Book Early

When planning a wedding on New Year's Eve you must book the venue, officiator, caterer, wedding cake designer, photographer and DJ as soon as possible. Flexibility is key, including backup plans if your preferred venue or vendors are already booked. In some venues, a New Year's Eve reservation must be made a year or more in advance. It's also not unusual for wedding vendors to be booked a year ahead. If you haven't made a decision on a location, a hotel ballroom provides a wedding and reception area and, with advance reservations, rooms for your guests so they can safely rest after the wedding festivities.

Glittering Gold and Silver

New Year's Eve is a time to flaunt the bling. Bridesmaids dressed in glittering gold or silver gowns, groomsmen in black suits, white dress shirts and matching metallic ties, and the bride and groom in sparkling white make a memorable sight for family and friends. Wrap the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets in gold or sliver lame or tie them with metallic ribbons. Encourage the guests to wear jewel-toned cocktail dresses or gowns and sparkling dancing shoes, so everyone can dance away the old year and bring in the new.

Dress the Venue

Wrap pillars in the ballroom with metallic garlands and twinkle lights. Hundreds of helium-filled metallic balloons floating overhead reflect the light of the spinning disco ball. Dress the tables in gold or silver lame layered over crisp white tablecloths. Gold stars and confetti scattered around a clear cylindrical vase filled with gold glass micro marbles and topped with a pillar candle provide glimmering light at the tables. Use gold chargers and white serving bowls and plates on the buffet, scattered amid the chafing dishes, for breads, butter, fruits and condiments. Be sure to provide non-alcoholic punch, water and sodas for guests who don't imbibe.

Perfect Timing

To ensure the wedding kiss falls precisely at midnight, careful timing is necessary. While a close friend or relative may be up to the task, a professional wedding planner keeps the wedding on track, coordinating the bride and groom's appearance, the officiator's timing during the ceremony and the final announcement to "kiss the bride." A shower of confetti or rose petals and a serenade of noisemakers signifies the end of the old year and single life and the beginning of married life together.