New Year’s Eve. A chance to party like it’s 1999, or like it’s 2012 and the world may be ending on December 21st. So what to do on this much-celebrated holiday? If you want to spice up your night, you could host a party of your own to ring in the New Year. While it may seem just as simple as sending out a group text to all your friends, the kind of hostess you are can make or break your event.
This may have not happened since the eighth-grade party your mom planned, but think about mailing out real invitations. It’s a special touch that isn’t often done but will be much appreciated, and is much more personal than the typical Facebook invite.
To make your party even more memorable, fill your home with fun decorations. New Year’s is a perfect time to go with the tried and true sparklers, balloons, and a champagne and white color theme. Place candles all around your house or apartment to create an ambiance, and put your old decorated Christmas ornaments to good use by placing them in a glass bowl for a centerpiece. Give your guests noisemakers or confetti to throw after the countdown to the New Year and things like party hats or glasses to make for more interesting pictures.
As your guests arrive, make sure to talk to each one within the first five minutes to make them feel welcome. Introduce people that don’t know each other and let your guests know where the food, drinks, and bathroom are.
One of the most important jobs of a host is to keep your guests safe. New Year’s Eve is known as the holiday where people may have just a little too much to drink, and as a host you can be held responsible. Many states have “social host” laws that will hold you liable if you allow an inebriated guest to drive home. Take keys, allow partygoers to sleepover, or cut people off to make sure you’ll be celebrating when the clock strikes twelve.