Category

Party Tips

Category

In August of 2012 I was fortunate enough to get to help my friends Alishia and Ryan with their beautiful wedding. I posted a few sneak peek photos from my camera a while back. I’m excited to finally be able to share some of the wedding photos (from the photographer) and the process behind the event! Check back tomorrow for the full {real party} post— today I want to focus on the process of before and after. I hope that if you are planning a  DIY wedding some of these tips can help you with the process.

There is nothing quite like a fabulous, last minute party. I love planning out a party as much as any party-obsessed person out there. But, sometimes, I decide at the last minute that I want to throw a shin-dig and I pull out some items from my party closet, print off some free printables, use my home (and holiday) decor items, and whip together a few easy recipes (or have people bring some food items). There is NO reason you can’t throw a fabulous, inexpensive New Year’s Eve bash…. even if you didn’t decide to do it until TODAY! Check out these easy tips (and beautiful photos) on how to throw a festive NYE event in just two days.
This post is super image heavy with beautiful photos from Motormouth Studios. This party was first featured on Pizzazzerie.com.

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #1:

Use your home decor and your holiday decor to round out your party decor! Take out those few items that are SUPER Christmasy and leave out the pretty baubles that fit with your color scheme. All metallics work great for NYE! The lovely home decor pictured above is from the home of Adi from Garden of Edlen.

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #2:

Make super easy appetizers and treats that don’t require a lot of prep time or cook time. OR have guests contribute by bringing some treats. Check out The Spicy Bee and Fork & Vine for some recipe ideas!

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #3:

Glam up your service and dinnerware with some super easy DIY tricks. Check out the Festive Appetizer Plate Upgrade and the Easy DIY Food Platters tutorials for some fast and easy ways to upgrade your party!

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #4:

Serve one or two signature drinks and then add in some sparkling water, soda, and champagne to even out your drink selection. The champagne ice above has frozen carnations in the ice! The Rosemary Bliss Cocktail was a fresh and delicious way to start a new year!

 

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #5:

Use free printables to upgrade your party and set it apart! Check out my free NYE printables!

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #6:

Have fun with New Year’s Eve traditions… such as, the midnight kiss! We set out a bowl of kisses and told guests “Don’t Wait for Midnight!” We also set out a bowl of chapsticks and mints for guests to get “Kiss Ready!”

 

Quick New Year’s Eve Party Tip #7:

Have fun!! Fun is absolutely contagious. Even if you didn’t get EVERYTHING you wanted to get done finished… enjoy your party and enjoy welcoming the New Year. Your guests will certainly enjoy themselves more if you are leading the way in having a good time!

 


If you liked this post then check out these posts from the same party feature!
Savory Chevre Balsamic Chips
This past week I featured tons of NYE party DIYs and Tips from this mock-party,
first featured on Pizzazzerie.com!
A BIG thank you to my NYE party collaborators— 
Check out their blogs!
Photography: Macey of Motormouth Studios
Event Styling: ME! of A Well Crafted Party
Menu: Bee of The Spicy Bee and Kate of Fork and Vine
Venue Styling: Adi of Garden of Edlen
Model Styling: Sarah of The Confessions of a Product Junkie
Models: Sarah, Carter, Kate, Will, Adi, Matt, Kayla of Fit Life Forward and Suzannah of Adventures in Dressmaking

 
For the past two years my friend Joan and her husband Brandon have used Alton Brown’s Power Pepper trick to pepper our potatoes. They are always in charge of the turkey and the mashed potatoes each year… and, while they loved the taste of fresh ground pepper, they hated how much effort it took to grind enough pepper to properly pepper the potatoes.
Then… they saw Alton’s trick of attaching a drill to a pepper grinder and never looked back! They took the lid of the pepper grinder off and attached their drill to the rod that spins the grinder. Then, holding the grinder firmly in one hand, they pushed power. Not only did everything get properly peppered… but, they got to play with power tools in the kitchen. WIN WIN.