Party design: Latest trends in event design

Clever new cocktail parties

When it comes to food, the club ambience is as evident as it is in lighting design. Laura Wootton, sales director of Elegant Affairs, in Glen Cove, New York, reports that her company is seeing a trend toward much longer cocktail hours.

"Instead of the 2-hour cocktail party followed by a buffet or sit-down dinner, we are doing 4-hour cocktail parties," she says.

Hosts often favor marrying a 2-hour cocktail time with 2 hours of passed mini-meals. "Mini meals are more substantial hor d'oeuvres like filet mignon and garlic mashed potatoes." The trendy kicker: The food is served in a martini glass or in a Chinese take-out box," she says. That allows guests to remain standing while they're eating.

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