New Year’s Eve has always been a popular date for weddings. After all, the two occasions have lots in common, with both involving dressing up to the nines, dancing, and celebrating with friends and family. However, planning a New Year’s Eve wedding isn’t always easy. Not only it is likely to be more expensive than at other times of the year but you can expect some of your guests to be unavailable. Here are 5 top tips for planning a wedding on New Year’s Eve.
Book your suppliers ASAP
Since December 31st is such a popular date for events, it makes sense to book your suppliers right away. You’ll not only be competing with other weddings but NYE parties of all sizes too. Suppliers get booked up extremely quickly, so it’s important to hire their services as soon as possible. To avoid the stress of securing your desired vendors, consider hiring a wedding planner who can take care of everything for you.
Plan your timeline carefully
A New Year’s Eve wedding isn’t the same as other weddings. Whilst it’s acceptable for the party to tail off before midnight on other dates, this isn’t the case on December 31st. You need to adjust your timeline so that celebrations are in full swing when the clock strikes midnight. We recommend starting your ceremony at 7 pm, with cocktails soon after at 8 pm. Serve dinner early on, with potentially a late-night snack to keep your guests fuelled until the early hours.
Provide transportation for your guests
If you’ve ever tried getting a cab on New Year’s Eve, you’ll understand why providing transportation for guests is such a good idea. Hiring a party bus to shuttle them to and from your venues is one option. Or if you want to add a little more class and elegance, why not opt for a stretch limo? Providing transport will ensure that your friends and family get to your wedding on time!
Budget for extra costs
A New Year’s Eve wedding can be more expensive than at other times of the year. This is largely because the demand for venues and suppliers is so much higher. You can expect to pay more for caterers, DJs, photographers and transportation. So, take this into account when planning a wedding on New Year’s Eve and make sure you budget accordingly. The last thing you want is for those extra costs to sneak up on you once your planning is well underway.
Check if décor is built-in
One common mistake made by couples planning NYE weddings is assuming that the décor will come part and parcel with the venue. Whilst this may sometimes be the case, it’s not always. The foyer and hallways may be decked out for the festive season, however, event spaces are unlikely to be decorated. Talk to the planner at your chosen venue and find out what you can expect.
For top NYE wedding venues in Essex, look no further than Crondon Park. Celebrate your special day in style at one of the finest hotels in the UK.