Celebrating New Year’s Eve as a couple is a wonderful way to reflect on the last 12 months and get excited about new possibilities and plans. It’s pretty romantic too with the countdown and the kiss at midnight. Sometimes, though, there can be a bit of pressure to ‘have the best New Year’s ever’ or FOMO if you don’t go out partying. These New Year’s Eve ideas for couples will give you plenty of inspiration, whether you want a quiet and low-key affair or fancy getting rowdy on the dance floor.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve At Home
Game Night
It’s time to get serious! Grab the scorepad and break open the board games. Or play video games into the early hours. Alternatively, let the silliness begin and do a couple’s quiz to see how well you know each other! Eek!
Dinner Party
Enjoy an intimate candle-lit dinner for two or invite other couples. Choose a theme and play some after-dinner games. If you don’t want to faff around with the food, prepare a buffet, it’s easy and provides lots of choice.
Tea Party
Make an array of sandwiches and cakes. Don’t forget the scones and clotted cream. Get fancy with a tiered display stand and pair it with a pot of tea.
Lego Challenge
Whether you want to build a mini city or a castle, pick a Lego set and work on it together. You could start it in the morning and see if you can finish by midnight. Let the challenge begin!
Dance Party
You don’t need to go clubbing to bust some moves. Bring the party to you. Add a glitter ball, some dance tracks and low lighting. You could even go all out and do fancy dress. Send invites to guests (if any) and don’t forget to check their ID at the door!
RELATED: How To Celebrate Christmas at Home
Romantic New Year’s Eve Ideas
Make a Special Meal
Plan a special meal. Set the mood with a nicely dressed table, candles, and music. Cook together if that’s something you enjoy. Or if, like me, the thought of that gets you riled, take a course each. One makes the starter and dessert; one makes the main. My hubby and I have done this a few times and we found that it was extra special when we cooked things we wouldn’t normally have. It creates a bit of a challenge and makes it feel more like a restaurant experience, especially if you dress up too.
Have a Spa Day
Have a pamper day. Luxuriate in a nice long bath. Add a bath bomb, bath salts or essential oils. Light a few candles and put on some relaxing music. You could give each other massages, have fun with face masks or spend the day/evening in your dressing gown.
Reflect On Your Year Together
Write down your favourite memories of the year and share them with each other. Or, throughout the year add little notes to a jar whenever something good/funny happens. On New Year’s Eve open the jar and reminisce (and have a good laugh!) about the wonderful times that you have shared together.
Make Plans For Next Year
Create vision boards or simply write down all your shared goals for the coming year. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that someone wants to share a future with you. Having some things lined up will help keep you excited and motivated when January rolls around.
Have an Indoor Picnic
Pack a basket with sandwiches, savouries, and little treats. Add a chilled bottle and spread a blanket on the floor. A space near the window is great if you have an interesting view. Read to each other or just chat about memories and plans.
New Year’s Eve Surprise Ideas
Book a Trip Away
Surprise them with a few days away over New Year. Or tell them on New Year’s Eve that you have planned a trip. What a wonderful way to start a fresh year!
Get Them a Gift
Gifts aren’t typically given at New Year’s so it will be a nice surprise to receive something. A handmade gift like a memory book would be very thoughtful and give you lots to chat about.
Plan a Day Out
Organise a special day with lots of little things to look forward to. Give them an itinerary with the plans or let the day unfold bit by bit.
Bake a Cake
Get creative in the kitchen with a new cake recipe. Or have a bake-off challenge and see who can make the best cupcake. Set the timer, do a taste test, and crown the winner.
Invite a Guest
Surprise your other half with a visit from someone they’d love to see (be sure that they would like this!). Plan where they will stay, for how long, and what you will do when they get there.
Last-minute New Year’s Eve Ideas For Couples
If you have left New Year’s plans to the last minute, don’t panic! There is always something that you can do to mark the occasion. You’ll be spending the day/night together and that’s the most important thing.
Order a Takeaway
Getting takeaway food is always a treat, especially if you haven’t planned it. Remember that it will be busier on New Year’s Eve so be prepared for the wait.
Explore
Take in the town by visiting museums, and galleries, and grab a bite to eat. Or go on a super long nature walk and come home to a relaxing evening.
Spend The Night At a Hotel
You can always get a last-minute deal on a hotel booking. Stay local if you don’t want to go far. Just grab a bag and go. Embrace the spontaneity! Take your own food to avoid the hassle of restaurant reservations. Or treat yourself to room service.
Create a Time Capsule
Create some future history with shared goals, dreams, and memories. Write them down and pop them in a box to open later. Whether it’s in a few months or years, it will be so fun looking back on your thoughts at that time.
Book Something
If this New Year’s Eve hasn’t exactly panned out how you expected, don’t feel down. Just get the next thing booked! Spend the day pondering and planning your future trip. Add some nibbles and make an event out of it. Write the details in a notebook and get it scheduled in the diary.
Relaxing New Year’s Eve Ideas for Couples
Take a Walk
Walk around the neighbourhood just before midnight and ring in the New Year under the stars. Take a flask of coffee to toast the brand-new year, and to keep your hands warm!
Have a Movie Night
Plan a marathon with back-to-back movies. And get cosy on the sofa with PJs and popcorn. Pick a theme like Harry Potter or mix it up with a couple of your favourite movies. Invite some friendly rivalry with a battle of the movie quiz!
Stay in Bed
Remember there are no rules! Spend the day in bed and wander out when the take-away arrives. Any excuse to wear those new PJs you got for Christmas.
Tune In To The TV
Feel connected to the action by watching the world events on TV. Get the snacks in and a glass of champers ready for the ball to drop.
Read By The Fire
Start that new book. Or go book shopping in the day for a novel night. For an interactive experience, pick up two copies of the same book. You can enjoy experiencing it together and chat about it after each chapter.
Netflix and Chill
Whether you fancy a psychological thriller, a drama, or a laugh-out-loud comedy, it’s the perfect time to start a new box set. Or get nostalgic with some familiar reruns. Grab a blanket and settle in with some of those leftover Christmas treats.
Whatever you decide to do on New Year’s Eve, let go of expectations.
Hopefully, these New Year’s Eve Ideas for couples have given you some inspiration. But the most important thing is to do what brings you joy.
Whether you want a raucous party or to read by the fire, there is no right or wrong way to ring in the New Year.
Just enjoy.
5-4-3-2-1- Happy New Year!!!!
