How to Host a New Year’s Eve Party: Cocktails & Treats Ideas
This really is the season that keeps on giving! Once the delights of Christmas Day are over, we can start looking forward to the last party of the year, and also the biggest! Party enthusiasts unite, grab your (eco-friendly) glitter, hang the sparkly decorations, get the playlist set and the party streamers primed. Here are some amazing NYE party theme ideas to help you see the year out with a bang!
From dazzling decorations to delicious treats and celebratory cocktails, we've gathered all the information, tips and tricks you'll need to throw an absolutely amazing New Year's Eve party! Thrill your friends, and wow your family by throwing the best party of the year and making the countdown unforgettable!
The deliciousness is in the details
First, although the date might be obvious, you want to give your guests all the details they need to attend your NYE party. Once you have your guest list sorted, make sure to send out your invitations well in advance - December 31st is a busy day, so the more time you give your guests to plan and prepare, the better.
It's up to you when you want your party to start but remember that this party will definitely be going on past midnight! Considering this, around 8 pm is a fair time to get the party started. This gives everyone enough time to arrive, mingle, enjoy the party spread and get ready for the big countdown. It's a good time because it allows your NYE party to naturally build up to the climax of the big countdown. Still, it can be fun to plan some activities for earlier in the evening to keep your friends and family entertained. This is an excellent way to keep the energy up - after all, this is the season of celebrations, and you want yours to be memorable!
For the invitations, you can go fancy with some sparkly traditional physical invites or save paper and send digital ones. Whichever you decide to send, make sure to include the essential details: date, time, location, dress code (if you want to set one), and anything else your guests might need to know.
Wow your party guests with a welcome NYE cocktail
Welcome your friends and family with a classic Baileys cocktail. Sophisticated with a sweet twist, shake up some Baileys Espresso Martini Cocktails. The espresso will help perk up your guests so they're awake for the big countdown to midnight! And, if you're not an espresso fan, you can make these with instant coffee, they will be just as delicious! If you have guests coming who aren’t big coffee fans, no problem – pick out the perfect New Year’s Eve cocktail for your party from our utterly delicious, incredibly indulgent Baileys cocktail recipes. Celebration drinks, sorted!
A bit short on coffee liqueur? Worry not, this Espresso martini cocktail recipe uses freshly brewed espresso, or even instant coffee if it’s all you’ve got!
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Set the stage with sparkles
New Year's Eve is all about shiny things! Deck your halls with glitter, metallics and an array of sparkles - you can make your own decorations too! Gold, silver, and black are classic NYE colours, but it's your party, and you can pick whichever colours you like most - just make sure they sparkle! Use glitter confetti to scatter across your tables, hang shimmering curtains for your guests to enter through, make some sparkling table centrepieces and if you want to really wow, use indoor sparklers!
To get everyone in the NYE mood, try to have a clock centre stage - you can use your normal wall clock and hang some decorations around it, or you can go all out and project a digital one onto a wall. The main thing is that everyone has something to focus on when the big countdown starts.
A fabulous feast
The Christmas season is a time of feasting, so by New Year's Eve, lots of people have had their fill of big meals! With this in mind, a charcuterie spread is the best option to feed your guests. This leaves everyone free to graze on as much or as little as they feel like. You can fill a table with a selection of cheese, fruit, sliced meat and any nibbles you have left from Christmas. Remember to provide some sweet treats, too - take a look at our Baileys Dessert Recipes for all the sweet inspiration you need.
And to drink, make it fancy!
Could a drink be any more suited to a New Year's Eve party than a Baileys Sparkler Hot Chocolate? We think not! Chocolate, marshmallow, and whipped cream, all topped off with indoor sparklers. It's perfect and will leave a lasting impression on your guests. You can also make a non-alcoholic version of this impressive tipple!
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Suppose you have some chocoholics coming to your New Year's Eve celebrations. If that’s the case, a Baileys Mocha Martini is the perfect cocktail to serve. It's an espresso martini with an extra chocolate twist and a fabulous way to see in the New Year.
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Keep your party guests refreshed by mixing up some pitchers of fancy flavoured water. The possibilities are almost endless here - you can make a fruity one with muddled berries and slices of citrus fruits, grapefruit works really well, and a fresh one with cucumber and sprigs of mint. Chop up all your fruits beforehand and keep them in the fridge so it’s easy for you to refill them throughout the evening.
Entertainment for everyone
To keep your guests entertained, you can set up a photo booth with a selection of sparkling props for your guests to take some memorable pictures throughout the evening – you and your guests can even create some countdown to midnight photos.
If you and your friends enjoy trivia, then you can plan a New Year's Eve-themed quiz. Include questions about the past year and give the winner either a small prize or the honour of leading the NYE countdown!
Now you should have all you need to throw the best party of the year, so have a very, very Happy New Year!