Kick off the New Year with a night of fun and frivolity.
The changing of the calendar year is a hugely popular occasion for a party. When planning a New Year's party of your own, consider having a masquerade ball. The origins of the masquerade ball can be traced to Renaissance-era Venice. Masquerades are, traditionally, formal dances where guests hide their identities behind masks. The historical connections to European aristocracy paired with the excitement of masked-anonymity give the masquerade ball an appeal that will make your next New Year's Eve party something to remember. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose a motif for the ball. The motif will decide almost all aspects of the event: dress, color scheme and even music. Masquerades originally were the pastime of the aristocracy, so you can't go wrong with formal dress. The formal dress could be Renaissance costumes or modern suits and cocktail dresses, with decor in black, white, gray and silver. Mardi Gras or Carnival are also good motif choices and call for outrageously sexy costumes and bright colors.
2. Choose a location for the ball. Renting a hall for New Year's Eve might take some hunting, but it's worth the trouble if you plan on having a lot of guests. A more intimate party can be easily held in an apartment or home and will be much cheaper. Even an outdoor dance floor in a large backyard will work for a "Dancing Under the Stars" motif.
3. Plan your evening's entertainment according to the motif. Whether you choose to have a live band, DJ or mix tape, the music must match the motif. For example, a formal dance in a ballroom should have portion of the night dedicated to classical music in the spirit of aristocratic role-playing. A Carnival theme allows for saucy party games like kissing booths.
4. Send out invitations a few months in advance. New Year's Eve is one of the busiest party times of the year. The earlier you spread the word about the party, the more likely you are to get a large turnout. Planning early also gives your guests a chance to prepare for the event. Invitations should give basic information like location, dress code and entertainment. Guests should be made aware their identities should remain secret if possible during the party as part of the fun.
5. Have plenty of hors d'oeuvres (snacks) and drinks for your guests. Food and drinks can be prepared at home and left out in self-service style, but a formal dance will benefit from a catering service tailoring the menu to your party's theme. Caterers can also offer bartending services.
6. Provide a clock for the countdown to midnight. A large grandfather clock with loud chimes can be the perfect centerpiece for a New Year's Eve party. A tradition for masquerades is that all guests remove their masks at midnight and reveal their identities to one another. This tradition coincides well with the the midnight greetings and kisses synonymous with New Year's Eve.
Tags: masquerade ball, their identities, Year party, formal dance, formal dress, your guests