Get ready ahead
of time...
Make sure you catch your guests before the New Year's party rush...consider sending out invitations about a month in advance. Theme them to your party to let guests know what kind of fun to expect and how they might like to dress for the occasion.
Set your big night to music...develop a playlist ahead of time or organize your music collection to make it easy to set the mood.
It's important to take time for you, too! Take a few minutes for yourself right before the party to relax and be ready for your guests. When they arrive, greet them at the door, thank them for coming, and ask them a specific question that will strike up the conversation right away. This will help them feel welcome.
Party food tips...
Add elegant New Year's flair by accenting your spread with simple garnishes like edible flowers, olives, fresh herb sprigs, small fruits, or sliced vegetables. Garnishing adds a splash of color and makes for a great presentation. You can also try chocolate drizzle and candy garnishes on the dessert tray!
Give your appetizers that special signature touch by sprinkling on freshly chopped Italian parsley and decorating plates with dollops of pesto or drizzles of creamy salad dressing.
Be creative! You can use Chinese soup spoons as a unique alternative to a platter...just place individual servings right in the spoons for guests to pick up and enjoy.
Your beverage selections...
The right glassware can help make your New Year's celebration an even bigger hit! For red wines, a large bowl and a stem with a wide base helps with stability. White wines belong in glasses with a slightly slimmer profile. And be sure to use flutes for sparkling wines...their shape makes the most of those tiny bubbles!
Speaking of wines, it's important to serve them at the right temperatures. White wines and sparkling whites should be served at about 50 degrees, because chilling them more than that will cause the flavors to become less rich. Reds are best enjoyed at room temperature, or about 65 degrees.
Make your guests feel extra special with a customized drink menu. Just print your selection of drink options on a 5" x 7" sheet of paper, with "Our New Year's Eve Party" as a title. Then you can just adhere it to a standard 5" x 7" piece of colored card stock for a fun, fast drink menu!
Raise a glass to toast a perfect party...
And of course, New Year's is the perfect time for a luxurious Champagne cocktail. Choose one as your signature, or set up a Champagne bar with several options! We like the chic and traditional French 75.
French 75
1 tablespoon (1/2 oz.) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 oz. iced gin
4 oz. chilled Champagne
lemon peel for garnish
In a shaker half filled with ice, combine gin, sugar, and lemon juice, shaking well. Pour into flute and top with Champagne. Garnish with curly lemon peel.
Make it special, make it your own...
Add some magic to your New Year's table with a centerpiece made up of a variety of crystal candle holders with tapers, placed on a mirror. The play of light will provide an elegant setting for your spread!
You don't need formal bone china to impress your guests, but presentation is important! Try a variety of serving dishes in several shapes, sizes, and heights to emphasize the variety of foods you are serving. This gives you a big boost of visual appeal without a big investment.
Make those special New Year's memories last with unique, personalized mini-favors. Some popular choices are candy or mini-bottles of wine, but the options are nearly endless!