New Year’s Eve is one of the most highly anticipated nights of the year.

Unfortunately, the pressure to have the best night ever can be a bit too much! From terrible traffic to expensive parties that end up being boring, sometimes NYE just isn’t all we hope it will be.

Hosting your own NYE bash is a great way to avoid the drag of a disappointing night out. Here are our tips for throwing a New Year’s Eve party at home.

Have a signature drink

Toast to 2019 with a signature party drink. Champagne is generally the drink of choice on NYE, but you can also design a  unique cocktail to suit your tastes. You can even place a festive stirrer into the glasses for a glitzy touch. If you’re partying on a budget, have one signature drink for each guest to raise at midnight and request BYOB for the rest of the libations.

Set up a photo-booth with props

Capture memories with a DIY photo-backdrop: a garland of gold cut-out stars, or a wall of metallic tassels. Provide accessories for your guests to pose with such as empty champagne bottles, chalk signs with festive slogans, or fun costume pieces. Snap away with a Polaroid™ camera so you can print the keepsake photos immediately.

Share memories and resolutions

For a party game, ask each guest to share a favourite memory from 2018 and a resolution for 2019. This is a great way to get the conversation flowing, encourage gratitude for the year behind, and kick-start motivation for the year ahead.

Serve snacks

There’s no need to cook a big meal for your guests, especially if the gathering will take place around midnight. Think cocktail party and serve lighter fare that they can nibble on between conversations.

Put together a great playlist

Nothing says party like the right music. Create a celebratory atmosphere with the best upbeat anthems of 2018, or select songs that you know will get everyone dancing. Make sure you have an appropriate song lined up for midnight so you can start 2019 with a banger.

Happy party planning, and Happy 2019!

Sources: Brit + Co, Gimme Some Oven, Money Talks News, One Kings Lane, Architectural Digest, Food Network, Buzzfeed, and Premeditated Leftovers