Need help with menu for cocktail party

I am having a cocktail party at my house for my best friend who recently got married in a small cemerony at her parents house in Vermont. She and her husband both went to school in the NY Metro area and I wanted to have a cocktail party for them with their friends from the area, probably around 40 people or so.

I am completely LOST on what type of food to serve. I have a ton of ideas but dont know how many cold and hot dishes I should have. I feel like my menu ideas are all over the place.

This is what I came up with so far:

COLD
Bruschetta platter
Cheese platter
Brie torte w/raspberry
Hummus platter w/veggies and pita chips
Spinach dip in pumpernickel bowl
Antipasto

HOT
Crab cakes
Swedish meatballs
Spanikopita
Mini quiche
Mini puff pastry assortment
Coconut shrimp


Some I will make myself, others I will buy from Costco or BJ's. I also figured a variety of desserts...brownies, cookies, assortment of pastries and probably a cake.

Re: Need help with menu for cocktail party

I love cocktail parties because apps are probably my favorite type of food!! I never really worry about the mix of hot and cold - if anything I have a few extra cold because it leaves me more time to spent with my guests.. trust me that they'd rather have YOU than most kinds of food.

A few apps that always go over huge at our parties:

Brie on apple and pear slices
Baby Lamb Chops
Stuffed mushrooms
Puff'n Puppies (pigs in a blanket)
Shrimp Cocktail
Bacon wrapped scallops
Stuffed clams.. unless it's summer than I do clams on the half shell.
Oysters Rockefeller


If it is a small party and you can swing it - maybe you can order a few Sushi Platters. They get sucked up so fast!

I also like to do a small roast of some sort with a pasta or rice dish that people can eat if they are extra hungry. Like a couple of marinated london broils or a spiral ham. A chafing dish with penne a'la vodka or ziti always seems welcome!

Good luck!

Re: Need help with menu for cocktail party

don't forget pigs in a blanket... everyone loves them...
Also,
fruit platter
chicken fingers, or on a stick with honey dipping sauce
you can even pick up an assortment of sushi if you'd like.