• Set a late start time. The great thing about a New Year’s cocktail party is that it should start after dinner. Guests won’t arrive starving, so you don’t have to prepare a full meal. Ask your company to arrive after 9 p.m.
• Go digital. Forget formal invitations. Use Evite.com and ask for RSVPs. It’s the easiest way to get an idea of how many people you should expect so that you can plan accordingly.
• Build your prep around your time and budget. Evaluate your resources and make a plan that doesn’t include overextending yourself. Even if you’re prepared to do some cooking, don’t make everything from scratch.
• Cue the tunes. Music is such a powerful mood-maker that you can instantly turn a romantic rendezvous into a roof-raising rager with a quick switch of the playlist. If you want people to dance, pick familiar favorites. Don’t forget to dim the lights and turn off the music for the big countdown.