The Art of Mingling

Smoothly Start a Conversation: An easy way to engage another guest is to discuss how hard the host worked to pull the party together, or how delicious the food is. Small talk should take it from there.

Keep It Light: Cocktail party conversations should be kept light and limited in length. Be sure to avoid controversial or touchy topics like marriage, religion and serious politics.

End Conversations Gracefully: Ending the conversation with a heartfelt "It was so nice talking to you, have a great night" works well.

Or, excuse yourself for a specific reason: grab dessert, find another drink or say hello to a friend. Always be polite!

Double Take: If you see a guest you've spoken with again, simply smile and nod, but don't feel like you have to stop and talk again.

If you happen to make a blunder, don't hesitate to read our article on Verbal Blunders to amerliorate your situation!