Let's Play: A New Year's Eve Party

On New Year's Eve last year, I moved apartments and sipped champagne in a room empty of furniture or decor while watching movies. The year before, we visited a few breweries and celebrated a best friend's birthday with her crying after too many shots of Jameson in our apartment. The year prior to that, we tried to go out in Seattle but found cabs to be lacking, Uber Black to be expensive for a crowded ride through the city, and Ballard to be too crowded in the nice bars/too empty in the lesser bars to really be a "rockin" New Year's Eve. I think Ben and I got in some kind of multiple-hour long argument and we slept on a friend's floor. If that's any indication of how successful my New Year's Eves have been, then I think you can guess that I'm not jumping at the chance to wear an itchy sequined dress and run about the city counting down at midnight.

So when Suzannah suggested that a few of us come together to plan a styled New Year's shoot, we all jumped at the chance to find something: classic, low-key, and easy to pull off. Enough of this "it's January, let's wear short dresses without tights" or "I bet cabs are easy to get on New Year's Eve in the U District" business. A classic game night for a bunch of friends, two couples, or even your parents/children/family members was born. What is easier than laying out dominos, some bubbly, and having close friends over to thrown confetti when the ball drops? I know that I far prefer great conversation and constant laughs with friends you can unashamedly play Cards Against Humanity with to expensive cocktails in a crowded city. So this NYE party is for the homebody, the low-key partier, the one with a little one at home to get back to, and the person that wants to get to bed the second the New Year's countdown is complete. 

Looking for more inspiration for this party? Stay tuned all week for Suzannah's party post, a great Manhattan recipe, oyster and tabasco appetizer inspiration, a panna cotta dessert recipe, a bit more on New Year's Style that forgoes sequins and focuses on comfy neutrals, and an awesome set of free printables from Jenni for your party!

Photos: Mary Boyden

Website, Facebook, Instagram

Vintage Rentals: Something Borrowed - Website, Facebook, Instagram
Cocktail Napkins: Hen House Linens— Website

Love Print: Jen Ramos of MadeByGirl

Calligraphy: myself

Printables: Jenni of A Well Crafted Party

Suzannah of Create-Enjoy: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Jenni of A Well Crafted Party: Website, Facebook, Instagram