New Year’s Eve always brings excitement, cheer and also a little bit of stress. Do you want to go out for dinner and drinks and splash out on three times what you’d normally pay or do you want to keep it low key and invite a few friends over? If you’re lucky, you’re able to keep that guest list down to just your core circle but there are other times when you start with 10 and end up at 50! As much fun as the celebrations are, the planning can be a mammoth task and so we’ve created an entertaining guide specifically for NYE! With two versions, one for an intimate dinner party and one for a blow-out rager, you can decide which suits you more.





The Invite

This is step one in your party planning process. Creating the perfect invite is key to setting the tone and mood of your party.



Mini NYE

If you’re only inviting your closest friends and people you speak to on a daily basis you can easily get by with a WhatsApp message or group where you let people know what time to arrive and what they need to bring.

Mega NYE

For a larger event, you should ideally have something digitally created for your event which is in line with the theme you’ll be going with. Most NYE parties use black, gold, champagne and sparklers as themes which are enough to let people know that they will be attending a New Year’s bash. Ensure you include the timings, address and any other notes (BYOB, RSVP number, dress code, etc.) in your invite so people have everything they need in one place

Pace Yourself

Before any entertaining gig, there are a few things you need to keep a track of. Cleaning your home, prepping for food and drinks, cooking, creating a playlist and doing décor. All these things take time and we suggest creating a game plan of what you plan to do when.



Mini NYE

For an intimate gathering, you need to pay lots of attention to what people do and do not drink. Make sure you keep everyone’s preferences and allergies in mind before you plan your menu and bar list. Since it’s only a few friends, don’t waste your time messing around with fancy hors-d'oeuvres and focus more on the main course. You can always ask everyone to bring one appetiser and that way you’ll have all your bases covered. You won’t necessarily need a bartender so ensure you have enough plastic cups, ice, limes, plates, and napkins to make everyone feel comfortable.



Mega NYE

For a larger function, your planning needs to start much in advance. Book your caterer and bartenders at least a month in advance as this is a very busy time of the year. If you plan to do any décor, have this sorted out at least two weeks in advance. For anything over 30 people, a DJ becomes essential because as they say, too many hands will break your iPod! Ensure your caterers will be bringing everything you need from paper napkins to cutlery and then stock up on whatever they won’t be carrying.





The Event

Once your guests start to arrive and you get over your fear of no one showing up, this is your time to shine! Mingle with your guests and encourage them to do the same. Set up your bar at the furthest point in the room so that people spread out and talk to each other.



Mini NYE

For an intimate party, light candles and have soft music playing when guests walk in. Offer everyone a drink and take whatever they have brought into the kitchen. Feel free to spend some time setting up your appetizers if you have 3-4 guests who have already arrived. As the night goes on, plan for some party hats and sparklers at midnight followed by the popping of the champagne. Pull out your favourite retro hits and dance till sunrise!



Discern Tip: No time to prep for your party? Well, we have the perfect shopping list ready for you. Bring in some quirky and colourful crockery into your home decor, which you can keep all year around! These work as perfect conversation starters and leave a lasting impression.







1. Chrysanthemum Side Plate - Shop Now

2. Dome Fortune Grey - Shop Now

3. Autumn Candle Holder - Shop Now

4. Dove Centrepiece Candle Holder - Shop Now

5. Fiore - Shop Now

6. Flower Rectangular Stem Vase - Shop Now

7. Sunset Wine Drinking Glasses - Shop Now

Mega NYE

People are bound to show up much later for a big party so take your time to set things up. Chat with the bartenders and DJs to answer any questions they may have and to show them where things are. Once about 10 people have arrived, start passing out appetisers and at about 25 people you can get the bartender to hand out shots. Plan some sort of activity for midnight; this could be champagne, shots, a group photo or a special song to be played. People often need a reminder to leave on NYE, so start by passing out coffee and alka -seltzer to get the point across!



Discern Tip: If you are a person who loves being all glitzy and leaving an impression on your guests, invest in these intricate party essentials which will never go out of style and stay elegant and classy, creating magic in your space.