Brainstorming New Years Eve party ideas begins with making a simple decision: does one want to be the host, the guest, or the party-goer? The host becomes the party planner and needs to make a lot more decisions, including the guest list, the menu, and activities. If she doesn't want to have the event in her home, she will also need to come up with a suitable venue.
A guest also has responsibilities once he has been invited to attend a gathering. A party-goer, for the purposes of this article, is someone who chooses to attend an organized event. This may be a gala and silent auction sponsored by a not-for-profit organization with proceeds going to a specific charity or a group of charities. Or it may be ticketed event held at a hotel or nightclub. Perhaps it will be a free to the public community tradition such as the annual street party and dropping of the ball at New York City's Time Square. An innovative idea for celebrating the holiday in style is to book reservations on one of the several New Years Eve cruises promoted by traditional cruise lines and smaller tourist-type boating companies.
Traditional cruises may last a couple of days or much longer. When at sea over the New Year holiday, these lines go overboard to make the countdown to midnight even more special than the regularly scheduled evening activities. Perhaps the cruise line will offer complimentary cocktail toasts or prepare even more spectacular foods for the menu. Many water-front cities offer New Years Eve cruises that last only a few hours. For example, Big Apple residents can watch the city's fireworks while sailing the Hudson River. In Chicago, boats depart from the famous Navy Pier. From Nashville, showboat cruises float along the Cumberland River. The price per person for these unique parties varies depending on the amenities that are included with the trip. A discount is usually given for booking early, but even then the cost will probably be at least $100 and may be as high as $300 or even more. The party-goer can count on food and entertainment. Lower-priced trips usually offer hors d'oeuvres or a buffet and a DJ. Higher-priced trips may have a four-course dinner and a live band. Other amenities may include a photo when boarding, disposable cameras, party favors, and noisemakers. An open bar is practically a given, whatever the price. Some boat trips require that all guests be over the age of twenty-one and may require a valid form of identification, such as a driver's license.
Going on one of the New Years Eve cruises is as simple as making a reservation over the phone or through the internet. After the decision is made on which particular cruise to book, all the party-goer needs to do is decide what to wear. Fancy formal wear is usually required, meaning suits for the men, perhaps even tuxes for the higher-priced galas, and sparkles for the ladies. Hosting an event takes a lot more preparation. As the host and hostess discuss New Years Eve party ideas, they'll need to think about the type of event to have. Will the event be held at their home or at a different location? Will it be for adults only or will children be included? Will there be a theme? What foods will be served and what activities will be selected?
Hosting an adults-only event at a location such as a restaurant or hotel ballroom means that the hosts can enjoy spending time with their guests with less worry about preparation. The menu will be taken care of by the restaurant or the hotel's catering staff. Music, whether a DJ or a live band, can be booked for dancing and the playing of the sentimental midnight favorite, Auld Lang Syne. Clean-up is a breeze since the staff will take care of it. A cozier, more intimate gathering can be held at the hosts' home. The food can be as elaborate as hiring a personal chef or catering company or as simple as ordering pizza with a lot of choices in between the two. A potluck is a great way to get guests involved in the party planning. The hosts may decide on a theme for the event and the menu will be tied to that. Perhaps the theme will be a pajama party with a midnight breakfast, or could be based on a popular movie with guests dressing up as their favorite characters.
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