Ideally, a corporate cocktail party should provide you with the perfect networking and employee or client appreciation event. You combine the relaxed nature of a party with a sprinkling of work. It's an opportunity to mingle with like-minded people and build working relationships. However, you must tread a fine line to make your corporate cocktail party a success. Sway too far one way, it becomes more of a party than anything else. Sway too far the other way, and it's strictly business, meaning nobody enjoys it.
Thankfully, we've got a guide to help you plan the best corporate cocktail party you've ever attended. Here's everything you need to know:
Establish the Guest List
Too many people need to begin preparations with a guest list. Deciding who will attend this event will help you make other decisions in this guide.
There are a couple of critical things to consider when curating your guest list:
How many people should you invite?
Whom are you going to invite?
The first question is crucial as it affects every other thing in this guide. The second question is arguably the most important. You need to invite the right people - people who will get along and be able to contribute to the cocktail party. Ideally, you want your colleagues to be here and other industry professionals too. Avoid situations where you invite many people who don't get along with one another, as it will cause a very awkward atmosphere.
Choose Your Venue
Next, you need to pick a venue.
In an ideal world, the venue should be large enough to host your event without feeling overly grand and spacious. At the same time, it can't be too tiny and intimate. It also needs to be able to facilitate a corporate cocktail party with bars, tables, space for some light entertainment, etc.
Thankfully, we have a corporate cocktail party venue that fits this description. It's perfectly sized and can be customized to your demands. You can arrange tables and the event's layout to meet your cocktail party's needs.
Design the Perfect Event Space
Speaking of which, you need to design the venue to fit the theme. A corporate cocktail party is all about networking and mingling with others. These events are supposed to encourage guests to keep moving around and chatting with one another.
Consequently, it would be best to have a few tables and chairs. Instead, there should be tall cocktail tables to rest drinks and food on as they stand and communicate with others. The way you layout the food should also encourage people to walk around and bump into other guests, sparking conversations. This is why a buffet-type setup always works well; it forces guests to go up and get their food, increasing the chances of social interactions.
If you do have some chairs at the event, organize them socially. It would help if you grouped them in small clusters facing one another. If people want a brief rest, they can do so. But, the positioning of the chairs encourages more face-to-face communication and mingling.
Ensure You Have Enough Food & Drink
Nowadays, you have to cater to every dietary preference out there. Your corporate cocktail party needs options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free people, people with other allergies, and so on. Ensure your food is laid out and labeled so everyone knows what's being served. It's also wise to send out menus with your invitations, informing people of the different food options. When you have a great spread, it caters to more preferences and increases the chances of people attending.
Likewise, you can only have a cocktail party with cocktails. Hire bar staff that can mix as many different cocktails as possible, throwing in a few non-alcoholic options. It's always wise to include the traditional cocktails, too - these are the ones most people will know about and order.
Send Out the Invites
At this stage, you'll know whom to invite, where to host your event, how to lay everything out, and what you'll be serving. All that's left is creating party invitations to send to your guest list. Include all the crucial information, such as:
Dress code
Venue address
Start time
Food & drink options
From here, you sit back and wait for the RSVPs to come in. Now, you're ready to plan your corporate cocktail party with confidence!
Contact Us
Corporate cocktail parties at The Warehouse by David Alan include everything you need for your event. Our boutique venue is home to rustic chandeliers, high-end catering, and premier client service. When you choose The Warehouse by David Alan as your corporate cocktail party venue, you can feel confident that your event will go on without a hitch.
Contact us to find out how our venue and corporate event planning service can help you make the most of your big day.