How To Throw A Fancy New Year’s Eve Party

New Year’s Eve is quite the special holiday. It’s one where we reflect upon everything we’ve experienced in the 12 months preceding it, and are full of hope and wonder as we look forward to the 12 that are up ahead. A New Year’s Eve party is a special celebration for which many people love to get all done up. It’s the one night of the year where we feel like there’s no such thing as too fancy; too sparkly; too much. If you’re throwing a party to celebrate the occasion, you want your guests to spend the evening in an atmosphere that’s just as special as they look and feel.

Putting together a party that’s fancy might sound intimidating and expensive, but it honestly doesn’t have to be either one of those things. It’s also extremely fun and once it all comes together, it will have you feeling incredibly proud of your party-throwing capabilities. Here are my ideas on how to throw a fancy New Year’s Eve party.

Use real things

Glasses

Lace Tablecloth

That’s probably the vaguest thing I could have ever said. What I mean is, instead of using disposable tablecloths and plastic champagne flutes, opt for glass champagne flutes and a pretty tablecloth that’s actually made from cloth – or lace! Your guests will feel much more pampered when they’re sipping that special sparkly drink you made out of a beautiful glass, plus it’s better for the environment. Buy a bunch of inexpensive champagne flutes from somewhere like Target and decorate them! As for the tablecloth, you know that old lace curtain that’s been hanging out in the back of your linen closet? You’re all set.

Add tons of lights

String Lights

I am a huge proponent of string lights, always. I love their ability to create a warm, cozy atmosphere, which will allow your party guests to feel relaxed and comfortable. There are so many different kinds of string lights, and there’s so much you can do with them. I think that standard white string lights look so beautiful draped along a ceiling – and I’m a little bit obsessed with these Starry String Lights which look utterly magical wrapped around some tree branches.

Do balloons right

Gold Balloons

Oversized Balloons

Balloons are one of my favorite party decorations. They have the ability to make you feel like you’re in a total dream world, as long as you do them right. Oversized balloons are beautiful and sophisticated. Choose a definite color palette and stick with it. Instead of choosing the standard NYE colors of silver, gold, black, and white, choose one and build a palette around it. I love the image above, which uses pure white along with different shades of yellow. Instead of tying standard ribbons to your balloons, use large tassels and strips of pretty fabric. Fill up your entire dance floor with a whole bunch, and your guests will feel like they’re dancing in a dreamy forest as they twist and spin around the room, making their way through the magical field of fabric strips that hang from the balloons above.

Serve homemade dips

Homemade Dips

In my opinion, there’s nothing better than a party with a huge selection of dips. You can find me hanging out by the appetizer table all night long. Make a whole bunch, like hummus, onion dip, bean dip, spinach & artichoke dip, and guacamole – just to name a few. Most are incredibly easy to make and they taste absolutely delicious. Garnish them to your liking and serve in fancy dishes alongside a wide array of crackers and chips, and your guests won’t even know what to do with themselves.

Set up a photo booth

Polaroid Photos

I know I’ve talked about photo booths a million times before, but I just really love them! Find a prime spot and set one up (see our photo booth DIY!).  Make sure to include a bunch of props for your guests to have fun with! If you have a DSLR with a tripod, set it up and you’re good to go – or you could use a Polaroid for instant results! If you don’t have a camera, no worries. I’m pretty sure an iPhone is all you need to do the trick. :)

Click on images for sources; top image source.

More decorating ideas!

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11 years ago

My friends and I did this in our early 20’s. We were a bunch of super-broke college students who lived in thrift store rags. We made all our guests dress up in formal attire and spent every cent we could scrape together on food and drinks. It was THE BEST party I have EVER hosted in my life! SO worth it!!

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