Weddings and New Year’s Eve parties both celebrate the possibilities of what a new day brings, and that is why so many couples choose to tie the knot on December 31. If you plan to walk down the aisle on New Year’s Eve, your guests will be in a party mood before they even arrive. However, making wedding arrangements during the festive season can be challenging. Here are nine tips that could help make your New Year’s Eve wedding a night to remember for you and your loved ones.
1. Early Planning Is Crucial
The holiday season is when party venues, DJs, bands, and limousine services are at their busiest. You may find it difficult to book a hall or arrange entertainment for your New Year’s Eve wedding if you don’t start planning your big day early enough. Although you may be able to get everything done in just a few months if you plan to marry on a day that is not a holiday, you should start making phone calls and meeting with vendors at least a year in advance if you want to walk down the aisle on December 31.
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2. Pick an Appropriate Wedding Theme
Getting married on New Year’s Eve will tell your guests that you want your big day to make a splash, so why not push the year out with a memorable wedding theme? New Year’s Eve parties are often black-tie affairs, so your guests are unlikely to object if you ask them to dress to the nines. New Year’s Eve is a time when people like to let their hair down and celebrate, so décor and costumes inspired by the Roaring 20s and Great Gatsby era could be a fantastic wedding theme idea.
3. Don't Assume Your Guests Have No Plans
Planning a New Year’s Eve wedding early will also give you a chance to let your guests know about your plans well in advance. Many people take vacations during the holidays to make the most of the extra time off work they receive and even more go on long road trips to celebrate the festive season with their families. Let your guests know about your New Year’s Eve wedding when the big day is fast approaching, so they can make plans to attend.
4. Expect to Pay More
Wedding bands, DJs, florists and catering facilities are all spoiled for choice during the holiday season, so their prices tend to go up. You won’t pay more for a wedding ring set if you get married on New Year’s Eve, but just about all your other wedding costs will probably be higher.
5. Be Prepared for Bad Weather
You likely won’t have to worry about a winter storm ruining your big day if you plan to hold a New Year’s Eve wedding in a state like Florida or California. But this is something that you will have to consider if you plan on walking down the aisle in the Northeast or Midwest where snow, ice and gale-force winds can close airports, delay flights and turn long-distance travel into an ordeal. Therefore, you may want to pick a date during a more temperate time of the year if many of your guests will be arriving by plane.
6. Have a Countdown Clock
Your big day will be a New Year’s Eve party as well as a wedding if you say “I do” on December 31, so you should have a countdown clock to let your guests know when to raise their glasses and sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Having a large digital countdown will add a dash of excitement and anticipation to the festivities, and the final chime of the clock that ushers in a new year would be the perfect time for a first marital kiss.
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7. Start the Party Late
New Year’s Eve parties start late because the celebrations don’t kick into high gear until midnight. If your wedding reception gets going during the early evening hours, your guests may be running out of steam when the countdown clock reaches zero. If you want your friends and family members to still be wide awake and ready to dance when the time comes to raise your glass and let the light catch your engagement ring, start the party late.
8. Hire a Wedding Planner
Planning an event during the holiday season can be frustrating. The DJ or band that you had your heart set on may already be booked. And florists and limousine companies may simply not have the time to answer your questions to address your concerns. Experienced event planners know all about these trials and tribulations, so hiring one could make the months leading up to your New Year's Eve wedding much easier and a lot less stressful.
9. Plan Arrangements for Your Guests
An experienced event planner could also help you make accommodation and transportation arrangements for your guests. The champagne tends to flow freely during New Year’s Eve celebrations, so you will want to have proper transportation to get everyone home safely.
A Night Like No Other
Holding your wedding reception on New Year's Eve will provide memories that you and your guests will cherish forever, so you'll never forget your anniversary. A New Year's Eve wedding could be difficult to plan and may be expensive, but the pros will outweigh the cons if you think ahead and start preparing early.