Throw a NYE Party in 180 Minutes!

New Year’s Eve is debatably an overrated holiday. What causes New Year’s Eve to become more irksome than joyful isn’t the holiday itself, but rather, the unnecessary fanfare. This year, try a new strategy and create a fabulous party that’s perfect for New Year’s Eve (or any night you’d like to be kissed at midnight), in under three hours. 

There are two routes to go on New Year’s Eve: staying in or going out. If the thought of eating take-out Chinese and drinking champagne straight from the bottle sounds depressing but the idea of getting dolled up and spending a fortune in a city where you won’t be able to find a cab at the stroke of 12:01, you’re in luck. These tips will teach out how to throw a party that’s cost effective, fun, and low stress. Streamline the holiday so that if you’re celebrating for one, two, 10, or 50, you’ll have a good time and not feel like New Year’s Eve is all about the hype.

The Game Plan

• Who you invite is just as important than the food you’re serving. Get the right crowd and the party will take care of itself. 
• New Year’s Eve is a social holiday, more about the atmosphere and drinks than the food. Spend your time (and money) where it counts and where guests will appreciate it most.
• Take the help where you can get it: store bought appetizers, favors in a box, and premade playlists. This will give you more time to enjoy the party.

Next, the guest list… [pagebreak]

Task One: Inviting the Right People (Pre-Party)

This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s the hardest part. Why? Because the guest list sets the tone. For a group of 8-10 there should only be 1-2 wild cards, 1-2 wallflowers, and 1-2 party animals, everyone else should meld between characters. For a larger party, think about bringing different groups of friends together, possibly playing matchmaker. This isn’t to say don’t invite your best friends, it just means choose wisely, after all this is a big decision; you’re ringing in a new year with them.

Tip: Having your guests bring other guests is great, but you don’t want to end up with a party of total strangers. Suggest that newcomers introduce themselves to everyone when they arrive or play a name game to get people feeling comfortable around each other. Icebreakers aren’t corny, they’re a great way to get everyone to relax.

Next, the countdown begins… [pagebreak]

Countdown to the Midnight, T-Minus 3 Hours

9:00 PM Make a Signature Cocktail

Alcohol is key at holiday parties and New Year’s Eve is no exception. For a large party choose two beers to serve, a dark and light, good house red and white wine, a cocktail, and sparkling wine at midnight. For smaller parties, choose one beer, one wine, and make a signature cocktail. A festive and colorful cocktail is the favorite Fresca Frambuesa with champagne, raspberry puree, and cachaca. It’s also a good place to start experimenting: use this recipe as a base but try a different fruit puree or pick one that matches your decor. 

Tip: Batch your drinks before guests arrive and have in the fridge. When guests arrive simply pour and serve.

10:00 PM Serve your Appetizers

Whip up small bites to eat through the evening, all with a good amount of salt and fat. Click here for a bonus video on easy holiday appetizers: tomato soup bread bowls and roasted figs with honey and cheese! Everyone will be watching his or her waistline January 1st, but not tonight. Salty snacks pair nicely with bubbly spirits and snacks with some fat allow for your guests to feel satiated (while keeping the buzz at bay). For an elegant canapé go with Honey Brushed Pear Crostini or Cheddar Bacons Toasts to soak up the one-too-many-cocktails guest.  For no fuss appetizers think chips and dip. Try these 18 Delicious Chip & Dip Recipes.

Tip: Don’t go crazy making appetizers. Stores from Costco to specialty goods markets make grab-and-go appetizers perfect for a party that don’t look “store bought.” Staples like olives, cured meats, cheese, chips, dips, and frozen appetizers are perfectly acceptable to serve. Make sure to slip them on to nice platters before setting them out. 

Next, it’s almost midnight… [pagebreak]

11:00 PM Turn Up the Music

It’s all about the music. Swap your iPod for an old fashion turn table to give your party some ambiance, listen to your favorite Pandora station, or ask your friends to rotate their personal mixes so there’s a taste of everything. When in doubt play an old favorite people can dance to, there’s nothing better than a party that turns into a dance party. Once people have a couple of cocktails, a DJ will naturally emerge from the crowd and begin selecting tunes.

11:45 Prepare for a Countdown

Turn on (or off!) the TV, watch the ball drop, get the music, and noise blowers ready, and pour the champagne so everyone is ready. Next, the countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7 … you know how it goes. Stand next to a loved one, friends, family, and be prepared to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new. Raise a glass and be thankful for all the wonderful things the year has given you and all those things you look forward to, even if it simply means a group of great people, a fun party, and minimal mess to clean up in the morning.

Happy New Year!