At-home Engagement Party Tips: Budget-Friendly. Celebrate in style. How to hose a budget-friendly at-home engagement party. Cozy and cost-effective. Hosting an affordable engagement party at home. Engagement party ideas that are right on the budget. Beautiful and found ideas to celebrate your engagement with your closest family and friends right at your home.
- Classic, Simple & Household Staples
- Food and drinks (appetizers & easy buffets)
- Entertainment and activities
- Up the vibe
- Seating and washrooms
- Signage
- Requirements
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Celebrating your engagement is an exciting milestone, marking the beginning of a new chapter in your life.
While engagement parties can sometimes be elaborate affairs, hosting an at-home engagement party can be a budget-friendly and intimate way to share your joy with close family and friends.
Whether you’re aiming for a cozy gathering or a lively celebration, there are numerous creative ways to make your at-home engagement party memorable without breaking the bank.
In this post, we’ll explore some practical tips and ideas to help you plan a budget-friendly and fun at-home engagement party that reflects your love story while keeping the focus on what truly matters: your journey toward happily ever after.
To start your at-home engagement party planning, it is important to set a date and time that works for your household best.
Determine a budget for your engagement party and stick to it. Allocate funds to the most important aspects and be mindful of unnecessary expenses.
Of course, it goes without saying that picking your guests is also essential in how you can pull off a budget-friendly at-home engagement party.
Defining your style or theme will help you determine how much work and help is needed to execute, as well as figure out your final budget or what you are willing to spend.
Decide how many people you’d like to come and celebrate with you. Since this is an intimate gathering, keep the guest list manageable.
Design and send out invitations that reflect the theme of your engagement party. You can opt for traditional paper invitations or use digital platforms to save costs. Make sure to include RSVP details.
When sending out invitations, include a start and end time to ensure your guests know when to leave. *wink wink*
Here is a quick list of tips to go over before we dive deeper:
- DIY Decorations: Get creative with DIY decorations using items you already have or inexpensive craft supplies.
- Create a Signature Drink: Serve a signature cocktail or punch instead of a full bar to save on alcohol costs.
- Opt for Casual Dining: Choose a casual dining style like a buffet or finger foods instead of a formal sit-down dinner.
- DIY Invitations: Create your own invitations or use digital invitations to save on printing and postage.
- Music Playlist: Create a playlist instead of hiring a DJ or band to provide entertainment.
- Borrow or Rent: Borrow or rent items like tables, chairs, and dinnerware instead of buying new ones.
- Simple Desserts: Serve homemade or store-bought desserts instead of an elaborate cake.
- Keep It Intimate: Limit the guest list to close friends and family to keep costs manageable and create a cozy atmosphere.
We have great and easy-to-pull-off at-home engagement party tips!
Classic, Simple & Household Staples
Just because you are doing your engagement party at home, does not mean you have to spend so much on decor. You can opt for balloon arches that are classic and simple – perfect for your backdrop.
For your table decor and centerpieces, you can reuse items you already have at home. Hear us out. Why not mismatch your table decor with trinkets lying around your house?
When you use items you already have at your home, you can order “some” flowers to pull together whichever look you are going for! You can DIY your flower arrangements as well, by ordering bunches online (like those from The Bouqs) and setting them up yourself.
It is also important to point out that renting decor is best for any at-home event. This way, you won’t need to worry about garbage disposal. The rental company will usually set it up and go back at the end of the event to pick it up.
Rentals like floral arrangements, flatware, and glassware are a great way to not “interrupt” your current “household” set-up and let the decorators do their magic!
Check with your local nursery on how you can rent plants and flower pots!
Embrace DIY decor using items you already have. Consider repurposing fairy lights and candles for a charming ambiance. Incorporate engagement photos for a personal touch.
REMEMBER: If your party involves an outdoor element, have a backup plan in case of bad weather. Be prepared to move the party indoors if needed.
Food and drinks (appetizers & easy buffets)
PRO TIP: Consider hosting your engagement party during non-meal times. An afternoon or evening gathering can reduce the expectation for a full meal, allowing you to focus on light refreshments.
Now, of course, depending on how many people are attending and how long you’d like the at-home engagement party to go on, easy food like charcuterie boards / grazing tables and easy appetizers are great for a cocktail-style event. Even a simple buffet will be great!
Small bites and finger foods are easier to mingle with! This means, fewer utensils, plates, and garbage!
Snack and charcuterie boxes are easy to set up and also less messy! In addition, it also saves a lot of space!
Looking to serve comfort food like pizza, burgers, and fries? You can definitely do this! Elevate presentation by using tiered serving platters. You can also rent chaffing dishes to keep them warm!
How about brunch? This is also a great idea!
