This New Year’s Eve throw a ball, instead of watching one drop. Whether a black tie masquerade or a luau in the middle of winter St. Louis is packed with fabulous vendors eager to add color and life to the last night of the year. Your bash will tickle your guest as much as the champagne you’ll toast with at midnight, because the local experts have spilled their secrets on successful blowouts. From luxurious linens to stunning centerpieces we’ve gathered the glitter to make your event a sparkling and memorable success. You don’t have to spend next year’s salary to achieve the glam effect, but tossing out a few coins might be worth shoving last year’s paper hats and broken noisemakers in the trash.
Natural Glamour
While nature’s finest may thrive on inbred beauty, even flowers enjoy dressing up for New Years Eve. At Artistry owner Randy Shamel arranges his finest picks in velvet top hats and drapes the rim with exquisite rhinestone necklaces. To have sparklers and fireworks without the flames, he fills tall clear champagne vases with airy branches and glittered ting-ting. Alone, these arrangements ($145-plus each) are breathtaking, but for an extra flare he hides an LED light in the bottom. “It just gives it a New Years Eve glow,” he says. “It’s a festive non traditional effect.”
Floral can correspond with themes, but keep in mind some venues may still be sporting the reds and greens from Christmas. “We’ll incorporate Christmas greens with a little bit of holly, which makes it more seasonal,” says Dennis Bozzay with Bozzay Florist. The holly ties centerpieces to the poinsettias, trees and wreaths that may already be lining the room. By filling a hurricane with candles and surrounding it with red roses and white gerber daises the arrangements ($60-plus each) look more seasonal and traditional. For a final touch of glam, Barb Wehking at Bloomin’ Buckets dips rose tips in glue and again in glitter for a bit of extra sparkle.
The Softer Side
On New Year’s Eve you’re only limited by your imagination… and your budget. Linens comes in thousands of styles, colors and patterns and if you can’t find what you want locally, most vendors can have it custom made for you. Finely ribbed Bengaline fabrics add a little texture, while lamé feels satiny and twist flashes a fun and bold look. For a tighter budget BBJ Linens suggested using chair ties ($2.50–$5 each) as table runners or arranging three napkins ($0.60–$3.20 each) in a diamond shape to strut color at minimal cost.
At Sitting Pretty/Party Arts, owner Jill Burkemper stocks more than 300 different styles of table linens ($15–$30 each). “I have to say most of the time [hosts] go out of the box a little more than they would any other time of the year,” Mrs. Burkemper says. Regardless, she believes it’s best to coordinate two or three colors in your linens and then add more color to floral and favors.
Still, there’s more to the selection process than matching colors. According to Paul Belmont of Belmont Party Rentals, if you’re party starts in the evening—that’s when you need to pick out your fabrics. “Dark cloths get really dark at night, and light cloths get really washed out,” he says. “People don’t think about that, but we’ve learned that from 35 years of doing this.”
Sitting in Style
Whether your guests are up mingling or sitting down to dine, tables set the pace of the party. Renting bar style tables and chairs allows your guests room to socialize, and helps defeat standard banquet arrangements. Then again, three-legged wooden stools might seem out of place at a black tie event. Fortunately, The Aries Company rents Chiavari bar stools ($14) and tall tables ($8.50 each) that will bring height and glamour to your seating arrangement. For a cozy look, try renting a set of lounge furniture. The cushioned wicker furniture ($25 per piece) gives your guests a comfortable place to chat during breaks from the dance floor.
If you’ve flooded your floor with round or square tables for dining, change the look of your serving stations by renting a Serpentine table ($9.25 each) from Premier Rentals, L.L.C. These tables add variety to your space and are an excellent spot for guests to graze.
While St. Louis expects stunning linens from Sitting Pretty/Party Arts few know the company is the only place in town to rent Versailles Gold Ballroom Chairs. “It has a curved back and the Chiavari chairs are just straight up and down,” Ms. Burkemper says. “People find that these are just a little more comfortable.”
Eye Candy
For Hollywood look at an affordable cost Gina Dean at Couture Floral and Rentals provides a unique and environmentally friendly alternative to floral arrangements. The rentable centerpieces ($10-75) draped in crystals and high-end silk flowers add a magical touch to any tabletop. “This is for someone who really wants to be environmentally friendly and get the wow look they see in magazines,” Ms. Dean says.
But, never forget the party extends beyond the dinner tables and place setting. Weinhardt Party Rentals’ elegant gold champagne fountains ($30-$50 each) accompanied by a few racks of Napa champagne flutes ($0.30 per flute, in racks of 36) are a fantastic way to welcome the new year. If your guests crave something sweeter, surround a chocolate fountain ($150 each) with seasonal fruits and small pastries for a display guests of any age can enjoy.
At The Aries Company Cheryl Haney offers a variety of serving options designed for caterers to fill and guests to empty. A Spoon Wall ($25 each with spoons included) allows guests to sample both sweets and tiny appetizers with ease. “Sushi looks great,” Haney explains. “The back of it is stainless steel and it almost has that mirrored effect.” She also recommends filling 1 oz shot glasses ($0.60 each) with small candy to add a boost of color, while 3 oz. glasses display layered mousses.
