How to Plan a Last-Minute New Year's Eve Party

Do you want to throw a fabulous last-minute New Year's Eve party, but worry that time and budget restrictions will prevent you from succeeding? It is very easy to forget that New Year's Eve is right around the corner when dealing with Christmas and all that comes along with it. Fortunately, it need not take a lot of time or money to throw a last-minute party. With a little creativity and planning, you can host a memorable New Year's Eve event for your family and friends.

Develop a Plan

The first thing you need to do is to develop a plan for your party. How many guests will you be inviting? Will any of them need to spend the night? Will children be attending? Do you want to serve a meal, or just hors d'oeuvres and drinks? What type of music will your guests enjoy? How formal do you want your party to be? After you have answered the above questions, you are ready start working on the details for your special night. Determine what your budget is and make a list of things you will need.

Invitations

If you have waited until after Christmas to begin planning your New Year's Eve party, there likely isn't sufficient time to mail out formal invitations. A quick and easy alternative would be to invite your friends and family though a service such as Evite.com. Make certain to remind your guests to RSVP as soon as possible so that you are able to make arrangements for the number of guests that will be attending. Use the telephone to invite those people who do not have internet access.

Decorations and Favors

You likely still have your Christmas decorations up, which will work in your favor when decorating for your New Year's Eve party. Use Christmas lights to decorate doors, stair railings, plants, and walls. Any silver or gold decorations you have, such as tinsel and garland, are perfect decorations for a New Year's Eve event. Use candles to dress up your tables and counters, but be certain they are placed in safe locations to prevent accidental fires from occurring. For party favors or decorations specific to New Year's Eve, visit your local party supply store. Make certain to pick up enough confetti for each of your guests to have fun with once the clock strikes midnight.

Food

If you do not feel up to preparing a formal meal, ask your guests to arrive no earlier than 9:00 p.m. This will ensure that they have already eaten, and will make food options much easier. Most catering services will already be booked, so you really have three options when it comes to feeding your guests.

The most expensive option is to place an order with a restaurant ahead of time, and possibly even have it delivered and arranged on your tables for a little extra money. You can also opt to place trays of hors d'oeuvres around your home for guests to nibble on throughout the night, such as cheese and crackers, smoked salmon, or other finger foods. If choosing this second option, it is a good idea to plan for a nice variety of foods that can be prepared ahead of time. A third option is to ask all of your guests to bring one of their favorite foods with them. All of the food can then be arranged on a table, and guests can sample what everyone else brought with them.

Drinks

If you plan to offer alcoholic drinks at your party, you will need to either hire a bartender or set up a self-serve bar for your guests. A good rule of thumb is to prepare for one drink per hour per person. Make certain you have plenty of ice and glasses, and check the bar frequently throughout the party to keep the most important items fully stocked. Spice up your cocktails by adding flecks of edible gold leaf, or decorate your glasses with New Year's Eve party favors. Do not forget the champagne!

Music

Music is possibly the most important consideration when planning your last-minute New Year's Eve party. The easy way to go is to hire a DJ. Check your local phone book for listings, or contact a party planner in your area. If you do not want to spend the money on a DJ, make some CDs of your favorite party music to enjoy during the festivities. Be sure to keep the tastes of your guests in mind. If you want dancing at your party, you will need a good dance mix as well. Remember to turn down the music and the lights during the final countdown to 2008.