For the drinks, you can create a “station” so you won’t need to hire a bartender (unless of course, you want to!) Stations like sangria station, or your signature drink, work well! This saves you money on booze, and also, it also keeps garbage (bottles, glasses, etc.) managed better.
Opt for a casual and budget-friendly menu. Consider a potluck-style gathering where guests bring their favorite dish. It adds a communal and personal element to the celebration.
Create a signature cocktail or mocktail that ties into your engagement story or a shared interest. This adds a special touch without the need for a fully stocked bar – saves you a lot of money!
There are a lot of paper plates and plastic utensils that do not look tacky at all. You can pick ones that still look fun, but also elegant at the same time. We’d say avoid plain white at all costs. Using the ones with classic designs and gold details will elevate the feel and look of the meals.
Entertainment and activities
Give your guests and yourselves a chance to enjoy and *actually* celebrate the night! Entertainment ideas can be putting an acoustic show (your type of music) on a projector for guests to watch.
Having a DJ and/or an acoustic entertainer/singer will be best! Especially the ones that can also emcee and get some other activities going.
Of course, you can also create your own playlist if you prefer. If you are using Spotify, try and use the paid service to skip the ads – because truthfully, they ruin the vibe.
Games are always a great way to enjoy yourself with your guests. Trivia games and photo booths are so much fun!
If there are some people in your family and circle of friends who would like to make a toast, this is a great chance as well. Of course, you and your partner can also throw in a nice heartfelt speech during this time!
Putting together a DIY photobooth is also a great way to capture memories!
Up the vibe (our fave At-home Engagement Party Tips)
Create a stylish and comfortable area for you and your guests! Adding dramatic and/or interesting lighting will be great!
Lightings like starry lights or colored spotlights can change the whole vibe of the house. This will make it more of an “event space.”
If you have a backyard, add lanterns or hanging patio lights to add that “Paris” vibe! Romantic and laid-back mood! If you can also add a fire pit, it adds to the experience altogether!
Setting up outside? Don’t forget bug candles/sprays! Which can also double as decor candles! Check for the weather, if there is a chance of rain, renting a tent is always a great idea!
Adding a projector wall where you can play montages of you and your partner, as well as your guests will be a great way to entertain and make them feel special.
Consider providing small party favors or keepsakes as a token of appreciation for your guests’ presence. It could be something simple and meaningful that ties into your relationship.
Seating and washrooms
“Lounge” areas can help your guests feel more comfortable.
Rent couches. It might seem like chairs are a better idea. However, depending on the space you are working with, one chair per person might not work. Couches with no armrests can provide more seating.
Couches with a water-resistant cover will work better to avoid cleaning fees from spillage and accidents.
You might not need to rent a washroom depending on how many people you are inviting, but it is necessary that you prep your current bathroom for high traffic.
Stock up on hand soaps, and tissues and also set up automatic sprays and sanitizers. If need be, assign someone to watch out for the cleanliness of the bathroom.
Signage
Let your guests help themselves by setting up signs whenever applicable.
These signs can include, what is being served (alcohol and food), directions to the washrooms, where to get paper towels, plates, etc. Any sign that will help the guests navigate their way around your residence without *hopefully,* breaking anything or holding up the flow of the crown.
This can be done by printing them on a regular 8.5×11″ paper and then purchasing some affordable frames from your local craft store. Place the signs strategically so that guests can help themselves.
Requirements
With any at-home celebration, it is important to check with your municipality or local government requirements and restrictions on what you can bring or set up where you reside to accommodate a party.
This might include a liquor license depending on how many guests you are receiving.
This will ensure that you and your guests will celebrate the night away without any “officers” knocking on your door!
Don’t forget to figure out the garbage situation, especially if you are DIY-ing a lot of things!
This feat involves a lot of work. But of course, if you are up for it, it’ll work out. You can hire servers for the day of if you need help circulating the food.
Don’t forget to consider space to store the food, prep them, as well as dispose of them. Decide if you are to use disposable plates or real plates. This of course depends on the number of guests you are having, but make sure to include this in your budget.
The same goes for serving platters. If you are serving large portions of food, you’ll need serving platters, tongs, and other serving needs.
Also, consider planning for cleaning afterward. Whether you are the one doing the cleaning or hiring a cleaning company to help out.
〰️ Hosting an at-home engagement party on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on the significance or the memories you’ll create.
By embracing creativity, personal touches, and the warmth of your home, you can craft an intimate and memorable celebration that reflects your unique love story.
Planning an at-home engagement party allows you to create an intimate and meaningful experience that truly reflects your relationship. Remember, it’s not about extravagance; it’s about celebrating your love and the journey you’re embarking on with your loved ones by your side.
