Staying home and staying safe this winter doesn’t mean that one can’t still ring in the new year with style. With a little prep work, a virtual New Year’s Eve party with socially distanced friends can be just as exciting and fun as an in-person bash. Plus, there are still ample opportunities to explore an ultra-chic New Year’s Eve theme for your party that will set it apart from the rest. Read on for our tips on making a statement with this year’s virtual new year’s eve celebration.

A New Way to Decorate

Instead of just decorating one in-person party space in your chosen theme, a virtual party gives you and your guests a chance to decorate each of your homes in a coordinated theme— and can also make for a friendly competition where the best-decorated space wins a prize! In lieu of picking just a traditional theme for your guests to decorate their spaces in, consider passing out a curated moodboard before the event that will give everyone on your list a bevy of matching colors and ideas to experiment with in their spaces.

Want more luxury-inspired New Year’s Eve inspiration? Check out our curated Pinterest board below.

Coordinated Catering

When planning your socially distanced event with your guests, think about how you’d like the food and drink selections to be coordinated. You could give each guest a menu of items to procure for themselves before the party starts, send each guest a special catering package designed by you, or let invitees get creative in bringing their own selections to the party. For libations, bottles of wine or champagne can be delivered to each of your guests’ homes if applicable, or you can create a shopping list for matching cocktails that your guests will have fun concocting. 

Dance the Night Away

A virtual get-together doesn’t have to be a drab, sit-down event. This New Year’s Eve, liven things up by planning a virtual dance floor or live entertainment to keep the party going until midnight. For dancing, you can pre-select a music playlist, livestream a concert together, or even hire a virtual DJ to create the perfect New Year’s Eve setlist. For a unique surprise at your socially distant bash, you can also hire virtual entertainment such as a live musician to play a special set for your group. As always, don’t forget to tune in to the Time’s Square ball drop event when midnight approaches!

Strike a Pose

There is no better way to capture the excitement of your event and create memories than a virtual photo booth at your New Year’s event! Designate a spot in the party timeline to screenshot fun photos of your friends, either with a festive real-life background or a virtual background, or pass out the materials to make New Year’s Eve-themed props beforehand so your guests can pose with them throughout the night!

To help your party stay elegant as well as fun, we have created a set of printable photo booth props that will be a fun and chic addition to any New Year’s event. All you need to add is tape and some dowels, and you’re ready to strike a pose! Download them below.

Need more holiday party inspiration? Check out our Design Tips article on hosting a tasteful holiday gathering, as well as our round-up of holiday cocktails to spice up any event!