If you're interested in knowing what happy hour is, it's probably up to you to organize one, right?
Don't worry, there aren't many mysteries to organizing this event, just a few small details that you'll definitely be able to handle.
Whether with coworkers or not, happy hour's mission is to be a more informal and relaxed gathering, so you don't need to feel pressured to make big preparations.
The idea is for everyone to relax at this event, including those who organize it!
And to help you with this mission, we've written this complete article explaining in detail what happy hour is, how to do it, what you can't miss, what type of food and drink to serve, and much more.
Read on and let's become an expert in this type of organization!
What is Happy Hour?
Before knowing what happy hour is, it's important to understand that its translation is very simple: happy hour.
And although this term is in English, that doesn't stop this event from becoming common here in Brazil.
The central idea of happy hour is to bring together colleagues, whether from work or your personal life, in a more relaxed and lighthearted way.
This way, everyone can chat, have fun, and laugh while drinking and eating some snacks, two key features of a happy hour.
In addition to understanding what happy hour is in practice, it's also good to know its origins.
Records say that it appeared during the First World War, to entertain American sailors and distract them, so they could forget about the battle and everyday life on the high seas.
That's why happy hour is so common in workplaces today and is usually held after work hours, even becoming a corporate strategy for team integration.
What are the Happy Hour hours?
Did you enjoy learning a little more about what happy hour is?
In addition to understanding the concept of this event, it's also good to know the time it usually takes place.
When happy hour is held at an establishment, the timetable imposed by the establishment must be followed.
But, generally speaking, it is common for happy hour to start as soon as business hours end, that is, at 6 pm.
This also happens when happy hour is held at home, with the idea that everyone leaves work and heads straight to the event.
As for the length of happy hour, it's up to you and your colleagues, but ideally it should last between two and three hours.
How to have a good happy hour?
Now that we know what happy hour is and the ideal time to have it, it's time to learn some tips on how to organize it. Let's find out!
Choose a theme
When we explained above what happy hour is, we said that this type of event is usually light and relaxed.
But that doesn't stop you from having a cool theme behind your organization.
Don't worry, we're not talking about anything super elaborate that requires an event company to organize!
The idea is that, for example, if the happy hour is organized in the summer, it will have a seasonal touch, with items that refer to that time, such as drink glasses decorated with small beach floats.
You don't need to feel pressured to choose a theme, but it's also worth thinking outside the box to surprise your guests.
Music cannot be missed
The theme isn't mandatory, but the music, let's be honest, can't be missed!
Of course, good and famous drinks , in addition to delicious food, make everyone have fun, but a good playlist is guaranteed to keep you going at happy hour.
You can match the songs to the party theme or let your guests help create the playlist so everyone can hear their favorite songs.
What accessories can't be missing from happy hour?
Now that you know what happy hour is and some of the basics of its preparation, it's time to learn about the essential accessories for this event. Find out!
Cups and glasses
Happy hour is known for the drinks served, so don't forget to have several glasses and cups available for each drink.
Ice bucket
The ice bucket is a VIP presence at happy hour, after all, it ensures that the drinks will stay refreshing throughout the event.
If your happy hour has a lot of guests, consider including more than one bucket and purchasing multiple ice packs.
Snacks and boards
When it comes to happy hour food, you don't need to worry about spending hours in the kitchen making something.
Snacks are the main attraction at this event, and the secret is to make sure they pair well with the drinks.
Then, serve them all on boards and appetizer plates, leaving them arranged on a main table or near the seats.
Armchairs, chairs and sofas
And since we mentioned seats, don't forget them at your happy hour!
The idea is for this to be a time to relax, so make sure everyone can sit whenever they want, whether on a sofa, armchair, chair, or similar.
And remember that for everyone to interact, ideally these seats should be close together.
Happy hour menu
The question of what happy hour is soon comes with the question of what to include on the menu for this event.
As mentioned above, snacks are the best choice and they should match the drinks that will be served.
It's important to organize your meals with guests with dietary restrictions in mind, such as vegetarians, vegans, those with food intolerances, and the like.
Below, we have separated some suggestions to include in your menu.
Cold cuts and cheese board
A cold cuts and cheese board is the best option for a happy hour starter.
Some suggestions are:
- Parmesan;
- mozzarella;
- provolone;
- brie;
- gorgonzola;
- salami;
- parma;
- turkey breast;
- ham.
Also include individual portions with olive oil and oregano, as well as bread cut into small slices.
Snacks and canapés
Common birthday party snacks can be added to your happy hour menu.
Vary between coxinha, risoles, cheese balls, kibbeh and the like.
You can also include canapés, which are lighter, or bruschetta, which is delicious and practical.
Desserts
To round off the menu, it's time to please those with a sweet tooth, with some dessert options.
Here, you can choose from mousse cups, a pie, a cake or cheesecake.
Happy hour table decoration
At this point, you probably have no doubts about what happy hour is and how to organize it, right?
The final step is to set your table in a practical and beautiful way.
The focus of the table should be to encourage interaction and excitement among guests. And we've already warned you that this isn't difficult to achieve.
Check out the tips below!
Create themed stations at the table
To make your desk practical, try organizing it as follows:
- cold cuts board in the center;
- drinks, glasses and cups in the corner;
- sandwiches/snacks on the tier plate, near the ends.
Also consider separating foods according to their characteristics.
In other words, leave items that contain meat on one side, items without meat on the other, hotter drinks on one side and more refreshing drinks on the other.
It's great that everything is very intuitive for guests, so they can quickly see where their favorite items are.
Add charm with colorful items
It is common for the mission of adding charm to the table to be fulfilled by snacks.
But, if you choose colorful items, it will also gain more life, energizing the place.
This can be done with colorful glasses, a tablecloth with cool details, and even patterned napkins.
And remember the theme we mentioned as an example above? Well, it's at the table that it will be present!
If the theme is summer, try to include colors that evoke the sun and heat, details in glasses such as parasols and the like.
Don't be afraid to let your imagination run wild!
What to drink at happy hour?
We emphasize in the text that good drinks are great for happy hour.
And since the goal of this event is for everyone to have fun and interact, the idea is to serve a drink that isn't one that makes everyone gulp it down at once and make faces.
Therefore, our suggestion is that you look for tasty, refreshing and natural drinks, which offer a lighter flavor to the palate of those who are trying them.
Following this line, we at Quetzalli have the ideal option for you, our bottled drink, made with passion fruit and lime in a tequila base.
How about providing your guests with the magical result of this mixture?
Discover the best drink options to serve at Happy Hour here.
Conclusion
With this article, our mission was to explain to you what happy hour is and how to organize one.
To that end, we've given you tips on essential event accessories, such as glasses, an ice bucket, a snack tray and cutting boards, and seating.
We also recommend some menu options and how to decorate your table to surprise your guests.
Furthermore, we gave an innovative tip on what to offer as a drink, with Quetzalli's quality guarantee.
So, do you feel ready to organize your happy hour now?
