Here are a few quick tips to make your New Year's Eve party
planning easier this year.
- Set your budget. This will help you when determining how many people to invite and what your party options are.
- Save time & money on your invitations. Email or phone invites are your cheapest options, and with so many options for email invites you can go all out. If you prefer to mail your invitations; save a stamp by including your New Year's Party invite in with your holiday cards.
- Choose a theme. You can choose anything from Western to Aliens! You can also go with a more subtle theme such as a color. Metallic colors are always fun, but we also love an all white New Year's Eve party.
- Are Children Allowed? If your party will include children, make sure you have food appropriate for them as well as activities planned to keep them entertained. A quiet area where they can go to rest is always a smart idea for those who cannot make it until midnight. You can even arrange to let them have their own separate sleepover party and hire a babysitter to mind them for the night.
- Unique Menu Ideas. Since a New Year's party will start later, guests will not expect a full meal. A variety of hors d'oeuvres is the best way to go. A dessert buffet and drinks is another great option.
- Always have extra. Be prepared for the unexpected guests or extra-hungry, super-thirsty crowd. Add a couple of bags of quality chips, extra crackers and cheese, and even an extra roll of cookie dough. Make sure these items are something you will eat if you don't break them out for the party. Ice you may have to take a loss on, but it is better than having to little.
- Keep you liquor cost under control. Guests will usually have 2 drinks in the first hour, and one drink each hour after that. Many places will allow you to return unopened alcohol, so you can overbuy and return the excess if you worry about running out.
- Rent. Local rental companies are a great source for glassware, linens, flatware and more. I find this to be a great alternative to purchasing (and then storing) all of the extra items for entertaining.
- Create a great soundtrack. Depending on your theme or personal tastes, you may have different ideas for music. Time is always a great theme for a New Year's playlist. Here are a few fun songs to get you started: 1999 - Prince
- Don't forget to have fun! Try to prepare food ahead of time and set up a self serve drink bar to cut down on the work you need to do throughout the party. That way you can have to time see your guests and be a good host or hostess! If you are planning on having more that 50 people, enlist a few close friends to lend a hand throughout the night or hire a party planner so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the party.
Celebration – Kool & the Gang
Rock That Body – The Black Eyed Peas
In Da Club – 50 Cent
All Night Long – Lionel Ritchie
