Special events call for celebration. A birth, birthday, engagement, or anniversary requires celebration. The event can be modest in budget and grand in excitement. The key is finding unique ways to maintain a budget while creating the environment one wishes to have at the party. There are many ways to execute a party on a budget. It only takes a little creativity, and a bit of effort. Let’s discuss some budget-friendly ideas for any special event to stretch the dollar a bit further.
Balloons instead of flowers
Charcuterie or grazing tables
Dessert bars
Hot chocolate station
Create a playlist or Hire a student musician
Collect vases, jars, and other receptacles to make centerpieces
Decorate with the seasons
Book your event on a weekday or weeknight
Use photos for decorations
Create a signature cocktail
Balloons
Balloons are a great way to add color and fun to any celebration. Instead of flowers, balloons can be a great way to save money on decorations and make a big statement. Balloon arches, swags, and displays make an entrance pop while also providing a great backdrop for photos. Professional balloon designers can design items in various sizes to fit the budget; however, this might be a fun one to DIY. It’s surprising how easy it is to use a balloon swag package found online to make statement pieces for a baby shower, birthday, or even wedding reception.
Charcuterie
Food takes up a chunk of the budget for most events. Feeding guests can be expensive. One option is to schedule an event between meal hours and serve heavy hors d’oeuvres or charcuterie instead. Consider this: a baby shower set at 2 p.m. falls just after lunch. A display of sweet and savory charcuterie allows guests to snack and not be hungry but doesn’t consume too much of the budget. Add a selection of desserts and guests will be full and happy when they leave. Charcuterie can be purchased from a food vendor or a friend with a knack for grazing tables and can probably impress guests with their talents.
Dessert Bars
Along the same lines as charcuterie or grazing tables, consider a dessert bar over a traditional cake. We love cakes for their beauty and creativity. We also love how delicious they are. More elaborate cakes can be expensive, so consider a collection of smaller options to stay within the budget. For a birthday or anniversary, offer a selection of the honored guests' favorite sweet treats to satisfy the sweet tooth of those who attend.
Hot Chocolate Station
Another cost-effective, but truly impressive option is a hot chocolate station. Using a beautiful decor piece like a silver urn, serve guests bottomless hot chocolate with an assortment of trimmings like whipped cream in various flavors, crushed candy pieces to dust on top, sauces, and even a selection of crackers and cookies as garnish. The hot chocolate station is a fun addition at any event that kids and adults alike will enjoy. If hot chocolate isn’t the preferred drink, consider apple cider, coffee, or tea depending on the time of year and the guest list.
Create a playlist or hire a student musician
Music is a necessity at any celebration. Two cost-effective options for music are to create a playlist on a streaming service. Selections can be tailored to the event and the preferences of the honored guests. Student musicians are a great option as well. Many students (college or high school) would love the opportunity to share their talent with the world as they train for future careers. Many will play for an affordable amount that meets most budgets.
Collect vases, jars, and other receptacles to make centerpieces
Vases, jars, and other receptacles can be found in abundance around many homes. Check with family members about what can be shared to create centerpieces. Another great source for inexpensive centerpieces is local thrift stores. For inexpensive flowers, try Trader Joe's or Costco for fresh blooms to create the tablescapes to love.
Decorate with the seasons
In the spring and summer, an easy decorating option is wildflowers. In the fall, pumpkins make a grand entrance. They’re easy to find at every grocery store. In the winter, items like pinecones create a beautiful and seasonally appropriate way to add to the decor of any special event. Sometimes scented pinecones are available as well.
Book events on weekdays or weeknights
While this budget-friendly suggestion is not always workable for everyone, a weekday or weeknight celebration has a definite impact on the budget. Most venues will have reduced rates for these occasions.
Planning may require effort, and not all guests may attend, but this is one option to consider when working with a budget.
Use photos for decorations
Especially for anniversaries, birthdays, and weddings, photos make an excellent and important contribution to the decor for these events. Everyone loves to see pictures of themselves or others. Photos provide an important glimpse into the life of the person or people being celebrated. Photos can be used on posters as a display, or at place settings to show people where to sit. Photos can be used to decorate jars or other receptacles for flowers. Photos are also great as scatter cards similar to confetti on a table, and are much easier to clean up!
Create a signature cocktail
One budget-friendly way to throw a great party is to forego alcohol completely. Alcohol can be costly, so this is one budget item that can be removed entirely. The party will still be fun - we promise. If teetotaling is not an option, create one or two signature cocktails and serve those instead of an open bar option. Limiting the number of drinks or the alcohol served keeps the alcohol budget manageable for the one paying the bill.
There are many ways to host a memorable event (birthday, engagement, anniversary, baby shower, reception) without going overboard. Once the budget is set, it’s easy to find ways to manage expenses and still make the event feel lavish and fun.
Venues will have different options for items they provide like tables, chairs, tablecloths, dishes, glassware, and napkins. Selecting a venue where these items are included in the pricing helps clients stay within budget because they are not searching separately at an additional cost. Royal Affairs Ballroom does offer package pricing and many items are included in the event. We don’t charge extra for tables, chairs, tablecloths, and even centerpieces that can be used with tablescapes.
We would love for you to tour our venue and see it yourself. Call us today at 972-221-6565 to schedule.
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