Gather your family and friends and ring in the New Year in style by hosting a charcuterie board party!
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Bubbly And Boards: A New Year’s Eve Charcuterie Party
The New Year’s countdown is on! And what better way to ring it in than with a festive (and delicious!) charcuterie party?
If this is your first time joining one of our virtual supper club parties or your first time visiting here at MWLS, welcome!
Each month, my friends Rachel, Stacy, Ann, AnnMarie, Michele, and I share table styling ideas, hosting tips, recipes, and a complete menu – all centered around a theme!
We also invite a guest blogger to join us, because, after all, more friends always make a party better, right? This month we are thrilled to welcome Kim from Shiplap and Shells.
Kim lives in a beautifully renovated cottage in Washington on Puget Sound and has the most gorgeous flower gardens you’ve ever seen! And, lucky for us, She loves entertaining family and friends too!
I hope you’ll take some time to stop by Kim’s blog, say “hi”, and see more of her beautiful charcuterie party.
If you like to entertain, I would love to have you subscribe and join the MWLS family!
As a subscriber, you’ll receive a copy of my FREE holiday e-book, “The Holiday Host: A Guide To Easy Entertaining At Home.” You’ll also receive weekly emails with updates on all the latest happenings here on the blog, including the newest tablescapes, recipes, seasonal DIYs, and more!
And, If you’ve missed out on any of our past supper club parties, don’t worry! You can catch up on all the inspiration here for the best hosting tips, table styling ideas, and recipes.
Countdown To The New Year With A Charcuterie Party
As an event planner with more than 15 years of experience, I know first-hand that planning a party can be overwhelming. (Hello, endless to-do lists!)
But it doesn’t have to be! I’m sharing simple hosting tips, budget-friendly party decor ideas, and spilling the secrets of setting up a stunning charcuterie buffet with the best assortment of foods, to help you plan an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration.
So grab your favorite board and get ready to ring in the New Year with a celebration your guests will never forget!
Hosting Like a Pro: Effortless Charcuterie Party Tips for a Happy New Year
New Year’s Eve parties should be fun and festive, not stressful! Because what’s the point of throwing a party if you can’t enjoy it too, right?
So what’s my top tip for throwing a low-stress charcuterie party (or any gathering for that matter) like a pro? Simple — plan ahead!
Next, it’s important to think about your guests and timing. Who’s invited to your NYE charcuterie party? And when will the fun start and end?
With your guest list and timing locked down, you can confidently plan the perfect spread and activities, ensuring everyone has a memorable New Year’s Eve.
The next thing to consider is where will you host your charcuterie party. Will guests sit and graze or stand and mingle?
Our open floor plan is perfect for hosting casual parties like this. Each charcuterie board can be spread out beautifully across the dining room table, leaving the kitchen free for last-minute prep and board refills.
Plus, removing the dining room chairs helps keep everyone mingling and moving, adding to the fun and festive feeling of the party.
And my last tip for throwing a low-stress charcuterie party may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s the most important.
Don’t forget to relax and enjoy. Delegate tasks if you are able, mingle with your guests, and enjoy toasting to the New Year.
BYOBoard: Themed Charcuterie Boards and Festive Sips For Your Party
When it comes to food and drink for your party, get your guests involved in the prep! Ask everyone to bring their own themed charcuterie boards – sweet or savory.
That way, you’ll have something for everyone, and the party prep becomes part of the fun.
Here are a few different themed charcuterie board ideas to get you started:
- Classic charcuterie board – Arrange a board filled with a variety of cured meats, artisan cheese, crackers, and spreads like a holiday cheese ball.
- Fresh crudite board – Serve fresh veggies like carrots, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, and more paired with a homemade herb dip.
- Seafood charcuterie board – Fill a board with your favorite seafood choices including shrimp, oysters, snow crab legs, lobster tails, and savory dipping sauces. Or try my favorite cheesy shrimp dip served with crostini and a variety of crackers.
- Antipasti charcuterie board – Put together a medley of colorful olives, sun-dried tomato pesto, bruschetta, and more.
Whatever board you choose, prep, pre-portion dips, and assemble as much as possible beforehand to help cut down on the number of “to-dos” on your list the day of the party.
