Champagne taste on a beer budget? Good party planning is about making the most of the resources you have on hand. You don’t have to spend a fortune to host a memorable get-together.

Parties are about spending time with people you care about or generating interesting interactions with business leads. They aren’t necessarily about how much money you have to spend. In this article, we take a look at ways you can host an interesting get-together without spending a fortune.

Consider free or affordable venues

Your party location can eat up an enormous portion of your budget, easily costing several hundred dollars—or more—at a traditional venue.

Affordable venues, like parks or rental halls (think Elk’s Club) may be appropriate for some get-togethers where elegance needn’t necessarily factor into the equation. For example a family reunion or a graduation party.

If you are hosting an event where the expectations might be a little higher, consider hosting the event at your office or even your home. These settings are more intimate and can be adapted to feel high-end.

Home-hosted parties have become increasingly more common since the pandemic. They are a great way to show colleagues your domestic side while still putting on a good bash. The best part is the money that you don’t spend on the venue can now be funneled toward food and decorations. Speaking of which….

Catering

Catering is easily the second most expensive aspect of hosting a large get-together. If you are going to feed 20 or more people it’s going to cost you. Professional catering prices range pretty dramatically but generally, you won’t find options below $10 a person.

That of course, does not include alcohol or appetizers/desserts.

If you are going to cook the food yourself, you can expect to spend quite a bit less. 

This requires a combination of skill and good planning. It is hard to play the host with the most, and the chef all in the same evening. However, with a little bit of help from a trusted family member or friend, you should be able to pull it off.

Not sure where to begin? Consider dishes that feel fancier than they actually are. Italian cuisine is uniquely qualified to satisfy this requirement. Pasta dishes that cost $30 in a restaurant can often be made for under five per plate at home.

What’s more, these dishes reheat well and will work on serving trays or crockpots.

Snacks, desserts, and drinks

If you aren’t going to cater your main course, you will be able to afford pre-arranged snacks and desserts. Most high-end grocery stores will have everything you need in the appetizer department. Talk to the deli counter about their appetizer plates. If you really want to get fancy consider grocery store sushi. At $5-10, a roll it is a unique and surprisingly affordable way to hold your guests over while they wait for the main course.

For dessert, consider the services of a local baker. You should be able to find someone who makes affordable and often customizable desserts for any party.

Drink prices are generally more or less fixed. Since you are on a budget hiring a bartender is probably off the table, but you can get creative with a couple of signature cocktails. Worst comes to worst no one has ever complained about free beer and wine.

Decorations

This is a great place to focus the majority of your budget. Many people who are trying to plan a big party with a small amount of money go for large quantities of mediocre decorations. Unfortunately, this effort is often misguided.

Where a lot of cheap stuff just makes your party look low budget, one or two pricier decorations speak of class and may make the overall vibe of the get-together classier than it otherwise would’ve been.

Invest in a beautiful centerpiece. Lean heavily into seasonal colors. Consider the merits of a customizable indoor flower wall. These pieces will command every guest’s attention and give your event the class of a party with a much higher budget.

Interested in getting started but don’t know where to begin? We have a large line of high-end decorative party features that suit a range of budgets. Our indoor flower walls and balloon garland are a great way to enhance your party’s aesthetic.

Contact us today for custom recommendations!