A general rule of thumb is to plan for a total of six to ten pieces or servings per person for a cocktail party. You should also plan to offer a variety of five to six different types of appetizers, including meat and seafood, cheese balls, dips and platters, and relish trays or veggie trays. If your guests will be standing most of the time, remember to serve easy-to-eat finger foods that don't require a knife and fork. One final piece of advice, don't think you have to make everything yourself. Make a few dishes, order a few and serve a few really easy ones like roasted pecans or something along those lines. Also, consider asking each guest to bring a dish.