With the year drawing to a close people all around the world will be welcoming in the new year with celebrations with family and friends. Planning a successful NYE 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.
1. Make It a BYOA Party – Bring Your Own Appetizer
Save time and money while making the food on offer as varied as possible. There are a number of cheap and easy appetizers that your guests can bring, but if someone doesn’t know how to cook or what to bring, suggest snacks like cheeses, veggies or finger foods. Even some biscuits or nuts will do!
2. Serve a punch for NYE midnight toasting
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! Here’s a recipe for a tasty champagne sangria:
Ingredients:
- One 32-ounce bottle of apple juice
- One 12-ounce can of frozen cranberry juice concentrate
- One cup of orange juice
- One-and-a-half liters of champagne (or ginger ale for a non-alcoholic version)
Directions:
- Keep items chilled (or frozen) 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!
3. Bring in the new year with the appropriate music
New years eve is possibly the biggest party of the year, and what’s a good party without the right music? Here is a list of songs about a new year which are guaranteed to be a hit at your NYE party:
“Happy New Year,” Judy Garland
“Happy New Year,” Kid Rock
“Happy New Year B,” “Rent” Original Cast
“Have a Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year,” TLC
“Bringing in a Brand New Year,” Charles Brown
“Celtic New Year,” Van Morrison
“Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years,” O’Jays
“Congratulations – A Happy New Year Song,” Pink Martini
“Funky New Year,” Eagles
“Gonna Make It Through This Year,” Great Lake Swimmers
4. Get a photographer
Things tend to get a bit out of hand at any good NYE party, so get a photographer to capture all the moments that you might forget by the next morning. If money isn’t an issue you could hire a professional to make sure you get the best possible shots, but otherwise ask a friend with a halfway decent camera to handle photographer duties.
Another fun way to take pictures at your NYE party is to buy a few disposable cameras to give to random guests and ask them to capture their own personal favourite movements.