Cocktail Party Ideas for Any Occasion!

There's no easier way to host a successful cocktail party than with a really creative theme. So why wait for the calendar to tell you when it's time for a party? Invent your own holiday, pick an outrageous, colourful theme, and have a great time! Here are a few ideas to help you plan a cocktail party your friends will talk about for years:

The Global Party

Celebrate all the people and places in the world with a Global Party. Ask guests to wear ethnically-inspired clothing and bring a food dish from the same part of the world. Mind you, don't require your friends to create elaborate costumes - although they can if they're so inclined. Ethnic touches can be simple: a cherry-blossom fabric to suggest Japan, or perhaps a vividly striped scarf to represent a Mexican serape.

Here's a cocktail served in Old Havana which you can feature in your Global Party, courtesy of foodandwine.com:

The Rum Daisy

To one part white rum, add a generous splash of yellow Chartreuse and another generous splash of simple syrup. Top with a dash of Angostura bitters, stir and pour over ice. Garnish with a mint sprig, two fresh cherries and a twist of lemon.

The "Girls Rule" Party

Plan an all-girl party for you and your best chums. If you're feeling especially brazen, make it a pyjama party! Let your besties know to wear robes and slippers, so they can relax and get cosy. Make sure you have some board games to keep the evening light-hearted and fun, and don't forget the sweets! Try this luscious drink from webtender.com your friends are sure to love:

The Big Booty Shake

In a blender, combine a cup of milk, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, a generous shot of Southern Comfort and a splash of vanilla extract. Add a little ice to the mix if you like your drink extra cold.

The One-Percent Party

Go completely over the top with a bash celebrating excess! Invite your guests to become part of the exclusive few, if only for a night. Make sure you're choosing from the most elegant party venues Melbourne offers to set the right tone. Then pull out your best cocktail dress or raid your favourite second-hand store for the perfect wardrobe and costume jewellery accessories. Serve dainty finger foods along with the most sophisticated cocktails. Here's a great one from liquor.com:

The Lanesborough Cocktail

Add 1 part each Grand Marnier, cranberry juice and passion fruit juice to a shaker filled with ice. Shake it longer than you think you should. Strain the mixture into a chilled champagne flute and top with ice cold Champagne. Garnish with an orange twist.

No matter the theme or the occasion, there's one more component to a truly memorable party. Find a spot that's stylish and unique, with plenty of options for music, food, and drinks. In the great variety of venues in Melbourne, only One Seven One can provide the very best service, ambiance and style. We look forward to hosting your special celebration!

Harry Potter Themed Birthday Party

A Harry Potter themed birthday bus party is great fun for all involved and easier to pull off than you might think!

Decorations and Food

Setting the tone of the party right from the beginning is key, decorations and food are important pieces in creating a fun Harry Potter themed experience.Send your party invitations in parchment paper and parchment envelopes, both are easy to find on the internet for affordable prices. If you really want to go over the top, buy a Harry Potter wax and seal to make your invitation look even more authentic.

Once your guests arrive at the party, continue to impress them with amazing decorations. Buy extra-large Easter eggs, and textured spray paint, both available on Amazon, and turn ordinary Easter eggs into dragon eggs that even Hagrid would be proud of. Fill clear glass jars with various odd substances and label them as something from the wizard world. For example fill a jar with syrup and call it truth serum, or call cocktail onions blind cat eyes.

Next, cast a spell over your guests with some truly magical food. Butterbeer is a must. Recipes can be found rather easily, serve the Butterbeer in a punch bowl. Create “magic wands” with a stick of liquorice with candy melts melted on one end. Give your guests small plastic cauldrons filled with special candies, like frog or worm shaped gummies.

Games and Activities

Keep your guests occupied and having fun with interesting Harry Potter themed games and activities. One fun idea is to get an adult female friend to dress up as Professor Trelawney, the divination teacher and fortune teller from Harry Potter. Have your Professor Trelawney look into her glass ball to predict your guests’ future. Your Trelawney should dress up in a shawl and loose pants.

Do a twist on a treasure hunt and have your guests hunt for the Snitch instead. These can be found for under ten dollars on Amazon. Leave clues hidden around your house leading to the Snitch. Throwing in some clues to direct guests to fake locations, possibly with other Quidditch balls, nothing at all, or a different prize.

A Ride on the “Knight Bus”

To take your Harry Potter party to the next level, throw your party on the “Knight Bus”, the magical triple decker bus from Harry Potter. Rent out a double decker party bus and put your Harry Potter party on wheels. Observe the muggles as you travel around town playing Harry Potter games, and eating Harry Potter food. Taking your party onto the Knight Bus is sure to make it an instant hit, so start planning a kids party Melbourne children are sure to remember for years to come!