New Year's Eve Parties

From LoveToKnow Party

Let’s face it; New Year's Eve parties are not everyone’s favorite kind of party. There is so much pressure to have fun that sometimes you forget to actually have fun! Or at least that’s the way it used to be. LTK Party is here to help take that pressure off with these great ideas for a New Year's Eve blow out to remember.

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Party Planning Basics

Before you can implement any of your New Year's Eve party ideas, you need to have your basic planning in place. Make a guest list and invite everyone in plenty of time. Remember people’s social calendars fill up quickly this time of year, so start inviting at the start of December. Confirm your guest list by Christmas, so you can figure out what kind of supplies you need. Also, make sure your guests know what kind of party you are throwing and if there are any special dress requirements.

Once your guest list is nailed down, go shopping for your supplies. Before you hit the shops, though, devise a budget for yourself, and stick to it. New Year's Eve won’t be very fun if you spend the evening watching your friends drink away your savings for the next year.

New Year's parties of any theme should never be without noise makers and champagne, and any party needs a good stock of the following:

Plastic cups or glasses
Utensils
Ice
Paper plates
Napkins

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New Year's Eve Party Ideas

Of course, many New Years Eve parties are all about mingling, and that’s all well and good, but why not jazz it up with some fun ideas for a party you and your friends will remember all year?

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New Year's Eve Mystery Party

Take your guests’ minds off their New Year's kisses by having them solve a good mystery. Many companies, like Merri Mysteries offer mystery party supply kits, complete with a story line, character descriptions, and everything else you and your friends need to play detective. You can choose a mystery with a holiday spin, a celebrity murder mystery, and any good who dunnit case that catches your fancy. Assign your guests their characters ahead of time so they can come in costume and all ready to play their part. Have prize ready for the guest that cracks the case.

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Years Past Theme Party

Relive the glory days by throwing a New Year's Eve party themed after a year of your choice. If there is a year that is special to you and many of your friends, like the year you all graduated, go for that year. If not, any year will do. Find out what the popular songs were for that year and let those be your soundtrack for the evening. Have everyone dress in the style of that time, and decorate accordingly. If there were any particular fads that year, pull them out of the attic or score them on eBay.

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New Years Eve Dinner Party

If you’re getting a little tired of the drinking and dancing kinds of New Year's Eve parties, why not ring in the New Year with something a little more sophisticated? You can make it a formal affair and wow your guests with your kitchen prowess, or if you don’t want to take on all that work, there are many different options you could try:

Fondue party – Fondue is a fun way to get all of your guests gathered around a table for some good conversation, and is a great ice breaker is some of your guests don’t know each other well. Get a few pots going with different kinds of cheeses and dippers, and don’t forget the chocolate fondue for dessert.

Pot Luck party – Have each of your guests bring a dish to share with everyone. You won’t have so much to do, and your guests get to show off their cooking skill.

Tapas party – Instead of having a big, heavy meal, serve small tapas dishes. There are many tapas dishes you can prepare ahead of time so you have more time to enjoy your company.

Wine and cheese party or dessert party – Invest in some unique cheeses and pair them with wines – your local wine shop will be able to help you come up with some winning combinations. Alternatively, before that New Year's resolution kicks in, satisfy your sweet tooth with a smorgasbord of desserts. Make a few of your favorites, and encourage your guests to bring their dessert of choice to add to the party.

For your recipe needs, don’t forget to check out LTK Recipes.

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