new years eve

The Pros and Cons of a New Year’s Eve Wedding

Getting married on New Years Eve (NYE) has a certain appeal to it. Think The Great Gatsby with opulence, champagne towers, glitter and even fireworks!

In short, it’s guaranteed to be a huge party that has the potential to be truly memorable and if that’s something you want for your wedding, then it is well worth considering it.

However, there are potential pitfalls, not least of which is a spiralling budget as costs will invariable be higher.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day plans, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

 

Pros

Family Will Be Off

Generally speaking friends and family will be off work for the festive season and most will also have New Year’s Day off too, which means you could have a relaxed brunch or lunch the following day with your guests.

 

Memorable Anniversary

It might sound ludicrous to you now, but after you’ve been married a few years, you might occasionally forget your anniversary. But if it coincides with NYE, then you’re likely never to forget it again, plus you’ll hopefully both be off work and free to celebrate every year.

 

There Will Be A Party Feel

Because it’s NYE, there will already be a huge sense of party in the air. You can expect your venue or hotel to be buzzing that evening with a high possibility of other functions or events going on, unless your venue is a bespoke location.

 

The Glam Factor

If you are a total bling, glitter bug, then getting hitched on NYE is the ideal day because you can take your passion to the max, more than any other time of the year!

 

Cons

More Expensive

Generally speaking most weddings on NYE will see a hike in costs. This includes venue hire, staff time for working on NYE, as well as other vendors.

 

Expectations are High

On NYE, there are expectation of a bigger bash, i.e. perhaps involving something like a fireworks display a midnight, special favours, décor or extras such as photobooths etc.? It is something to bear in mind and can add to the inflating of the budget

 

Long Standing Plans

At this time of year people can have long standing plans or even family traditions such as going away for NYE and that means it will be difficult for them to change it. Make sure to let them know well in advance or do a check of the key people before you book.

 

Losing the Bespoke Feel

Because it’s NYE your wedding will lose some of its personal identity as you’ll be sharing the day with another occasion. Even if your venue has a one wedding a day policy, there is likely to still be festivities of some sort which might distract from your wedding day.

 

Images via Pinterest 

 

 

Great Gatsby Themed Wedding

Getting married around the time between Christmas and New Year’s is becoming increasingly popular with couples for a number of reasons. Rates and availability can be much more favourable, as well as the fact that many people are already off during that time or indeed home if they live or work abroad, so they should be able to freely attend the big day.

If you are getting married around this time, especially on New Year’s Eve itself, then consider giving the day a theme, as at this time of year weddings are crying out for a theme like no other time. In particular, a Great Gatsby style theme is hugely popular, thanks to the recent Baz Luhrmann film adaptation of the classic book, that brought the lavish opulence of the story to life in vivid colour. The gold, the glitz, the glamour and the lavishness of the Great Gatsby is a match made in heaven for New Years’ Eve and with a few small steps using the best of art deco décor, you can transform your reception into a party Daisy and Gatsby would be proud of.

If you’d like to get in touch to discuss how I can help plan any aspect of your day, then please get in touch.

 

Invites
Start how you mean to go on and send your guests an elegantly designed invite with a nod to the Gatsby era. Look out for fan details, golds, black, deco fonts and laser cuts to let your guests know what to expect in terms of your theme. Also don’t be afraid to let them know if you want them to dress in the 20s era attire, or even black tie.

 

Attire
If you really want to bring the theme to life, then don’t be shy about bringing it through into your attire. For the brides this means looking for 20s style dresses with their unique fit and shape, as well as Juliet caps or sparkly headbands. Don’t forget the bridesmaids and think about fan style embellishments as well as daring golds or black to contrast your dress. For the grooms, think pocket watches and bow ties or have them go all out in a white tux. Finally, why not leave top hats and flapper style head bands and feathers for your guests to enjoy as favours.

 

Cake & Champagne
It wouldn’t be Gatsby without champagne or some kind of bubbly drinks, so why not serve you guests some bubbles in retro glasses on arrival? Think about dipping the rims in edible glitter and have fizzy drink versions for the kids. When it comes to the cake, think about Rockefeller inspired art décor designs to really channel the theme.

 

Table Décor
This is where you can get really creative. The era and the film were defined by pearls, feathers, glitter and glam, so think about incorporating those elements into your table. Why not go for a feather centrepiece instead of flowers, or use glitter table clothes? The contrast of black and gold works really well too.

 

Photo Props
Finally don’t forget your pictures! There’s no point in going to all that effort to channel the Gatsby theme on the day if it’s not reflected in your photographs, so make sure to have some related props on standby. Have the guests throw glitter and sparkles and have some streamers ready for an action shot and if your budget and venue allows it, fireworks would be the Gatsby style icing on the cake and perfect for the chimes at midnight!