There is nothing I love more than going to a good New Year’s Eve party, being able to dance the night away surrounded by friends and family. This year I decided to host my own New Year’s Eve party. I was a bit nervous to take on such a huge endeavor, but I was determined to throw the most spectacular New Year’s Eve event ever. As for the theme, I decided to go with a timeless classic, and have a cocktail party.
Here are 5 Ideas of How to Throw the Best New Year’s Eve Party
Well-Stocked Bar
It doesn’t matter if you’re having a cocktail party or a small soirée; a well-stocked bar is an essential key to having a successful New Year’s Eve party. Companies like Monin.com/CA/ feature a wide variety of different syrups, sauces, and mixtures that can help not only liven up your drink but also your whole party. You don’t want your guests to go up to order a cocktail and they can’t because the bartender doesn’t have the ingredients to make it. If you want to make sure your party is a smash, I recommend having a fully stocked bar so you can quickly whip up a cosmo, flirtini, or any other classic recipe in a jiffy.
There are also plenty of new fun drink ideas you could try, such as a sparkling strawberry martini or a sparkling Yuzu Mojito, which adds a new twist to a timeless classic. If you have a sweet tooth and you’re a rum lover, you could go with a Hawaiian Island Mai Tai. When it comes to martinis, I think Dorothy Parker said it best “One martini is alright, two is too many, and three is not enough.”
Having the Right Food
Throwing a New Year’s Eve party requires a lot of preparation; nearly all parties will provide some type of food for their guest. What you decide to serve will depend on how many are attending and what your budget is. Depending on how much time you have and how kitchen savvy you are, you may decide to have your party catered. This will save you a lot of time of having to prepare everything yourself, especially if you have between 50 to 100 people attending. You might just want to keep it simple, and serve light snacks, maybe a fruit and vegetable tray with dip, or you can ask your guests to each bring a dish.
Decorating
Decorating for a party can sometimes take hours. First, you should figure out how many people are attending and also come up with some sort of guest list. Cleanup after throwing a party can take forever, it’s important that you decide the best place to have your party. Do you want to have it in your own home or would you rather use an outside venue or hall? If you do decide to have it in your home, decorating doesn’t have to be an expensive all day process. There are a lot of easy, inexpensive design ideas; bubbles, candles, and streamers cost very little and can really enhance the mood. Sometimes all the decorating you need is a couple of purple and blue light bulbs, a bag of balloons, and a few colorful throw pillows to give your party the hip look you’re searching for.
Entertainment
Keeping your guests entertained is the most important aspect of throwing a good party; you want the people who attend to have the best time imaginable. It wouldn’t hurt to plan a few party games, maybe even some karaoke; nothing is more entertaining than watching your friends try and belt out their favorite hits. You might want to turn on the television close to midnight so you and guests can watch the New Year’s ball drop together live.
No party is a party unless there’s dancing. It doesn’t matter what the event is, dancing is a universal language that will liven up any party. There is nothing more boring than walking into a crowded party where everyone is sitting down. It’s New Year’s Eve! There’s no better time to cut loose, a night where you can relax, let your hair down, and not worry about looking silly. You can’t dance without music. Try and come up with a playlist that will keep your guest’s feet moving, something that everyone is comfortable with, and make sure you create a playlist long enough to be able to cover the whole duration of the party. If you’re not up to date on the latest trending music, you could use a preexisting playlist on Pandora, iTunes, or any other streaming application. Have a fun party and, oh, Happy New Year!