One of my readers posted a question to me about throwing an engagement party on a budget. I thought I would create a new post here to give everyone some tips and tricks.

If you decide to host a party in your own home there are still extra details you’d have to think about and handle. If you had it at a restaurant, the staff there would generally manage all of the set up and clean up.

My opinion is that you can still have an elegant engagement party on a budget.

• Print your invitations / announcements through vistaprint.com for very low cost, you can even google for coupons. For example: I purchased some  custom printed invitations recently for a birthday party for .75c each
• Plan to have a cocktail reception where you can buy pre-made appetizers that you can reheat in the oven or just serve immediately. Think dips with pita or chips, sushi or pinwheel sandwiches from Costco, or frozen boxes of egg rolls and mini quiches.
• Rent some cocktail tall boy tables with pretty table cloths for people to stand around. Forgo the chairs and dinner tables and save on the cost
• iPod DJ would be suitable here
• Pick up a few bunches of your favorite in season flowers and put them in vases all over your house
• Serve water, soda, and 2 choices of  alcoholic beverage (beer and wine)

Don’t for engagement parties:

• Do not do pot luck, as its tacky and unreasonable to ask your guests to bring dishes for your party to celebrate your engagement. Even doing a simple BBQ (hot dogs, burgers)  at your house would be better than potluck.
• Don’t invite people to your engagement party that you don’t plan to invite to the wedding. They will be expecting an invitation to celebrate your wedding

Do’s for engagement parties:

• Evite would be an ok alternative to printed invitations
• Consider help that your friends offer for set up and clean up – but don’t expect them to work the entire time
• Enjoy yourselves! Make the party casual and fitting to your style and it will help your guests relax and enjoy too.

Send me any more questions you have regarding your next event!

Read our previous post with pictures: http://blog.typeaplanning.com/2008/10/03/engagement-party-celebration/

19 Jan This entry was published on January 19, 2009 at 10:37 pm. It’s filed under Birthday Party, engagement party, flowers, Special Event and tagged appetizers, birthday parties on a budget, budget parties, engagement party, engagement party at home, engagement party at home budget, parties on a budget, private parties on a budget, wine and beer only menu. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.