The perfect New Year’s Eve party doesn’t have to be a chore to throw, and it doesn’t have to put you out of pocket, either. Whether you’re a regular at throwing end-of-year bashes or it’s your first time hosting an event, we have a few hot tips to make sure you welcome the New Year with a bang.
Décor
With Christmas just passed, there’s no need to splash out on fancy new décor. Simply take down the Santas and the put away the nativity scene, but leave up your twinkly Christmas lights. Magic.
If you’re looking to light up the New Year, then consider indoor sparklers or fireworks. Alternatively, to bring the New Year’s in with a bang, minus the fire hazard, consider making confetti poppers to add a bit of nostalgic fun to New Year’s Eve. Fillable poppers are easy to find at a local craft store or online; wrap these in gold and silver tissue paper and fill them with shredded tinsel and colourful confetti.
BYOB & Cocktail’s
Make your New Year’s Eve party a BYO (bring your own) event. That way, guests are sure to be satisfied with the choice of drink on offer and you don’t have to spend a fortune on drinks guests may not even like!
As the host, consider providing some cocktails to get the party started. Don’t go crazy and offer a million and one different concoctions – rehearse a few classics until they are the best they can be.
Read: 9 cocktails that are super easy to make at home
If you’re feeling adventurous, whip up a cotton candy champagne cocktail. Simply add a small ball of candyfloss after filling the flute with champagne, trying to let it float. If the candyfloss is coloured, it will add a hint of colour to the champagne, as well as a delicious sweetness. These add a whimsical, elegant touch to end the evening.
Just make sure to have some non-alcoholic beverages for those who aren’t drinking, too. And pace yourself – it’s not fun if everyone is too drunk to count down to midnight!
It’s All About Finger Food
Don’t worry about dishing up a three-course meal at your NYE bash; with delicious drinks on offer and dancing to be had, your guests don’t want to be uncomfortably full. Instead, make a selection of tasty finger food.
While there’s nothing wrong with popping down to Iceland and picking up a frozen party food pack and a few dozen sausage rolls, if you want to go the extra mile, here are some ideas for a homemade finger food spread:
- Chicken ballotine canapés
- Honey roast fig canapés
- Tattie scone canapés
- Smoked trout and horseradish eclairs
- Gravadlax on Rye Bread
- Aubergine and Halloumi rolls with tomato salsa
- Salmon and sea bass ceviche on tortilla chips
- Minted beetroot and feta dip
Party Games
Cutting loose and having some fun on New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to cost any money. Some of the best games involve simple props that you already have at home.
A quiz is the best way to keep a crowd entertained. A trivia test of events that have happened over the past year is always a nice way to round off the year.
The Name Game is great for a large group – it’s easy to prepare and play. Each guest writes the name of a person, real or fictional, and puts it into a large bowl. The names are mixed around and everyone has to pick one out. Guests must then guess who everyone is by asking each other questions and giving occasional clues. You can make this as silly and comical as you like!
Charades is another fun, free and classic party game. We’re also fans of Heads Ups, the fun and hilarious game by Ellen DeGeneres, which is one of the best games to play with friends, we think.
Whilst you’re playing games, throw on a party playlist– give your guests a chance to let their hair down and have a boogie.
A Makeshift Photobooth
To make your New Year’s Eve bash an unforgettable one, why not create a photobooth. Make your own photo booth by setting up a camera in the corner of a room with your own fancy props and scenery as a backdrop!
Now, can we expect our invite in the post?