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New Year’s Eve is always a cause for celebration, so why not savour the merriment and get hitched on this special night?!
There’s no better way to ring in the new year than tying the knot with your special someone, but if you’re stumped for ideas, no worries! We’ve put together the ultimate guide filled to the brim with New Year’s Eve wedding ideas.
Let’s get cracking!
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New Year’s Eve Wedding Ideas: A Guide to Planning
New Year’s Eve is the most celebratory day/night of the year and therefore it is a no-brainer for those who want to indulge in the festivities and tie the knot.
From wedding venues to stationary ideas (and everything in between), we will help you draw up your New Year’s Eve wedding ideas for the perfect celebration.
Why Opt for a Winter Wedding?
Summer may be the renowned wedding season, but there is much charm to be found in a winter wedding too.
For starters, there is a good chance of snow, which makes for some SERIOUSLY stunning wedding photography. Also, because many happy couples favour the warmer months for their day, venues tend to be cheaper and more available in the wintertime.
Also, New Year’s Eve holds the benefit of being on the tail-end of Christmas, which often adds a nice festive touch to venue decor.
Finally – and possibly the most overlooked perk of a winter wedding – no humidity! This means you can rock the wedding hairdo of your dreams without the obligatory poofiness that comes with humid weather!
Photography by Wildling Weddings
New Year’s Eve Wedding Venues
So, first things first: although wedding venues tend to be cheaper in the winter, you may find some places whack up the prices for New Year’s Eve, owing to its association with all things shindig-related.
So, if the main reason you’re opting for a New Year’s Eve wedding is cost – be mindful that your venue may not be as wallet-friendly as you’d hoped. That said, your venue will be worth every penny as it is the foundation for all your wedding merriment.
Things to consider when looking at New Year’s Eve wedding venues:
● Availability. Be mindful that venues on New Year’s Eve get snapped up quick, so book yours plenty of time in advance. The same goes for the other factors of your day – caterers, DJ/band, celebrant/registrar, etc. New Year’s weddings are popular, so book everything as early as possible to avoid missing out.
● Be mindful of the location and the winter weather. Depending whereabouts in the world you are, ice and snow may be a hindrance for getting to the venue for both yourselves and your guests.
● Fireworks. Many couples like to celebrate with fireworks when the clock strikes 12, so if this is non-negotiable, make sure your venue has an outdoor area and that they have given permission to do so. Be mindful of the safety aspects too.
● Late licenses. If you plan on celebrating your big day well into the wee hours, you will likely need a venue that holds a late licence so the champers doesn’t stop flowing at 11 pm.
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New Year’s Eve Wedding Dress
New Year’s Eve weddings are all about celebrations and festivities and you’re probably going to want to mirror this in your wedding dress, no?!
This time of year is all about celebrating, so when it comes to your New Year’s Eve wedding dress and accessories, go all in with opulence. This means glitter, sequins, rich colours like red, gold, silver, etc., and bold jewellery and makeup. Aim to sparkle!
Choosing your New Year’s Eve wedding dress can be one of the most exciting parts of the process, so get planning now!
Photography by Wildling Weddings
How to get the BEST wedding photos – tell me where to send these tips!
New Year’s Eve Wedding Invitations
Your New Year’s Eve wedding invitations should match the glitzy nature of your wedding outfits, so think bold, celebratory colours like gold and silver with a black or midnight blue backdrop (for example).
Wedding invitations and RSVPs are an important part of the planning process mostly because they give you a firm idea of how many attendees you can expect on your big day.
But they’re also a great excuse to get creative and whip up some truly magical New Year’s Eve wedding invitations.
Whether you opt for a company to design them or wish to do it yourself, the sky’s the limit with snazzy ideas, and sites like Etsy and Pinterest are great sources of inspo.
New Year’s Eve Wedding Tips
To make sure you have a killer New Year’s Eve wedding, here’s some top tips to keep in mind:
Don’t Leave it Until the Last Minute
Whether you want a full-blown 100+ guest affair or a spur-of-the-moment elopement, don’t leave your New Year’s Eve wedding organising until the last minute.
As we mentioned earlier, venues and facilities get snapped up fast, so plan everything way in advance to avoid disappointment.
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Make Sure There’s Plenty of Champagne or Prosecco
There’s no point in having a New Year’s Eve wedding if you can’t dance the night away with at least one glass of bubbly in hand.
You and your guests are likely going to want to ring in the new year to the sound of champagne corks popping, so make sure everyone has a glass of fizz for when the clock strikes midnight.
Consider Having a Child-Free Wedding
Kids and midnight soirées rarely go hand-in-hand, so to avoid losing a handful of guests at 7 p.m. because their little-ones need tucking in, consider having a child-free wedding.
Having young children in attendance can often be a hindrance at any wedding (we’ve all been to at least one wedding when a tantrum has erupted mid-vows, right?!), so don’t feel guilty for wanting guests to leave the rugrats with the babysitter.
Have a Realistic Budget
Keep in mind that in most countries New Year’s Eve is a national holiday and therefore costs may be racked up – this includes everything from venues to labour (bar staff, waiting staff, photographer, officiator, etc.), so be mindful of this when planning your budget.
Give Guests Plenty of Notice
Be aware that many of us plan our New Year’s Eve shenanigans well in advance, so to avoid a disappointing turnout, give your guests as much notice as possible so they don’t double-book themselves.
Consider Hiring a Wedding Planner
Organising and making sure the day goes smoothly can be stressful and may even feel like a full-time job.
When it comes to the day itself, you want to enjoy yourself and relax through every second of it without worrying if the seating plan is correct or the wedding favours are sorted, so why not hire a wedding planner to do it for you?
Even if you’re opting for a smaller affair, like an elopement or micro-wedding, there are planning companies out there that will make sure your day is everything you want and more.
A Scottish New Year’s Eve Wedding
When planning your wedding or elopement, why not consider the magical country of Scotland for the location?
Scotland has some seriously incredible scenery and locations (fairytale castle, anyone?), and perhaps the best part is there are next to no rules about where you can get married – and that includes outdoors.
So, if you’ve always dreamed of saying ‘I do’ in front of a misty mountain or lovely loch – Scotland is the place for you.
Photography by Wildling Weddings
New Year’s Eve Wedding Ideas: FAQs
A New Year’s wedding is a great opportunity to tie the knot with your spouse and can be a fabulous way to ring in the New Year.
Also, for those who wish to opt for a winter wedding, it’s the ultimate choice of wedding time that won’t clash with Christmas festivities.
It’s wise to have your New Year’s wedding start later in the day if you wish to take full advantage of the clock striking midnight.
An earlier wedding may mean that you and your guests may be a little too pooped to wait until 12 am to fully celebrate your union.
Many of us love to celebrate the end of the calendar year/beginning of a new calendar year, so a New Year’s Eve wedding is the ultimate way to do that.
Also, most of us don’t have to work on New Year’s Day, so it’s a great opportunity for you and your guests to dance the night away without worrying about work the next morning!
Depending on which hemisphere you are in you may need to dress accordingly to the weather.
Typically, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it will likely be too cold for an outdoor ceremony, which generally means you can wear whatever frock/suit you want without worrying about shivering through the day!
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