Cocktail Parties on a Budget

Great Eats & Tips for Your Next Soiree That Won't Empty Your Wallet

© Rebecca Taylor May

Jul 26, 2009

Who doesn't love a great cocktail party? There's liquor, there's food, and there's good company. The only problem is the cost. A fun night with your friends can quickly add up and deplete your funds. No need to worry though, you can still throw a rockin' cocktail party without breaking the bank.

Tips

1. Feature one or two cocktails on your invitation (such as gin martinis and cosmopolitans). That way you do not have to provide a fully stocked bar. Invite guests to bring their favorite cocktail, wine, or beer as well.
2. Keep the decorations simple. You can achieve a great look with a few strategically placed candles, Christmas lights, and/or vases of flowers. Cocktail parties are about mingling anyway, so all you really need is a great music playlist and a clean party area to have a great time.
3. A fun idea for a smaller party is to play a well-known movie on mute, and create a "Mystery Science Theatre" type of game.
4. Don't worry about fancy serving pieces. Try using pizza peels, chargers, clean flower pot bases, and other innovative pieces as serving platters.
5. Break out the digital camera. For post party souvenirs, email your guests pictures from the evening. (Exercise self-control when picking flattering pictures of your guests.)

Quick and Inexpensive Recipes

1. Don't buy expensive marinated olives or spiced nuts. It's super affordable to make your own. Try tossing your favorite nuts with a little salt, pepper, and cayenne and toasting for about ten minutes in a 325 degree oven. For marinated olives, simply coat your favorite olives in some olive oil, garlic, chopped fresh herbs, and a splash of white wine.
2. Try toasting thin slices of a baguette and topping with crumbled goat cheese, toasted walnuts, and a drizzle of honey for an elegant and easy appetizer.
3. A great way to stretch your food dollar for a cocktail party is to make your own hot wings. Yeah, they might be a little messy, but chicken wings are affordable and fabulous. If you don't want to worry about frying, simply place the wings on a baking sheet and drizzle with a little olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the juices run clear. Remove from baking sheet and toss with your favorite wing sauce or make your own with some butter and hot sauce. You can also make them more elegant by making a sauce from garlic, ginger, butter, honey, sriracha, salt, and cilantro.
4. Never underestimate the power of a great chicken salad. Use a rotisserie chicken to make your favorite chicken salad recipe and add in some cream cheese to make it go farther, taste creamier, and spread easier.
5. Make your own pita chips by brushing store-bought pitas with either softened butter or extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of kosher salt, and any dried herbs that you like. Toast in a 400 degree oven until lightly browned and crispy. Then cut into wedges.

Now that you know how to avoid spending a ridiculous amount of money on a cocktail party, there is no excuse not to throw your own celebration. And if need be, throw a "pot luck" cocktail party. Any excuse for a party, right?

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