And don’t forget about dessert! You can serve a chocolate board, complete with chocolate-covered peanut butter balls, homemade ganache, and other chocolatey treats.
Or for a healthier option, make a fresh fruit wreath with some creamy fruit dip.
Of course, no New Year’s party is complete without some drinks! Put some mini champagne and sparkling wine bottles on ice to make it easy for guests to serve themselves.
Or you can try mixing up one of these 10 champagne cocktails to ring in the New Year.
Not a fan of champagne? Seasonal cocktails like white winter sangria are also a festive choice.
Set The Scene: How To Style A Memorable New Year’s Tablescape
Remember, New Year’s Eve is all about making memories with friends and family while enjoying some amazing, mouthwatering foods.
Match the relaxed atmosphere of the party by styling a tablescape with minimal decor where the charcuterie boards themselves are the star of the party.
A simple metallic gold mesh table runner adds elegance to your charcuterie party table, while a real-touch pine garland provides a bit of texture and gives the table a wintry feel.
Using paper plates and napkins paired with inexpensive plastic champagne glasses from the dollar store saves time on cleanup so you can spend more time enjoying the party with your guests and less time in the kitchen doing dishes.
Budget-Friendly New Year’s Eve Decor That Sparkles
Forget the over-the-top centerpieces and let your New Year’s Eve tablescape shine with simple elegance.
Shop your home for holiday decor you can re-use like ornaments and mercury glass trees.
Who says party favors can’t be decor too? Use festive NYE party horns on your table for guests to grab and use as you ring in the New Year. It’s a fun way to add personality and give them a little take-home memento of the night.
Don’t underestimate the power of the dollar store! You can find hidden gems like sparkly vase fillers to sprinkle on your buffet like confetti.
Fairy lights and gold votive candles are your secret weapons for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
And who can resist a festive hat on New Year’s Eve? Hang them on your repurposed holiday tree or create a playful photo booth corner with a mix of DIY props and dollar store finds.
Remember, the key to a fantastic New Year’s Eve charcuterie party is to keep it simple, focus on fun, and let your creativity shine through.
More New Year’s Eve Celebration Ideas From Midwest Life and Style
Festive New Year’s Eve Grazing Table
More Charcuterie Party Inspiration
Thanks for stopping by! I hope these tips are helpful and inspire you to host your own charcuterie party.
As always, don’t forget to see the rest of my friends’ creative party ideas and hosting tips too. You can see all the posts linked below!
And don’t forget to see our holiday menu with six creative recipes for a charcuterie party.
Cheers to the New Year!
Holiday Charcuterie Party Inspiration
Stacy at Bricks ‘n Blooms | Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse | Anne and AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms
Michele at Vintage Home Designs | Kim at Shiplap and Shells | Jen at Midwest Life and Style
Kim | Shiplap and Shells says
What a fabulous table Jen! It looks like you will be ringing the new year in with style. I’ve never done anything special for New Year’s Eve but you are making me want to rethink it. So fun to be joining you this month. Happy Holidays!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Kim! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
AnnMarie | Simply2Moms says
Just beautiful Jen…love how you styled your table to ring in the new year. And the fresh fruit is perfect…adds so much color to your table and looks delicious too! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, AnnMarie. The fruit wreath is so easy to make and I love how festive it looks as well. Wishing you and Anne both a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Wendy McMonigle says
This looks incredible Jen! love the green and red fruit charcuterie tray so much!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Wendy! It is SO easy to make and you cane easily personalize it to includ your favorite fruits. I hope to share the recipe next week!
Stacy Ling says
Everything looks so fresh and colorful! Love it!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Stacy. Merry Christmas!
Tammy says
Your table is beautiful, Jen. Perfect for NYE.
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Tammy! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Rachel @ The Antiqued Journey says
So festive and pretty, Jen!! I love the gold accents mixed with black. The food looks so yummy and your photos are amazing. Cheers, friend!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Rachel! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and cheers to a happy and healthy 2024!
Rachel Harper says
Jen,
Your table looks amazing. The fruit charcuterie wreath looks so good. Have a Merry Christmas!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thankyou, Rachel! Merry Christmas to you too, friend!
Jennifer says
So yummy!! Your photos are all so pretty!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Jennifer! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!