From the Party 411 website
Midnight Cowboy is the perfect theme for a New Year’s Eve Party. Let’s get one thing straight pardner, I’m not talking tumbleweeds and cow patties here! By combining a western theme with a snazzy black, red and silver color scheme, this is one cowpoke party that will impress every guest, and be fun to boot!
A personalized Cowboy New Year’s invitation is a great way to get everyone’s attention (and get your party on their calendar!). You can add a sprinkling of western confetti in the envelope for extra pizazz. Or try one of these fun invite ideas:
If you’re crafty and you have the time you can make your own invitations. Create a “Wanted” poster from layers of cardstock and glue a square of mirror paper in the center (most craft stores will have it). When guests gaze at your “Wanted Poster” invitation they will see their own reflection in the mirror!
Cut cardstock in the shape of a cowboy hat or boot and write your party info on the front. Add some cowboy bling with adhesive jewels from the craft store.
Get rid of all your old jeans by cutting out the back pockets. Slip your invite into the jean pocket and mail in a padded envelope for a fun western twist.
Send along a red or black bandana (to match the color scheme) with the invite for your guests to wear to the party
Go all out on your invitation with a western rodeo caricature. Include your own info alongside an illustration of you riding a bull!
Once you’ve chosen an invite, make sure to include wording that gets your friends and family ready to party:
Whatever you decide, make sure to add a line on your invite that says “Western attire is encouraged” so people feel free to express their inner cowboy or cowgirl.
As your guests walk in the door, welcome them with a cowboy hat from the Western Night Party Kit!
When your guests walk into the party room you want them to think “Cowboy goes to Times Square”. You can accomplish this by mixing western elements with some of the glitz and glamour of New Year’s Eve.
Stick with the midnight inspired color scheme of black, silver and red and decorating will be a snap. Here’s what you need to dress up your ‘home on the range”:
Your family and friends will love being greeted by a lifesize cutout of you as a bull rider! This cowgirl cutout is another cute option. These make for a perfect photo-op!
Black and platinum balloons make great balloon bouquets. You can make your own balloon weights by filling a plastic zipper bag with sand and then tying a red bandana around it or try this cowboy boot balloon weight.
For fantastic floral displays, fill a short round vase with red roses and tinsel. Place the vase in an overturned sequin cowboy hat or cowboy boot. These are great for table decorations, or even centerpieces.
Make “wanted” posters to hang all over the walls with pictures of the host, hostess, or even the guests!
Hang “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls” signs on your bathroom doors.
Even use some western scene setters to decorate the walls. Turn your venue into a western town!
A silver and black Happy New Year stringer is great in a doorway or on a blank wall. Add more balloons to each side.
If you don’t mind a little mess, get straw bales for guests to sit on!
Remember to mix and match the New Year’s Eve and western elements, and your venue will look fantastic, I promise!
Depending on the size of your guest list and party space, you can have a sit down dinner or a buffet. Either way, serve a selection of barbequed meats, chili, cornbread, beans, and other cowboy/BBQ fare.
Want to do something fun for drinks? Have a whisky tasting! Have a selection of whiskeys on hand, and follow a few of these tips to make your tasting a success:
Give everyone a flashing shot glass. Guests will love taking them home as favors, too!
Make sure to give your tasters little cards to write reviews, or just vote on the party favorite.
After the tasting, consider sending guests home with mini-bottles of your favorite whiskey as a favor.
Water with personalized bottle labels is another unique touch as well. Make sure to still serve some non-alcoholic choices, and pass out glasses of champagne when it is time to toast the New Year!
Sticking to your theme is easy when decorating your tables. Start with western theme paper goods, which match perfectly and don’t require washing in the morning!
Make it easy on your guests by creating silverware bundles. Just wrap red plastic silverware in a bandana napkin and voilà! Cutlery and a napkin! Try a few more of these decorating ideas to tie your tables in with the theme:
Use cowboy hats as centerpieces. They are great turned upside-down with a vase full of flowers in them as we suggested above. Or place a metal bowl filled with ice inside the hat and use it as an ice bucket for champagne!
You could also take a plastic cowboy hat, cut a small hole in the top, and thread a balloon bouquet through it. These cowboy boot balloons are fun and go with the color scheme!
Use black and red tablecovers to match the color scheme and scatter silver star confetti on the tables to finish off the look.
Don’t forget to fill silver buckets with peanuts and place one on each table for guests to snack on throughout the night!
Besides counting down to midnight, have some fun activities ready to keep everyone busy (they will make great pictures too!)
Line or square dancing is always fun. Have an instructor come out for an hour or two to teach everyone the two-step.
Two words – mechanical bull. If you have a large area and budget you can rent one for the night!
Have a Texas Hold’em tournament. Let people bet with personalized money, and then they can trade it in at the end of the night for themed prizes, like western tattoos or sheriff badges.
Set up a photobooth with a cowboy and cowgirl photo op! Wouldn’t guests love a photo of themselves as a bull rider with this bull rider photo op, too?
Everyone loves a pinata! This cowboy boot pinata fits the theme well. Make sure to fill it with tons of candy.
Karaoke is always a crowd pleaser. Keep it in theme by singing country songs about cowboys (put me down for Willie’s “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”).
Your cowboys and cowgirls will want to raise a ruckus when the clock strikes twelve. Hand out noisemakers and some fun party items throughout the night, and when the New Year rolls around everyone will we ready to welcome it! Here are a few ideas:
You can go simple with gold horns and black noisemakers which will match your decorations perfectly, and not break the bank.
Hand out confetti poppers, and silver new year beads for wearing (and maybe throwing)!
Why not fill a few balloons with western confetti and pop them over the crowd when the clock strikes twelve? A balloon drop is another fun option with big impact!
At the end of the night you can hand out a personalized western candy bar as a final way of saying “Thanks for coming”, and put them in some favor bags!
Your guests will hate to leave, but they will remember your Midnight Cowboy New Year’s Eve Party for years to come. With help from Party411.com, all of your parties will be a huge success!