Step by Step Planning for your Martini Party

(1) Plan your guest list carefully. Usually 10 to 12 guests make for a perfect Martini Party. You'll want to invite your coolest and most fun party pals. If you'd like to make some new introductions of your friends that may not be familiar with one another, this is the perfect time.

(2) Send your Martini Party invitations, and include: time to arrive, brief details such as "Martini Party menu and swanky hors d'oeuvres," and specify the attire! Perhaps you may want to pick a theme and stick to it, such as slinky black dresses and dinner suits? Perhaps James Bond or Sex and the City? Remember to send the invites well in advance to make scheduling easier on your guests.

(3) Choose the area for the Martini Party. Make sure the space is large enough, provides comfortable seating, plenty of mingling room, and of course—a place to set up your Martini bar!

(4) Plan your party menu. You'll be planning a classic Martini munchies menu, as well as a wonderful Martini drink menu from which your guests will choose. If you really want to mix it up, you can even add a nice Cosmopolitan to the choices. Go the extra step and create a beautiful bar top menu for your guests to peruse.

(5) Create your Martini shopping list. You'll need plenty of vodka, gin, vermouth, and gourmet olives to be sure. Depending on your Martini menu, you might also include bleu cheese for hand stuffing olives, plastic olive swords, and some fruit juices if you plan to include a Cosmopolitan martini.

(6) Create your Martini munchies shopping list. A guest in a suit can't resist a water-cracker and caviar. Wearing skinny lapels—you simply can't go wrong with tooth-picked cocktail wieners! We suggest planning on 3 cold appetizers, and 3 hot dishes.

(7) Stock your Martini bar like a pro. With the right tools at hand, you'll be ready for anything! Plenty of cool Martini glasses, at least 2 cocktail shakers, a strainer, lint free bar towels, a stunning ice bucket with tongs, and toothpicks are among the minimum requirements for making a Martini Party truly successful. When mixing a Martini, remember that presentation is important. Plenty of chilled Martini glasses, lots of cracked ice, and cocktail shakers at the ready!

(8) Plan your décor. Once again, stick to your theme. A few pieces of the proper décor will go a long way! A retro bar mirror behind your martini bar is a classy touch. Don't forget about lighting,a dimly lit room is elegant and can add a touch of martini style romance.

(9) Plan the atmosphere. Choose your Martini Party music. There is certainly nothing wrong with high fidelity of a compact disc, but we believe that the smooth sounds of Sinatra or James Bond themes is just the right stuff.

(10) Practice mixing your Martinis. A few practice runs will help you develop a skilled eye for measuring and mixing while maintaining your mingling duties as host.

Have fun!!