-4 martini options and 3-4 appetizer options with a good mixture of hot and cold appetizers. If you are having a martini party don’t plan on serving a 6 course meal. A great ladies night martini party only has two menus to plan: one for appetizers and one for your martinis. A martini party, especially a Ladies Night Martini Party, should be all about having fun and relaxing - not stressing out about your elaborate party plans. You’ll want to plan one with the other in mind making sure you balance your martinis with your appetizers. To really impress your guests, print a table top menu using a heavyweight piece of paper folded in half. For tips on matching martinis with appetizers go to our Food Pairing (insert hyperlink) section.
Setting Up Your Bar: