The glitter dust has barely settled from Christmas, and here we are already gearing up for New Year’s Eve festivities this weekend. Are any of you braving the hosting duties this year? For me, NYE is always a bit last minute, and the key to throwing a festive bash is to focus on a few well-placed detail that will pack a major punch. Here to give us the 4-1-1 on throwing a glamorous fête to ring in 2016 is event stylist Michelle Edgemont. I’ve been a fan of Michelle’s fabulous punchy style for years, so I couldn’t be more excited that she finally launched a shop that features darling table decor and backdrops that reveal her past life as a textile designer in the fashion industry. She styled today’s table as a double date dinner party full of sparkle (don’t miss her own Dash Placemat Pads and the I’ll Drink To That Cocktail Napkins at each setting) and I asked her to spill her top 5 tips on throwing an intimate NYE soirée. Let’s dive in!
1. Space out the drinks. New Year’s Eve is a big night for drinking. Make sure your guests make it to midnight by spacing out the alcohol. Serve wine pairings for dinner, a port during dessert, and then the liquor after dinner is over. This way, no one will have too much to drink before the clock strikes midnight, keeping the party light and fun. 
2. Go all out on the tablescape. An intimate dinner party give you the opportunity to really go all out on a small table. Fill the center of the table with anything and everything that sparkles – tinsel, fringe, disco balls, and plenty of candles to add glow. Here I used a piece of polka dot mesh fabric as a table covering to add texture and pattern. Be creative! You can use any type of fabric as a tablecloth and your napkins don’t have to match.
3. Plan an activity. Keep the conversation going with a New Year’s Eve themed activity. The small guest count will allow for more personal, meaningful, and thoughtful conversation. Your close friends will cherish hearing about your 2015 memories and cheer you on for your 2016 goals.
4. Impress with the food. An intimate dinner party is the perfect chance to try those recipes that you’ve bookmarked that serve up to 6 people. Individually roasted cornish hens, personalized creme brûlées, and homemade raviolis are fun and manageable dishes to serve a close-knit group of friends. 
5. Get Crafty. See those black polka dot noise makers? They were originally rainbow colored stripes. I covered them in a patterned paper that would match the tablescape. With an intimate guest list, you can get elbow deep in a few crafty projects to make your decor visually cohesive. Once you know one or two items you definitely want to use (for me it was the Dash placemats from my shop and the polka dot table cover), purchase inexpensive props to fill in the table and the place settings that are easily covered in paper or spray painted to coordinate.
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle, and if y’all love the toppers on this table, be sure to hop over to Michelle’s shop for more goodies that’ll make your next party pop!
photos credit: Jessica Haley
