party drink ideas

By a professional party planner

on this page:

Why you shouldn’t get party drink ideas from Pinterest
Why you don’t need expensive wines or the latest must-have cocktail
How to serve memorable party drinks that create the right first impression
Why how you serve it is just as important as what you serve
How to add creative twists, personal touches, and thoughtful styling tricks to make simple drinks feel special

i’m matt james

professional event producer

29 years event-planning experience
Winner of 30 industry awards
Clients include:
Elton John,
Stella McCartney,
Sarah Jessica Parker,
Kevin Spacey……and more

welcome

OPEN BIO

advice from a pro

Stop getting your party drink ideas from Pinterest!

Most of what makes them look so enticing is professional food styling;
all those fiddly extras like a stylish glass, sugared rim, fruit garnish, or decorative flower.
Trying to recreate those for 20 or more guests yourself is a recipe for sticky countertops, squashed berries, sugar everywhere but the rim, and language not fit for a birthday party.
Plus you’ll spend the entire night stuck behind the bar instead of enjoying yourself.
That doesn’t mean you can’t still serve memorable party drinks that create the right first impression,
but it means thinking as much about how you serve it as what you serve.
What you serve is up to you; there’s no point me suggesting specific drinks, flavors, or cocktail recipes.
You’ll know best whether your guests are more likely to prefer a fancy pomegranate and ginger mojito or a crisp, dry glass of cold Chablis.
And if you don’t know, give that some thought. I’ve been to so many parties where the host has chosen to serve sickly sweet fruity cocktails because they like them, without considering whether their guests will actually want to drink them. Newsflash: most men won’t drink these.
Then, a few creative twists, personal touches, and thoughtful styling tricks can make even a glass of wine, beer, or a simple mixed drink look and feel more special.
Because that’s what guests notice and remember, not the flavor of a complicated cocktail chosen to try and impress them.
Talking points create atmosphere,
and guests spend hours with a drink in their hand, so it’s worth making a small effort with presentation to create the right first impression.
And if you’re on a budget, make the first drink guests get when they arrive more of a wow factor, whether with top-shelf drinks or creative presentation, then ease into simpler, cheaper drinks for the rest of the night.
It’s a common trick used at professional events to stretch budgets. You’ll often notice the bottles of Dom Pérignon on ice as you’re served your welcome glass of Champagne, but do you notice how when wine waiters top up your glass later on there’s a napkin conveniently wrapped around the label? It’s not always just to catch drips and absorb condensation.
The bottom line is people often assume they need the latest must-have exotic cocktails or expensive Champagnes and wines to impress their guests. Thoughtful presentation is often more memorable than the drink itself.
Unless you serve really cheap wine. Then people will definitely remember that.

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the idea

photo drinks toppers

Bring a smile to guests’ faces by customizing their welcome drink with cute, funny, or embarrassing old photos of the guest of honor.

Edible photo drinks topper on a cocktail with custom birthday photo and message

the idea

photo beer labels

Entertain guests by customizing beer bottles with cute, funny, or embarrassing old photos of the guest of honor.

the idea

edible drinks glitter

Save time by styling wine, champagne, or cocktails with a pinch of edible drinks glitter instead of messing around with fiddly garnishes and sugared rims.

the idea

custom photo cups

Bring a smile to guests’ faces by customizing party cups with cute, funny, or embarrassing old photos of the guest of honor ‘through the years’.

the idea

fun facts napkins

Help break the ice and encourage guests to interact by discovering fun facts they might not know about the guest of honor.

custom photo 'Fun Facts about the Birthday Boy' 60th birthday party napkins

the idea

text drinks toppers

Give your welcome drinks a professionally-styled, uniform look by personalizing these drinks toppers with custom text, initials, or a short phrase that reflects the occasion.

Edible text drink toppers reading Happy Birthday Kalyn on a champagne coupe

the idea

self-service welcome bar

Set up a self-service bar at the entrance with pre-mixed or ready to pour drinks that guests can all help themselves to on arrival

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the idea

custom photo straws

Enhance the presentation of even the simplest party drinks without messing around with fiddly garnishes, adding these custom photo straws featuring cute, funny, or embarrassing old photos of the guest of honor.

the idea

custom drinks stirrers

Give even the simplest of party drinks a stylish and professional look with these customized drinks stirrers personalized with a name, age, occasion, or phrase.

the idea

photo wine labels

Entertain guests by personalizing wine and champagne labels with a cute, funny, or embarrassing old photo of the guest of honor.

Wine bottle held up with a "Pairs Well With Turning Thirty" label featuring a childhood photo of a girl with a golden retriever, "Vintage 1994," labeled "Photo Wine Labels"

the idea

picture drinks toppers

Skip the time-consuming and fiddly garnishes and give your drinks a decorative finish with a ready-made picture topper.

the idea

custom beer labels

Surprise guests with custom beer bottle labels mimicking well-known brands with the guest of honor’s name and the occasion inserted into the label design.

Six-pack of Heineken bottles with custom "World's Greatest Dad, Harry, Happy Birthday" labels next to printed label sheets, labeled "Custom Beer Labels"

the idea

custom drink charms

Give even the simplest of party drinks a stylish and professional look with these customized drinks charms or use them as escort / place cards for seated dinners.

the idea

custom champagne labels

Surprise guests by customizing your champagne bottles in the style of well-known brands with the guest of honor’s name and the occasion inserted into the label design.