New Year’s Eve is quite possibly the biggest event of the year, and you want to plan it right to ensure it will become an unforgettable one for all your guests. It’s a great time to spend the last moments of the year with your nearest and dearest as you say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. Throwing the perfect New Year’s Eve party can help make the celebrations even more special, so when your guest list is complete, it’s time to ensure everyone has a delicious tipple and nibble for when they’re entering the new year. 

Munchie our company mascot has become the forefront of the company guiding our community in the right direction when they need some help with creating the most special memories with cheese. This time he’s back to help you throw the perfect New Year's Eve party. Let’s pass it over to Munchie Mouse! 

Hey, foodies! I understand you are looking to create the perfect New Year’s Eve party? You’ll be glad to know that I am in fact the mastermind when it comes to celebrating, many would agree I am an extreme party animal with cheesy tricks up my sleeve. But we’ll talk about these tricks at a later time, let’s get started on creating a wonderful New Year’s Eve party. 

Begin the guest list 

It’s not a party unless there are guests. You’ll need to consider who you want to invite to your party and how many should come. This will then tell you how much room you will need, the costs of drinks, food, and other essentials such as music systems, and decorations! 

The number of guests really determines the type of party you are looking to create. Inviting fewer people can help you keep the cost of the party low, and let you connect better with your guests for a more intimate vibe. 

But if you have a larger guest list you will need to make sure there’s enough room for people to move around as we do not want anyone hurting themselves! Keeping your guests happy and safe is your priority. 

Think of the location

So, you have created your guest list and now you need a great place for everyone to attend. Somewhere with enough space to prevent tight areas (as we all know how frustrating it can be when there’s not enough room for dancing), and somewhere that’s easily accessible for guests!

The best money-saving choice is to host at your own home, or if there’s not enough room, maybe find a co-host if they have space. This means there will be no admission charges or rent to pay. However, if you have a lot of guests, it may be more beneficial to rent a hall or even a club, just remember to consider all costs that are included in renting out a venue. 

Decide when you want your guests to arrive and leave 

Once you know who your guests are, and where you will host the party you can begin to plan the party schedule. You’ll need to consider when you want your guests to begin arriving and when you will expect them to leave. Ensure there’s enough time for your to prepare before the party is scheduled to begin, especially if you are working the same day. There’s nothing worse than having to rush around, that’s a recipe for disaster. 

Things to know 

• Not all New Year’s Eve parties need to run late, you can end the party whenever you like. 

• If your guests are staying late, you should be prepared to offer them a bed or somewhere to sleep for the night. If not, ensure they get home safely by calling them a cab. 

Send the invitations

Make sure the invitations are looking lively, and make sure to write down the date, time and venue of the party so everyone knows when and where to be. Ensure you write down any necessary items they should bring, such as food or drink. Maybe ask the recipient to contact you if they have any allergies so you can cater to any specific dietary requirements. 

Planning the party 

To ensure each guest is taken into consideration when planning your party you might have to adjust your food table to suit their dietary requirements. You might need to think about all ages like children, teens and adults as each age group might have different preferences than the other. Take some time to review your guest list to make sure everyone is catered for at your party.

• If children are coming, be sure you have things they would enjoy. Why not leave out a video game or other fun activities for them? 

• Maybe think about the types of food, drink and music all your guests might like. For example, your guests might not have the same taste in music so maybe create a playlist from different genres and eras. With food and drink, pick things you think everyone would agree on. 

Think about what food and drink

Before you throw your New Year’s Eve party, you will need to think about how you are going to handle food and drink. You might want to choose to offer all your guests something you would like with slight additional nibbles for them to enjoy too. To make things much easier you might want to add to the invitations that they should bring their own food if they’re picky. This can help cut down on costs for the entire party and they will be happier by bringing their own rather than you choosing for them! 

Think about the timings for desserts and sweet treats, if you leave a cake out too long it might become stale and it will not be pleasant. Keep your desserts fresh by leaving them in the fridge until it’s time to indulge. Plus, it builds anticipation. 

Plan out activities

A party would not be complete without something to do, so it can be a good idea to tell your guests what they can expect to be doing during the party. Give them the option to participate or not, some people might be too shy to take part in something and by giving them that option they will be very appreciative.

Most New Year’s Eve parties are centred around the midnight countdown, although, you can plan whatever fun activities you like, especially, if children and young teens are coming to your party. 

Here are a few ideas to help you get started…

• Plan an evening of music, possibly a karaoke to get everyone involved. 

• You might want to consider a fun board game for your guests to play together. 

• Maybe look into a party that features a fun competition. For example, the best-dressed guest or couple could win a prize. 

• Make sure you tell your guests what activities they can expect in the invitations. Especially if you’re planning something like fancy dress! 

Send out invitations 

Once you’ve planned the guest list, location, the schedule, you can begin to create and send out the invitations. The invitations will list all the information about the party and will let your guests know that they’re welcome. Here are a few methods to begin sending invitations. 

• By post 

• By email 

• Using social media 

• Phone call

Setting everything up 

Almost every party has a range of drinks for all the guests to choose from. Think about what kind of beverages you would like to offer, this all depends on your guest’s preferences. Start by thinking about what your friends and family would like to drink and, this will help you decide what to get for everyone else! 

• Always provide water for your guests. 

• Most adults will enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Why not provide some beer, wine, or maybe gin for your guests!

• Ensure you have tea and coffee, as some guests might enjoy a warm drink. 

• If there are children coming, you might want to have some juice or milk ready. Maybe some Oreos to dunk too! 

• To make life easier, you can also ask your guests to bring their own drinks for a little of what they fancy. 

Offering the food at the right times 

Nearly all parties will offer some kind of food to guests. The type of food will depend on how many people will be coming, and the length of the party. You could choose to make meals or offer snacks, or a buffet depending on what you think is best for your guests. You might want to do both, just remember this might be time-consuming and you need to have time to enjoy the party too!

Here’s a couple of ideas: 

• A simple snack tray, for example, a small cheese platter with crackers, fruit and chutney. 

• You might want to make a meal for everyone. Think about it, New Year’s Eve is during the winter, keep your guests warm with a big pot of soup or stew. This would feed everyone at once. 

• To save hassle, why not ask your guests to bring something of their own! 

Provide tableware & cutlery

Food and drink are a big part of the party, you’ll need to give your guests a way to enjoy them. Also, give yourself the opportunity to save yourself all the washing the next day! Providing things like paper plates, napkins, plastic cups, and cutlery is the way forward. Once everyone is done, just throw it in the bin to save washing up the next day. Ensure you have enough in case someone loves more than a nibble or tipple. 

Lastly, enjoy the party 

Now, your party is in full swing all you have to do is enjoy it with all of your friends and family before the countdown to the New Year. Don’t forget to enjoy the music and celebrate with cheers, after all, you have created the perfect New Year’s Eve party! There’s nothing better than enjoying a party with your nearest and dearest, especially at New Year’s. Just like Christmas, it’s something special. Enjoy!

Merry Cheesemas, and Happy New Year. Love from, Munchie Mouse.