Whether you are planning a formal get-together for your colleagues or you just want to entertain a small group of friends and family, throwing a cocktail party (or virtual cocktail party) is a great way to get everyone together! Cocktail parties first gained popularity in the 1900s during Prohibition but eventually lost steam after a while. But now they’re making a comeback!

Planning a cocktail party can require a lot of work. You will need to think about how many guests you want to invite, whether it will be inside, outside, or over Zoom, if you will serve food, and more. Want to add a special twist to your cocktail party? Add some boozy ice cream from Tipsy Scoop to your cocktail menu! Read on to learn how to plan an unforgettable Tipsy Scoop cocktail party now.

Navigating the Pre-Planning Stage

Make sure you organize everything beforehand to ensure the cocktail party goes smoothly. 

The pre-planning stage for your party is crucial for setting you up for success.

As you start planning your cocktail party, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:

• How many people will you be inviting? If you’re planning to host indoors, be mindful of CDC guidelines around indoor gatherings! 
• Will this be a formal or casual event?
• What drinks will you serve?
• Will you hold it indoors or outdoors or virtually? Is there a backup plan for inclement weather if you host the party outside?
• Where will you be hosting it?
• When do you want to host the cocktail party? Fridays and Saturdays are typically best.
• What is your budget? 
• What food will you serve?

Boozy Ice Cream Dishes

You don’t need to serve a full menu for your cocktail party. Platters of hor d'oeuvres and small finger foods are suitable. Since you are hosting a cocktail party, arranging the drink menu will be a high priority during your planning process. Some people go all out with a full bar while others offer a limited drink menu. Want to change things up? Add some boozy ice cream dishes to your menu!

Tipsy Scoop offers a wide selection of spiked ice cream pints and ice cream cocktail kits. Some of our most popular kits include the:

• Tequila Lovers Cocktail Kit
• Spring Fever Cocktail Kit
• Celebratory Ice Cream Cocktail Kit
• Ice Cream Cocktail Favorites Kit
• Night In Cocktail Kit

Mango Margarita Sorbet, Vanilla Bean Bourbon Ice Cream, and more are included in these popular cocktail kits!

Want to try your hand at a recipe from our cookbook? Try our Party Like It’s Your Birthday recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 scoops of Tipsy Scoop’s Cake Batter Vodka Martini Ice Cream, which you can purchase from Tipsy Scoop or make your own following the recipe in our cookbook
• 4 ounces of prosecco
• 1 ounce of vodka
• Rainbow nonpareils
• Lime
• Champagne Coupe
• Birthday cake gummies

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to ensure you’re making the perfectly prosecco-filled boozy treat:

1. Using a lime wedge, run the notch around the front of the glass until it’s very wet with lime juice.
2. Roll your glass on a plate of nonpareils until the side of the glass is coated.
3. Scoop one small scoop of ice cream into your glass.
4. Pour 1 ounce of vodka into the glass.
5. Fill your glass about ¾ to the top with prosecco.
6. Add another small scoop of ice cream to your glass.
7. Add more sprinkles to the top scoop of ice cream.
8. Garnish with birthday cake gummies and enjoy!

Managing the Event

During the event, you will need to keep an eye on guests and make sure the libations remain in-supply.

Make sure you act as a good host during the cocktail party.

As you manage the flow of the party, make sure everyone feels comfortable. Introduce your friends to each other to help initiate convos. Help people find the bathroom. Keep the music going. Make sure you are all stocked up on napkins, plates, and cups. You can even break up the cocktail party a little with some drinking games or trivia! If your cocktail party has a theme, you can play some fun music or games that faithfully follow the theme.

Party Favors Your Guests Will Love

Want to add a special twist to your cocktail party? Give out some fun party favors to your guests! We love fun and quirky gifts like personalized wine glasses and treats like candy and pastries. You can even leave them with a small pint of booze-filled ice cream by Tipsy Scoop! Here are some easy and affordable favors your guests will love.

Customized Koozies

If your friends loved a booze-filled ice cream party, commemorate the event with custom koozies that keep the party going. Perfect for tailgates and parties, these custom koozies are the perfect reminder of a deliciously boozy day spent with friends.

Ice Cream Soaps

Ending your day in a bit of a stick-sweet mess? Don’t sweat it. Your guests will love these adorable soaps that look like a neapolitan ice cream bar. Adding a sweet reminder of your celebration to your guests’ hygiene routine is a fun way to mark a lasting memory—all while staying squeaky clean. 

Hangover Recovery Kits

We want our guests to have fun—so much fun that they might regret it in the morning. These hangover kits make the perfect parting gift for your guests. In addition to being the perfect way to say ‘thank you for coming,’ these hangover kits are a friendly way to nurse your friends back to health after a lively celebration.

Still Social Distancing? Read This!

If you’re hesitant to organize an in-person party, you can also schedule a Zoom party instead. Still want to treat your friends to some boozy ice cream? You can send out separate kits to them before the event! Make sure you gather your friends’ addresses in a timely manner so you can send the kits out on time.

Managing the party online should be pretty easy. You can play some fun drinking games, host a little trivia event, or simply hang out and catch up with everyone! Video platforms like Zoom also let you divide people into separate breakout rooms. If your event is geared toward networking, you can use these breakout rooms to allow people to get to know each other on a more personal level. 

Planning a cocktail party is hard work. From ordering the drinks to managing the flow of the party, you’ll be on your toes during most of the planning process. But all of your hard work will be worth it when you see how happy your guests are! 

Looking for the perfect dessert to make your cocktail party really pop? Try Tipsy Scoop’s famous boozy ice cream! You can find dozens of delicious and creative spiked ice cream flavors online. Shop our full collection of booze-filled pints and cocktail kits now!