Years ago, I received a classic Nambe platter as a gift - not cheap, but very useful - made of some kind of metal alloy that maintains temp for a long time - you can put it in the freezer before serving cold things, or conversely heat it. Works great for shrimp, anything involving raw fish, etc. (Also has beautiful 1950's design.)
I have a fish-shaped glass plate that I freeze until party time. Scatter shrimp over it and place a little bowl of cocktail sauce right on the plate with the shrimp.
I assume by "party" you mean a cocktail party and not a sit down dinner.
I have used three different methods for a shrimp cocktail.
1 = mini martini glasses, bit a sauce on top of shredded lettuce with large shrimp on edge.
2 = shot glasses, same as above with just one or two shrimp.
3 = individual ceramic serving spoons (like mini Chinese soup spoons), same method, usually one shrimp.
All the above can be bought a places like Crate and Barrel for $$$, or at a dollar-store for $.
I don't know what you mean by better that nesting bowls with ice (or snow!). But, back in the 1950s, my mother's standard for a party was to freeze an ice ring with seashells in it. The sauce went in a container that just fit inside the ring, and the shrimp were strewn around the outside. People who knew my mother's routine positioned themselves near the shrimp.
My mother also had the nesting bowls, but I didn't end up with them. So, I use wide-mouthed wine glasses, put some sauce in the center, and hang the shrimp over the edge.
I do something similar to what Chris does. I use chilled martini glasses (I quit drinking martinis years ago so I just repurpose the glasses). I put cocktail sauce in the bottom of each glass. You can lace that with a little bit of vodka if you like, for the grown ups.
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I have used three different methods for a shrimp cocktail.
1 = mini martini glasses, bit a sauce on top of shredded lettuce with large shrimp on edge.
2 = shot glasses, same as above with just one or two shrimp.
3 = individual ceramic serving spoons (like mini Chinese soup spoons), same method, usually one shrimp.
All the above can be bought a places like Crate and Barrel for $$$, or at a dollar-store for $.
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My mother also had the nesting bowls, but I didn't end up with them. So, I use wide-mouthed wine glasses, put some sauce in the center, and hang the shrimp over the edge.