WhereYouAreNow

Yesterday I talked about how I saved with the 25th wedding anniversary party I planned. Today I’m going to be giving you tips on how to go about planning your own party on a budget. This list can go towards any party that you plan but is more beneficial to those planning a larger party. Either way pick and choose the tips that will work best for you and your event. Good luck!

1.) Do Research: It is very important to know what is appropriate for the occasion that you’re planning. You should have an idea of what has worked for others in the past and what should just be left alone. This applies to location, decorations, the guest list, and food as well. A well thought out party is a successful party.

2.) Location, location, location: The setting is very important when planning a party, especially if it’s going to be more formal. If your home is large enough and can accommodate the number of people on the guest list, that should be your starting point. It’s normally easier and a lot cheaper if you can just have the gathering at your own place. You’re more comfortable there and it makes food preparation a breeze. If that is not an option, check out your local fire hall or church. If you attend the church you want to host your event at, they may offer a room to you for free. If not, either choice will be substantially cheaper than other options out there.

3.) Guest list: Keep your list to a minimum. The less people there, the less cost to you. It gets more and more expensive the farther up you go with your guest list. Be realistic about who you “have” to invite. Once you start getting into the, “well I have to invite them because I invited ________(fill in the blank)”, it gets dicey. Start with making a list of the bare minimum people that you really want to have there. Then make another list of who would be nice to have there. If the second list gets out of control, ditch it altogether and just stick to the original.

4.) Decorations/Centerpieces: If you are having a sit down dinner it may be necessary to have some sort of centerpiece on the table. This can get seriously pricey if not thought through. Do some digging and try to figure out if anyone would have decorations you can borrow. Did someone have a wedding recently? Could you borrow decorations from a school that just had a prom? Does the church you belong to have anything you could borrow? Ask around. Maybe you could borrow enough items from different places/people to pull something together. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to match perfectly. It is perfectly fine for the items to be eclectic. Maybe you want to have flowers as a centerpiece but you don’t have enough vases. Ask friends and family for any glass vases that they may have. Secure a piece of tape on the bottom with their name on it then fill them with flowers. Not all the vases are exactly the same BUT they all match because they’re glass.

5.) Stay Organized: When you are on top of all the little dirty details then it’s less likely that you will be running errands at the last minute to pick up things you forgot. When that happens you are normally in a hurry and you’re not exactly looking for the best deal. The last minute details can really add up if you haven’t planned properly.

6.) Cake: Cakes are ridiculously overpriced in my opinion. Instead of getting a cake made, opt for cupcakes or other desserts instead. And, if you can manage, make the treats yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable making them, ask a friend or family member if they would mind helping you out by making them. By not going to a bakery you can easily save yourself at least $100 depending on the size of the function.

7.) Borrow over Renting: In general, it’s more costly to rent than it would be to borrow. The two large parties that I planned this year, I borrowed anything I possibly could. I made sure I kept good notes so I could return the items to their proper owners. This saved a bundle, especially when I think about what all I needed and might have got stuck renting if I couldn’t work anything out. Here are some things to try to borrow over renting: tablecloths, tables, chairs, seat coverings, centerpieces, decorations, serving trays, chafing pans, silverware, china, etc. “Beg, Borrow, and Steal.” Well, maybe not steal, but you get the idea.

8.) Helping hands: These days money can buy just about anything, including help. I needed help when I hosted my events this year but I did not hire a service to do it. I took the responsibility upon myself. I phoned friends and family and found out who was available to work that evening. I did pay them a small amount and made sure I sent them a thank you card as well. Even though I did pay them, you would not have to do the same if your budget did not allow it. I would not forgo the card though. It is so important to give praise where it is due. If someone has taken time out of their busy schedule to help you out, please do something for their efforts. I would also encourage you to give them a gift card to a cafe or something. Maybe just a $5 gift card to Starbucks. It lets them know that you saw how much they worked and are doing what you can to reward their efforts. When you are considerate towards people they will be more likely to help you out again in the future.

9.) Food: Always make your own food over having it catered. Catering services get really pricey and it’s honestly not worth it. People would much rather have some good, home-cooked food any day. I received numerous compliments on the food that we served for the anniversary party we hosted. We decided on 4 different pasta dishes, all home-made, and all delicious. People appreciated the time and effort we put into it. It can get to be a chore though when serving a large group of people, even a small group gets to be a lot. Don’t be afraid to ask people if they could bring something. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. For this last party I didn’t feel like it would be appropriate to ask any of the guests to bring items. So instead, I asked my family. They were more than willing to help out and everything was delicious!

10.) Entertainment: This is one area that people tend to go overboard. Adults really don’t need to be overly entertained. They can entertain themselves. I wouldn’t hire a DJ or anyone to act as entertainment for the evening. Instead, if you are hosting a party to honor someone (like a birthday, anniversary, or shower) pass a mic around and let people share funny or memorable times they had the with person you’re honoring. People love to hear personal stories and it’s a great way for your guests to be involved. If you want music, just simply play some in the background. It’s a nice touch but not over the top in any way.

I hope this list will help you out as much as it helped me out this year. If you have an upcoming event let us know about it or send us pictures of your successful parties.