Shake, Stir, Sip & Sparkle: My Best Cocktail Party Hosting Tips! 🍸✨
My friends often refer to me as the “hostess with the mostest”—the truth is, I just love hosting! Over the years, I’ve picked up some game-changing tips and tricks to make cocktail nights an absolute breeze. Whether you’re planning a laid-back gathering or a full-on themed soirée, these little insights will help you throw a party that’s just as fun for you as it is for your guests. Plus, there’s nothing better than sipping a fancy drink with your besties while making unforgettable memories! ✨

Set the Scene ✨
A little atmosphere goes a long way! One of my best ideas was a DIY photo booth—my bay window made the perfect backdrop, so I added shimmering foil curtains and inflatable balloons spelling out “Party.” A quick trip to the pound shop got me some fun props—air guitars, saxophones, and microphones—which turned every snap into a hilarious keepsake. It instantly set the mood and gave everyone an excuse to be a little silly. Bonus: You’ll have tons of cute pics to look back on the next day! I eventually invested in a reusable sparkling fabric curtain to cut down on plastic waste. 📸

My Fabric Sparkling Curtain – https://amzn.to/4ihHJKm

Enjoy the Party 🍸
At my first cocktail night, I spent most of the evening stuck in the kitchen, playing bartender. Big mistake. Now, I create a cocktail menu with easy, step-by-step instructions, print them out, and pop them in elegant picture frames on the counter.
I also set up cocktail stations with everything needed in one place—cute little bowls for flowers, sweets, and fruit to garnish, adorable drink stirrers, the works! I used to measure everything out with a jigger, but that slowed things down, so I switched to “parts” instead of millilitres—turns out, a shot glass works just as well! Guests can mix their own drinks, and I get to sip my own creations without feeling like a full-time mixologist. Bonus: People often make more than one drink at a time, so the cocktails keep flowing! 🍹

Pick a Theme 🎭
The easiest way to pull a party together? A theme! I’ve done Hawaiian, Halloween, and even a Funeral for Your 30s party (yes, really). It makes decorating effortless and helps narrow down cocktail choices. Plus, watching your friends go all out with themed outfits—think flower leis, spooky costumes, or all-black ensembles with dramatic sunglasses—is half the fun!

Keep It Budget-Friendly 💰
Cocktail parties can get expensive, but sharing is caring! I started sending out a shopping list beforehand, and it turns out most people have half-used bottles of liqueur gathering dust in their cupboards. This way, we all get to try fun new drinks without breaking the bank. Plus, when people contribute, they feel even more part of the fun!

Ditch the Plastic 🌱
I used to rely on plastic cups because I didn’t have enough glassware, but let’s be real drinks just taste better in real glasses. I found adorable, affordable ones (50p each from supermarkets!), plus some super fun piña colada glasses from Amazon. Nothing cost more than £1, so I wasn’t precious about breakages, and everything went straight in the dishwasher afterward. A small switch that made the party feel way more sophisticated (and eco-friendly!).

Piña Ccolada Glasses – https://amzn.to/3DwvdaP

Food, but Make It Easy 🍽️
At first, I stressed over plating up food beautifully, only to end up with a mountain of washing up. Now? Grazing table all the way! A decomposable paper tablecloth means I can lay out snacks directly on the surface, and cleanup is as simple as rolling it up and tossing it in the compost bin. Guests also bring a dish, so there’s always a fun mix of food without me feeling like I need to cater for everyone. And let’s be real—who doesn’t love a table piled high with nibbles? 😍

The Ice Machine Miracle 🧊
Running out of ice = instant party mood killer. My freezer was never big enough to stockpile ice bags, so I invested in an ice machine that makes fresh ice every seven minutes. Absolute game changer. No more last-minute dashes to the shop or desperately trying to break apart frozen clumps. If you love hosting, this little gadget is a lifesaver!

My Ice machine – https://amzn.to/4kGffLW

Get Guests Involved 🏡
I used to think I had to do everything myself—wrong! People love helping. Now, I ask for volunteers for setup and cleanup—someone always steps up. And pro tip: Tidying up right after the party (even slightly tipsy) is so much easier than facing the mess with a hangover. Trust me, future you will thank you!

Keep It Tidy as You Go 🗑️
Overflowing bins are not the vibe. I make sure there’s an easy-to-empty bin nearby and, if necessary, casually enlist the help of anyone heading outside for a smoke to take a full bag with them. Teamwork makes the dream work! Plus, keeping things tidy as you go means you wake up to a much less chaotic scene the next day.

My Final Tip: Introduce a Water Round 💧
Every now and then, I strongly recommend offering everyone a water round—let’s try to avoid the dreaded morning after!

Quickfire Tips:

📸 Create a fun atmosphere with a DIY photo booth.
🍹 Set up cocktail stations so guests can mix their own drinks.
💳 Share a shopping list so everyone contributes.
🍾 Use real glasses for a polished (and eco-friendly) touch.
🍽️ Opt for a grazing table to cut down on cleanup.
🧊 Invest in an ice machine—it’s so worth it.
💪 Ask for help—people actually enjoy pitching in!
🏠 Clean as you go, so you’re not left with a disaster zone.

Hosting cocktail nights has become one of my absolute favourite ways to bring people together. A few little tweaks have taken them from stressful to seamless—so now I get to enjoy the fun, too. Cheers to that! 🍹🥂
Love,
Megan x

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