New Year’s eve wedding

I just attended a NYE wedding. The ceremony was at 7 and lasted about half an hour. There was a first dance and a cake cutting but no bouquet toss or anything. Unfortunately it was also a cash bar, and the crowd thinned so much that the whole thing was over by 10:30.

My daughter was planning a New Years Eve wedding. Prices are higher, as really no one wants to work a wedding on New Years Eve. Realize that everything, and I mean everything will be more, you will need more alcohol as its a party, the party will continue until at least 2 as it is New Years Eve. Also, hotel room blocks are difficult and expensive as its a holiday. Also, some of your guests may not attend as it is New Years. If you wish to have a adults only event it is sometimes difficult to obtain babysitters for this holiday. Look into everything, talk to your VIPS, and if this is what you want and can afford go for it. It is YOUR wedding.

I would think a later ceremony would be better because I’m guessing you want guests to stay through the new year. If you have the ceremony too early many will leave before that. With doing so late though I would stick to heavy hor d’ouvres diring cocktail and reception because I think 9 is too late for a full meal. Also it’s a big drinking holiday so you will want a full open bar for the duration or people will leave like PP said.

View Quoted Comment Oh wow that’s actually pretty sad that it ended that early.. is there a thing where any actually does their reception first and then the ceremony last so you can do the kiss at midnight when the pastor says you may kiss the bride? my fiancé is wanting something g like that but i’m not sure if people are willing to stay that late for the ceremony..

View Quoted Comment I actually have ran into a lot of venues over charging for this event since like you said it is a holiday.. but i have found a few that don’t charge extra and are decently priced i have my own caterer and providing the alcohol cause people do up they’re prices lol and it’s not a adult only as to every guest invited have children as well as myself we have 3 kids together. lol

View Quoted Comment Yess agreed LaraLouM, that’s actually a good idea!

View Quoted Comment Agreed thank you so much for the advice! i’m freaking out on everything and i still have til the end of the year for it all lol but having it on a holiday they like to have things booked within a year

View Quoted Comment

I have to try really hard most years to stay awake until midnight. If that's just when things are getting going I personally couldn't make it very far into the reception before turning into a pumpkin.

I agree that you will need top shelf liquor (open bar) and a smokin' band or top drawer DJ - people will miss a NYE party to attend your wedding. A ceremony could start at 7 then go till 1 or so. Things will be more expensive as it is NYE.

Your level of hosting must be up to the level of New Years Eve. That would be open bar, late night snacks, kick ass DJ, great food, and lasting until at least 1 am.

Somebody on WW just shared a BAM of a NYE wedding, and it sounded amazing and extremely fun! They did a great job hosting, and had quite a crowd with them still at midnight.

The ceremony ending at midnight with your kiss is not going to work. It is too late for anything but a party and you are hosting on a night that everyone is supposed to enjoy (i.e. I would want to kiss my FH at midnight, too!). As others have said, you just have to take it up a notch in terms of hosting. I personally wouldn't consider anything other then black tie for a NYE wedding but it should be formal, I personally think you should have a plated dinner, you need LOTS of champagne and more alcohol in general than if you were hosting another night. As long as you have a great band (or DJ - but I would definitely do a band if I were you), lots of booze, and great food, people will stay. Are you in a metro area? I would also consider opening a "tab" on Uber or Lyft so guests don't have to worry about a ride home, or at least it is subsidized for them.

My cousin had his wedding NYE. The reception wasn’t from 7pm to around 1am. The ceremony was at 12noon (I’m sure you know not to have a gap like that). Some family and friends that attended the ceremony were hosted at my aunts house so we were fine but obviously many guests skipped the ceremony.
Some older guests left before midnight but most at least waited until after the countdown. They had champagne and hats and noisemakers and all that for the countdown. No late night snack but I think they spread everything (cocktail hour, dinner, dessert) out enough that I didn’t miss it.
The wedding was in a hotel and the room block was there as well. If a hotel reception is not an option for you I would suggest providing transportation so guests don’t have to drive afterward.

If you had the reception first and then the ceremony after, I'd probably not make it through the ceremony, especially if I'd started drinking with dinner. It's going to be hard to corral the guests into their seats and will be sort of anti-climactic. If you're set on your midnight kiss, have the ceremony and then have your DJ do a countdown so all your guests can celebrate and kiss their SO at midnight. And yes, if you're going to do this, you absolutely need to do it well. Fantastic food, top shelf and unlimited booze. Preferably with the ceremony and reception at the hotel so people only have to stumble to their rooms afterwards.

I'm getting married in Fort Laud on NYE this year! We are starting ceremony at 6, followed by Chinese lantern released bewchside. This will be by cocktail hour until 7:30 with passed apps,, , cigar roller, bongo player reception with plated dinner, open bar, dj, photobooth, and partying til 1am. At 11ish we're having food stations with sliders, a taco bar and grilled cheese station., passing out NYE favors, confetti cannons, and a champagne toast at midnight! I can't wait! Most vendors did not charge "that" much more bc NYE is actually on a Monday. So most priced it like a peak Sat night! Super excited!

I'm doing a January 1st wedding, with a welcome/New Year's Eve party the night before (it's a private beach property that we are renting for three nights). Be prepared to spend extra $ on just about everything, and lock your vendors in now, if this is your plan.