Kardashian family's party planner shares advice for having a fabulous New Year's at home

This year New Year's Eve celebrations will be very different than they ever have been before, as Boris Johnson has confirmed there will be no relaxation of restrictions.

Instead of gathering all your nearest and dearest in your home, parties to see in 2021 will have to be held online.

And while the idea of a virtual celebration might make you want to cry, experts claim you can still have a fabulous time on December 31.

Mindy Weiss, the Kardashian's party planner has teamed up with Virgin Media to share her party secrets and explain how you can still make the most of the occasion.

From a virtual midnight kiss to a digital disco, these 10 original ideas will make this New Year’s a night to remember. Here's a look at Mindy's top tips...

Dress and Guess

Have your guests dress up for New Year’s Eve as their favourite actor or character from 2020. Whether political or pop culture, musician, TV personality, or other, and ask your guests to guess who each one is. Make it a costume contest and give away digital prizes to the best - and the worst! The more outrageous, the more fun. Dressing up lends a sense of focus and occasion – and it doesn’t have to cost anything if you raid the wardrobes at home and get creative!

Secret Smooch

Pucker up and send your kiss digitally to the host or hostess of your New Year’s party. Use your video or camera function on your phone to record your smooch – but be careful not to give away clues to your identity through lipstick, jewellery or any glimpse of your face or background. The host shares the pics or videos - and guests have to guess whose kisses they are!

Sense of Zoom-our

We are all looking for some joy these days so why not give the gift of laughter and book a stand-up comedian for your New Year’s Eve Zoom party? As well as asking the comedian to cover popular topics such as 2020, politics, and culture, you could make it more personal by sharing some stories about your virtual guests with the comedian in advance to bring into the routine. Just be conscious of your guests’ comfort level – you don’t want any New Year’s bust-ups!

Project Runway

Send each of your virtual party guests two yards of the same fabric (order online if your favourite local store is closed) – or even get them to buy a roll of tin foil. Consider something sparkly or in theme with your party. Ask your guests to make something out of the fabric that they HAVE TO wear to the party! When everyone gets together online, ask guests to vote for the most creative, the most hilarious and the one you would want to wear outside of the house!

Near, Bar, Wherever You Are

Since most places are closed - can you track down your favourite mixologist to create your own New Year’s Eve cocktail? In cahoots with the mixologist, the host can deliver cool boxes to each of the guests with cocktail supplies, marked ‘don’t open until party time!’ For the virtual party, the mixologist can get everyone to open their boxes and teach them to make their favourite celebratory cocktails together. This is a great way to feel more connected through remembering places you all love.

Digital Disco

Choose an era that resonates most with your party group, and create a disco Group Spotify List with your guests’ favourite songs from, for instance, the 70s or 80s, and host your own disco New Year’s Eve party where you all press play at the same time. Corresponding outfits are optional!

(On)Line Dancing

Celebrate online together by throwing a virtual dance party. Each guest gets sent a pre-recorded dance (either choreographed by a professional or the host/hostess) to learn before New Year’s Eve and perform it at the party.

High Resolution Resolutions

Gather online with a fun activity for everyone. Ask your loved ones to each write two truthful New Year’s resolutions and one lie. Each guest will take a turn reading theirs aloud on a video call while the group guesses which one is a lie. You can also do this with past NYE tales and experiences, then guess which crazy story isn’t true!

Digital Scavenger Hunt

The host should pre-pick 10 household items that the guests will have to go find in their homes. The first one back with the item wins a point, and the person with the most points at the end of the game wins a virtual gift card. Items can be fun, funny, New Year’s Eve themed or anything you can dream up! Involving the environment that surrounds you and your personal belongings is a great way to feel more connected to someone. Consider this list of ten if you’re looking for ideas:

1. Bottle of champagne

2. Baby Picture

3. Dictionary

4. Corkscrew/bottle opener

5. Crazy party hat

6. Pair of sunglasses

7. Banana

8. British Flag

9. Box of matches

10. Supermarket receipt

Modem Love

If you’re separated from your partner this year but still want to celebrate together, consider a romantic dinner for two from afar. Order the same meal in for both of you, send your love flowers ahead of time – shop local where you can. Then each of you dress up a table and dress the part for a fancy romantic dinner that you share on Facetime, Zoom, or any other video calling platform. Quality time is still quality time, even when you can’t be physically together.

Cilesta Van Doorn from Virgin Media, added: "After an extraordinary year, we know the nation could do with some light relief and fun new ways to celebrate this New Year’s Eve.

"Whether you opt for a digital disco, a ‘secret smooch’, or simply want to video call your friends and family to sing Auld Lang Syne, Mindy’s Weiss’ top tips for a fabulous virtual party, coupled with our lightning-fast broadband, will help you to ring in the New Year in style."