If you’re looking to host the perfect engagement celebration, you’re in the right place. After the excitement of the proposal, a great way to celebrate with the happy couple is to throw them their own engagement party. The perfect way to share the happiness with close friends and family members before the actual wedding. With that in mind, here are some at home engagement party ideas when on a budget.
When it comes to organising an engagement party there are so many things to consider. From choosing the venue and invitations to organising fun games and delicious food to serve to their closest friends. Thankfully now a virtual engagement party is no longer a thing!
Engagement parties can be stressful to plan, and expensive, so it’s better to start in advance and plan early on. If you want to be prepared to have everything flawlessly organised, here are some useful tips and ideas to plan the perfect engagement party to ensure everyone has a great time.
The Perfect Venue
The first step is to think about the event space or venue for the party. Choosing the right place could be tough because it depends on many factors – how many people are invited, the type of the event and the budget, of course.
As this article is all about how to plan the perfect engagement party at home on a budget, let’s assume you plan to have it in your home and own backyard. However, traditionally, the bride’s parents would host the party at their home, but that’s not a fixed rule, and might not be a possible option.
If you do decide to host it at home, make sure you deck the place out to suit the newly engaged couple. For example, if they love the outdoors, could you host the main event in the garden? Perhaps with some affordable string lights hanging around the area to make it look more special.
Also, know that providing your guests with enough convenient and well-sanitised portable toilets just like the ones from Viking Rental is an important factor to consider especially for an outdoor event.
The Right Date
Of course, if you are in charge of the engagement party, make sure you get the right date and that the couple is actually available on the date picked.
In general, the timeline from the proposal to the party should be between 3-6 months, although this might not be possible. A casual engagement party can be thrown in a short amount of time, however, a formal one will take more time to plan and organise.
The Guest List
Making the guest list can be the most stressful task as you try not to forget anyone or upset anyone in the process. Make sure you find out from the couple who they would and wouldn’t want to attend their special day. This is usually the same list of people that they would want to attend on their big day. So, it is crucial to identify people who have a significant role in the wedding and who should be invited to the engagement party too.
Real invitations or email? There is no right answer since it depends on your budget and the tone of the ceremony. An informal engagement party goes well with a nice digital card, whereas for a formal event a traditional invitation card is a must. However, if you’re having it in your garden, it’s unlikely to be a formal event – unless you live in a mansion or palace!
Whether you choose an email invite, something you make yourself, or one you have designed specifically, don’t forget to add an RSVP to your invitations, so your guests can easily reply. Can you imagine having an engagement party where no one turns up because they couldn’t respond!
The Party Food
The venue is chosen, and the invitations are sent, now you have to find the perfect menu for the party. When choosing the food options, make sure you consider the dietary requirements of the guests, as well as the bride and groom-to-be. For example, if they are vegan, don’t serve mainly meat options, and vice versa.
If you are trying to feed a lot of people on a budget, perhaps you could opt for a BBQ for your casual backyard bash. Either buying everything in bulk, or even asking people to bring a selection of finger foods with them. Perhaps that could even be their form of engagement gifts to the couple.
Or, if you’re just going with more of a cocktail party theme, perhaps the guests could bring their favourite cocktail with them to share with the couple. A fun way to celebrate with their best friends.
How To Save Money
Organising a party could be very expensive. So, here are a few at home engagement party ideas on a budget…
- Have a low number of guests on the guest list
- A simple menu for the party
- Make what you can with your creative skills – perhaps the party favours
- Create some photo booths with disposable cameras
- Host a garden party
- Guests bring their own food or drink
The Perfect Outfit
The perfect outfit kind of depends on the theme for this joyous occasion. Is it going to be a more formal affair where the dress code is black tie or a cocktail dress? Or is it going to be a casual party where jeans are considered OK? Perhaps it might even be a themed event.
This could be a great idea if the newly engaged couple love to dress up. Plus, it also creates the perfect opportunity to use what you have at home to create some budget-friendly costumes.
Party Games
Engagement party games are a good idea to entertain guests and creates opportunities for socialising between people who maybe don’t know each other that well.
Perhaps you could organise some lawn games such as bowls, bag toss, one-legged race, or even pin the tail on the donkey. Games like these make for a fun engagement party idea and will get people laughing in no time.
Who Are The Couple?
As we briefly mentioned above, make sure the party is aimed at who the couple are. Showcasing the things they love – within your price range of course. Things they can share with their small guest list of favourite people in the world.
Try to learn the party etiquette before planning your own event, but bear in mind that the party should be according to the mood of the couple.
All Inclusive
Do you want to plan a perfect party? The venue for the ceremony must be safe and comfortable for every guest on your list. The elderly, young children, people in wheelchairs and with disabilities…etc.
Keep the party on one level and choose a location without ramps and accessible bathrooms. If there is a big distance from the parking to the hall, a good solution should be to arrange a transportation service.
Hopefully you can now create an amazing engagement party for the couple, no matter what your budget is. Create the perfect start to their love story!
We hope this article on at home engagement party ideas on a budget has given you some inspiration on how to create the perfect engagement celebration.
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