Photo Credit: Idea-Listic
Throwing a Classy and Easy Dinner Party: Drinks
Throwing a dinner party can be a great way to have a good time with people. Many people remember when they got invited over as it is a special event. How can you throw a classy party without spending a fortune or stressing out?
With the help of family, friends, and of course the web, I’ve put together a handy guide to help relieve some stress when throwing a small dinner party.
Should you Serve Alcohol?
It’s up to you to serve alcohol. If you’re really on a budget and the quality of food will be sacrificed, then skip the alcohol. It’s a dinner party. Alcohol is not the main event and can actually stress you out as you plan for others. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Serve
Some people choose not to drink at parties and this can be a good thing. Alcohol does raise the amount of money you have to spend and it can cause more stress as you make sure your guests are having a good time without getting carried away.
Besides soda and water here are a few recipes for some non-alcoholic drinks:
- 8 cup strong brewed coffee
- 8 cup skim milk
- 4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp almond extract
- 8 tsp sugar
- cinnamon
Combine 1 cup of strong brewed coffee with 1 cup of skim milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp almond extract and 1 tsp sugar. Pour the mixture into two ice-filled 10-oz glasses and garnish each with a light sprinkling of cinnamon. Serves 8.
- 16 oz 100% cherry juice
- 32 oz mineral water
- 32 oz orange sherbet
- 16 oz pineapple juice
- 8 oz coconut cream
- 56 ripe strawberries
- 40 oz pineapple juice
- 12 oz coconut cream
- 8 cups of crushed ice
How Many Drinks to Plan for Guests
If you want something easy, have a punch ready for guests as they arrive, both non-alcoholic and alcohol.
To decide how many drinks to plan out, it depends on the type of alcohol you’re serving. If it’s your first party, just go with wine as you learn.
As you get more experienced, you may want to have a few cocktails. The general rule of thumb is 2 drinks per person. You want to have a good time while reducing your stress of set up and clean up.
Some Popular Alcoholic Drinks
You want to try find a cocktail that is easy to make.
- Dry Martini
- Sweet Martini
- Blue Hawaiian
- Godiva Chocolate Martini
- Mojito
- Strawberry Daiquiri
- Tokyo Tea
- White Russian
Parting Thoughts
Try and remember to keep the dinner party planning easy, classy,and affordable. The company and host make it memorable.
What do you serve at your dinner party? What works and what doesn’t?