Party tips: Hassle-free celebration.
Know your numbers
Take the guess work out of how many appetizers to make by doing a little simple math.
For a party lasting 2 to 4 hours, plan on 8 to 10 pieces per person. Longer parties lasting over 4 hours will require 12 to 14 pieces.
Most folks nibble the most during the first hour. Plan on guests eating 4 to 5 pieces each during the first 60 minutes.
After that, plan on 3 pieces per person per hour.
Separate and elevate
Separate food and beverage tables to avoid grazing traffic jams. Who wants to get bumped with a glass of champagne in hand?
Expecting a large number of guests? Consider setting up several food stations instead of just one.
People will enjoy mingling and investigating the goodies displayed throughout your home.
Use pedestal cake platters, cutting boards and even wrapped empty gift boxes to display and elevate various appetizer selections.
Cake pedestals work well to showcase tarts, cookies and other sweet treats.
Tag it
Guests like to know what they are eating. Make tags to identify appetizers. Use an online template or buy place cards at a party store.
End the “is this my wine glass?” game with some creative labeling.
Use inexpensive wax pencils to write guest names directly on a glass. Be a bit more creative and purchase wine glasses at a budget-friendly dollar store.
Tape off the stems of the glasses, leaving only the base exposed, place on newspaper and spray base with chalkboard paint. Let dry for 24 hours. Guests can use chalk to personalize their glass and keep it as a party gift.
Not that creative or short on time?
Party stores sell glass identifiers that easily slip around the base of a wine glass.
Create the mood
Music and lighting are almost as important as the food and drinks.
Dim the lights, put out some decorative candles and light the fireplace.
Add some decorative streamers, balloons, noise makers and sparkling tiaras and you’ve set the tone for a funfilled New Year’s Eve evening.
Create a fun and interactive music list. Try incorporating the top hits from the past 20 years.
Put the mix on shuffle and have your guests guess the year each song was No. 1. Award an inexpensive prize to the first person who knows the correct answer.
Remember to make the play list long enough to last several hours.
Volume should be low enough for your guests to chat and mingle but loud enough to create the right party vibe.
Know your sparklers
Champagne: Champagne comes only from the French region of the same name.
The premier New Year’s Eve sparkler, remember to stash a few bottles in the fridge, ready to pull out when the clock strikes midnight.
Prosecco: Fruitier than Champagne, this Italian sparkler is a terrific all-purpose sparking wine and available for all budgets.
Cava: The classic sparkling wine of Spain is made in the same method as Champagne.
Sparkling wine: Made throughout the world, sparkling wine is made with a variety of different grapes.