Everything You Need To Host A New Year’s Eve Party At Home, From What Champagne To Buy To The Cutest Sparkly Decor
What better way to put a bow on the most wonderful time of the year than with a fun New Year’s Eve party? Here’s everything you need to host one from the comfort of your own (sparkly) home!
Sure, a night out on the town celebrating New Year’s Eve sounds fun in theory, but the reality of it is full of brisk walks in uncomfortable heels, long lines at bars and restaurants, and surge pricing for rideshare apps. Why put yourself through all that hassle when the alternative (celebrating at home) can be just as fun and glamorous?
It’s the season of giving, so why not put your most hospitable foot forward and play hostess with the mostest for your closest friends and family? Here’s everything you need to know to throw the perfect, sparkly New Year’s Eve party:
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First Things First: Champagne
No New Year’s Eve party is complete without champagne! Fun fact: Did you know that real champagne actually only comes from the Champagne region of France? Everything else is just sparkling wine. That’s why real champagne is going to be more expensive. As long as it’s sparkling, though, I doubt any of your guests will care! Here are a few sparkling wines that won’t break the bank, as well as some champagne options if you feel like splurging:
What’s on the Menu?
Once everyone has a drink in their hand, they’re going to need some options to snack the night away. The most fool-proof party appetizer of all time is also a crowd-pleaser: charcuterie boards! Charcuterie boards are a great way to have fun with your food. There are a limitless number of designs and ingredients you could include. There’s also the option to do a meat and cheese board as an appetizer, then a dessert board for when everyone’s craving something sweet later on.
If charcuterie isn’t your thing or you’re simply looking for more snacking options, appetizers are a great way to go. They’re simple to make, easy for guests to grab, and customizable for any party theme. Here are a few yummy ideas:
A crudités platter (this is just a fancy name for a veggie tray)
Pigs in a blanket (from the freezer section or make your own!)
Decor and More
When you think of a New Year’s Eve party, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind in terms of decor? I tend to think all things Great Gatsby: glitz, glamor, and sparkle. You don’t have to go classic, though; you could throw a pajama party if that’s more your vibe. “PJs and Prosecco” is the perfect comfy yet cosmopolitan theme.
No matter what theme you choose, you’ll need some decorations. Here are a few cute ones we have in our shopping carts.
xo, Fetti Fringe Tinsel Chandelier, $20
Disco Ball Ice Bucket, $40
xo, Fetti Disco Ball Reusable Swirly Straw Set, $17
xo, Fetti New Years Eve Party Drink Pouches, $13
xo, Fetti Disco Ball Headband, $18
It’s totally up to you how wild you want to get with decor. If you simply want to keep your Christmas decorations up and add a few New Year’s accents, that’s fine too. Your house, your rules! If you do feel like glamming up your space, get things like balloons, streamers, party hats, and funny glasses. Have fun with it, stay within your budget, and don’t be afraid to call in reinforcements (your friends and family) to help you set everything up.
Outfit Inspo
Once you’ve got your place dressed up, it’s time to dress you up! While you can technically wear glitter and sequins any night of the year (it’s a free country, after all), New Year’s Eve is the one night where you have free license to step up your sparkle game.
Since you’re the one throwing the party, you’re the one who decides on the dress code. So if you want people to dress to the nines in their finest black tie attire or dress up for a 1920s-themed affair, go for it! Here are a few outfit inspirations and shopping recommendations:
Runaway The Label Gabourne Dress, $139
Superdown Claudia Sequin Denim Dress, $88
Babeyond Glitter Tiered Fringe Bias Hem Flapper Dress, $99
Abercrombie Fringe Mini Dress, $90
Party Duration: 8 p.m.-??
One of the hardest parts about hosting a party is deciding when to wind things down (a.k.a. kick people out). You know people are going to be staying until midnight at the earliest because, after all, what’s the point of having a New Year’s Eve party if you’re not going to count down to midnight and watch the ball drop?
But remember, it’s your house, your rules, so don’t be afraid to set a firm end time and stick to it. Try to give people a heads-up before the party that it will end at 12:30 or 1 a.m. or whatever time you want. Letting people know the party’s end time before it even starts will help people have a better idea of when they need to start wrapping things up.
Pro tip: Tell everyone the party is going to end 30 minutes before it actually ends. That way, you give yourself some buffer time for saying goodbyes and actually getting people out the door on time.
As for when the party starts? Again, that’s totally up to you! I would recommend not starting it too early because, again, people are going to be staying late. 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. would probably be my ideal start and end time.
Entertainment Options
Party games can help shake things up and encourage people to mingle more – especially with fellow partygoers they might not know very well. I’m always a fan of good old fashioned charades, but there a lot of fun games out there for you to choose from:
Charades (an oldie but a goodie)
Heads-Up, $2
Jenga, $16
Apples to Apples, $17
Telestrations, $32
If you’re not really into party games, that’s fine too! I’d still recommend having a good playlist at the ready. A quick search on Spotify for a “New Year’s Eve” playlist should do the trick, or you can really go above and beyond and create your own playlist – just make sure it’s long enough for the duration of the party. You could also queue up a few holiday-themed movies, and don’t forget to tune into the ball drop once it gets close to midnight!
One last idea for entertainment: Prior to the party, ask your guests to send you some pictures of their favorite memories throughout the year. Before your party starts, compile everyone’s photos into an album on your phone (add some of your own too!), then create a looping photo album that plays on your TV screen throughout the party. It’s a fun way for everyone to reflect on the last year, and it’s a great conversation starter (“Wow, I didn’t realize you went to Rome this year!”, “I love the dress you’re wearing in that picture, where’s it from?”, etc.).
Closing Thoughts
Hosting a party can be a lot of work, especially a New Year’s Eve party where you’re already exhausted from the chaos of the holiday season. If you do decide to take on hosting duties this New Year, hopefully, this list helps you get ideas, stay organized, and most importantly, have fun!
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