Can You Plan A Wedding On New Years Eve? *

*This is a collaborative post.

There’s something really special about a New Year’s Eve wedding. Everyone is up for a great party, and it’s an incredible feeling dancing into a new year with your new husband or wife. There’s a reason that this time of year is getting increasingly popular for weddings – it has a certain magic already. Aside from that, it can also be quite a practical choice-  if you have far-flung friends and family they are much more likely to already be planning to come home for the festive period, most people are likely to already be off work without having to take additional holiday, and it ensures that people get to celebrate the new year – and your wedding in style. However, if you do decide to make this evening yours, there are a few things to know in advance….

Get It Booked Early

The key to a successful New Year’s Eve wedding is most definitely in the forward planning. Book your wedding venue and all the key suppliers –  wedding cake, catering, photographer –  as soon as possible to ensure they don’t get booked up. Find a venue that is geared up for weddings on New Year’s Eve, like Manor By The Lake, and can take it in their stride – especially if other functions are happening elsewhere at the venue. Read all your contracts carefully and check for any additional fees for working on a bank holiday (if your wedding party is going on until after midnight). Check timings as some deliveries may need to happen early, and your wedding photographer will need to be fully briefed on what shots you consider essential and when they need to be there. You may need to get an extended bar licence sorted as you don’t want the reception to have to end at the stroke of midnight.

Let People Know

As soon as you have the venue booked, get those save the date cards sent out straight away. People tend to make their plans around the Christmas holidays quite early, so you will need to give them enough of a heads up. It’s a good idea to try and block book some accomodation for guests as taxis can be extremely hard to source on New Year’s Eve. If a lot of guests are staying, then you can also look into putting on a New Year’s Day brunch or a special meal for them to keep the celebrations going a little bit longer.

Consider Your Small Guests

If you or your friends or extended family have small children, everyone will have a better time if you make some plans for them too, like hiring a children’s entertainer or providing some childcare. Weddings on New Year’s Eve tend to go on quite late, and any parents attending will really appreciate the chance to let their hair down. You could create a sleepover and movie room for them somewhere at the venue, so parents can be sure they are well looked after and don’t have to rush back or try to get a babysitter on a difficult night. 

With a little planning, this can be the most incredible day to have your wedding celebrations – enjoy!