Event Planner to Stars: Party Toward '07 in Style

Dec. 29, 2006 — -- Millions of people across the nation will party their way into 2007. Whether they're ringing in the new year with thousands of strangers or with a small gathering of their nearest and dearest, visions of soiled party plans haunt even the most seasoned of holiday hosts.

But, fear not. David Tutera, entertaining expert and party planner to the stars, sat down with ABC News to discuss how to pull off a New Year's celebration that guests will remember for the rest of the year.

Contrary to popular belief, "planning a New Year's Eve party is actually easier than most," explains Tutera. "It's just that the placement of where it falls, after so many celebrations at the end of the year, it becomes a little more daunting and stressful because people are a little bit exhausted of coming up with creative ideas."

Whatever the size, theme or location of your party, Tutera says the key to a successful holiday bash is "a little bit of organization" so you can enjoy your holiday party, not agonize and stress your way through it.

"Keep it simple," says Tutera. That way you can "mingle throughout the party" and "simply be a guest at your own party."

One of the most overlooked, but simplest ways to achieve a successful New Year's soiree is the starting time, Tutera says. Guests should arrive around 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. at the latest, he suggests -- slightly later than a typical party.

"When entertaining for New Year's, you want to make sure your guests are celebrating New Year's Eve at the stroke of midnight together," he says. "Therefore, it starts a little bit later … I think that's just a better tactic and a better timeline to a successful New Year's Eve celebration."

What to serve? How to serve it? And when?

Again, simplicity is key. According to Tutera, food should be served in shifts -- hors d'oeuvres with cocktails from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., heavier finger food from 10:30 p.m. to a quarter to midnight, and, finally, dessert with champagne at midnight.

"Change the food and the drink every 30 minutes," he advises, "because if something is changing every 30 minutes, then the party feels like it is progressing and going somewhere, with the ultimate goal of getting to midnight and to get the celebration to rise in excitement."

Tutera also recommends preparing food and drink prior to your celebration.

"The drinks can be prepoured in pitchers and put into the refrigerator, so when you're ready to serve, the pitchers come out, you place them on your self-serve bar, and people pour them into their own martini glasses. So now you eliminate the bartender and you eliminate yourself as the host being stuck behind the bar mixing drinks."

The same can be done with food, says Tutera, which can be placed on platters beforehand and stored in the oven, refrigerator or another out-of-the-way place.

"I love it when I go to someone's home and immediately someone hands me a fabulous cocktail, so come up with some great specialty drinks," says Tutera.

You can come up with your own celebratory concoction or borrow from recipe books and cooking magazines, or from friends and family members.

Tutera came up with a martini-like drink he calls "New Year's Cheer" for his New Year's Eve party this year. Aside from the colorful drink consisting of vodka, lime and white cranberry juice, Tutera rims his guests' glasses with silver sugar, available at your local baking supply store, for a more festive feel.

Of course, cocktails and mixed drinks are not the only beverages hosts must have on hand New Year's Eve.

"Champagne, to me, is a must for New Year's Eve," says Tutera, "because what do you do without a glass of champagne in your hand when you are toasting New Year's."

Tutera advises that a good rule of thumb when buy champagne is that they contain about six flutes of champagne per bottle. Hosts should assume that, on average, guests will drink two glasses per person, and then calculate the number of bottles they will need according to their head count. Order a couple bottles over your tally.

"It's always better to have a little extra instead of running out," says Tutera.

So what is the number one thing to avoid when throwing a New Year's party?

"The no-no would be to start too early," says Tutera. "That way, people don't end New Year's before New Year's."

So what are you waiting for? Throw on some tunes, whip up some finger food, mix your drinks, chill the champagne -- and gather your friends, family, and loved ones around the TV as the ball drops to ring in 2007.