Cocktail party tips

A cocktail party should last 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Be sure to note the end time on the invitation, says Leslie Brenner, independent editor and writer in Los Angeles.

• Greet guests with a drink when they walk in, says Colleen Mullaney, author of "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere."

• Small ice cubes dilute drinks quickly. Instead, use big cubes and chill ingredients such as juices in advance, says H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor of Elixir, a certified green bar in San Francisco, and founder ofCocktailAmbassadors.com.

• Vodka is the most popular spirit, so offer it in a cocktail, says Ehrmann. Consider offering tequila or bourbon as a second spirit - two is enough.

• Save money on the mixtures by infusing your own simple syrup with herbs and spices instead of buying prepared syrups, says Ehrmann.

• Create your bar away from your food buffet. "That will spread people out across the area so there is no congestion," says Jon-Paul Hutchins, executive chef at Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona.

• Surprise guests by bringing food out in waves, Hutchins says.

• Burn a candle in the bathroom for atmosphere and fragrance, Brenner says.

Don't sweat the small stuff

• To make the most of your holiday cocktail party, plan out your buffet areas the night before, says Hutchins. "Lay out exactly where everything is going to be the next day. Lay out the dishes and then put a Post-it on each dish to tell you what's going in the dish," Hutchins says.

• Buy prepared foods such as frozen meatballs and add your own sauce, says Mullaney.

• Serve only one dessert. Chocolate fondue is easy and fun, says Hutchins.

• Serve equal amounts of hot and cold appetizers, but make many ahead of time, Hutchins says.

• A slow cooker is a great way to keep something warm without fuss, says Annette Flores, test kitchen manager for Williams-Sonoma.

• Purchase extra cheese and bread in case you run out of food, Flores says.

• Solicit a friend or family member to help at the party, Hutchins says. Or hire a college student from a culinary school or bartending program, suggests Brenner.

• Don't worry about every detail. If you plan well, you should be able to sit back and enjoy the party, Flores says.

Decor on a dime

David Tutera, event planner in New York and author of "The Party Planner," (Bulfinch Press; 2005, $29.95), offers these tips for adding ambience without breaking the bank.

• Choose one color scheme - such as red - and mix and match shades and patterns for a dramatic effect.

• Create dinner chargers to frame serving plates by wrapping thick magazines or phone books with fancy wrapping paper. Using various heights will add pizzazz to your table setting. You can also serve food directly on the homemade charger.

• Use holiday tags to label drinks so guests know whether drinks are alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

• Buy jingle bells and use a ribbon to tie them on the glass instead of wine charms.

• Turn down the lights and illuminate the room with votive candles and holiday lights.

• Give take-home gifts such as holiday cookie cutters. Hang gifts on the tree as ornaments.