With the year drawing to a close, people across South Africa will be welcoming in the new year with a host of festive season celebrations, culminating in the big splash; the New Year’s Eve bash! This time of year is the ideal time to get together with family and friends, but planning a successful festive season party or New Year’s Eve party can be stressful, which is why we’ve got a few tricks and ideas that will help set your party apart from the rest. Here are our tips for planning an unforgettable festive bash.
Choose a clear and realistic theme
Give guests one last chance to play dress-up in 2021 by throwing a themed festive bash. Costumes upgrade an otherwise standard festive bash and create fun memories to take into the new year. Of course, your guests shouldn’t be made to spend a fortune on an outfit to wear. The theme can be simple and easy to execute. Whether it’s black and gold attire, a totally ’80s NYE, or a tropical Tiki party — these are easy themes for guests to throw together. Make sure to list the theme on your invitation, or even make the invite itself themed. E-vite sites like Paperless Post, Punchbowl, and Canva have themed templates ready to inspire you.
Make it a BYOA party – Bring Your Own Appetiser
One of the most stressful parts of hosting a festive party is catering. So, this year, why not ask your friends to chip in and bring a little something to contribute to the nibbles on offer? Save time and money while making the food as varied as possible for guests. There are a number of inexpensive and easy appetizers that your guests can bring, but if someone doesn’t know how to cook or what to bring, suggest snacks like a platter with cheese, crunchy vegetables, crackers, or a plate of finger foods. Even some biscuits or nuts will do!
Then, when your guests arrive with their eats, have some beautiful party platters ready for them to display their eats on with pride.
Always have extra ice
The first rule to throwing a great party is to have ample ice! Your freezer’s ice maker will not sustain an entire party. So, keep your beverages chilly by buying extra bags of ice bags for the cooler box and freezer. To really ensure you’re sorted, invest in a countertop ice maker machine to ensure there will always be ice ready to grab for drinks and cocktails.
Don’t forget the little details
Food placement, music, lighting, party decorations, and silverware — are all important (and often overlooked) factors to a good party. Be sure to set the holiday mood by selecting the right music and lighting. Place your food throughout your home, so your guests are not cornered into one area. These little details will make your holiday party that much more enjoyable.
Serve a punch for drinks & NYE midnight toasting
Don’t forget to stock up on drinks, even if you’re hosting a BYOB shindig. Have a few bottles of wine and ice-cold beers on-hand for guests who are popping in or who forgot their drinks at home. If champagne isn’t in your budget, then why not try serving a punch instead? This is an easy and cost-efficient way to cut back on champagne costs, and you’ll be able to provide your guests with as much as they can drink! Below is an easy and inexpensive recipe for a tasty champagne sangria:
Festive Punch Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 litre apple juice
- 350ml cranberry juice concentrate
- One cup orange juice
- One-and-a-half litres of champagne
- For an alcohol-free version, switch out the champagne for ginger ale.
- Fruit: oranges slices, kiwi, grapes, etc.
Directions:
- Keep items chilled until use.
- Combine the apple juice, cranberry juice concentrate, and orange juice in a large bowl. Stir well.
- Add sliced oranges, kiwi slices, and any other fruit you like.
- Slowly add the champagne or ginger ale at the last minute to keep it bubbly.
This recipe serves 12, so double, triple or quadruple the ingredients to quench your guest’s thirst!
