Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now, it’s time to plan the engagement party, because your guests cannot wait to celebrate the happy news with you and your fiancée! I know what you’re thinking; planning an engagement party may seem daunting and costly at first. But you can breathe a sigh of relief because it doesn’t have to break the bank! For example, hanging engagement banners around your party venue is an excellent way to get guests into the celebratory spirit. With a little creativity and some budget-friendly choices, you can significantly reduce the cost of your upcoming celebration. This article will explore various budget-friendly ideas that will make your engagement party extra special.

How to Celebrate Without Breaking the Bank

Did you know that the average engagement party costs approximately £1000? If this figure is way out of your budget, don’t panic. Engagement parties don’t have to be that expensive. Here are some budget-friendly engagement party ideas to mull over:

Creative (and low-cost) banners

Engagement banners are perhaps the most important aspect of your party decor. The good news is you have several engagement banner options to choose from. You can go the personalised engagement banner route and adorn your venue with your names to make the celebration feel as personal as possible. Custom engagement banners are a great way to amp up the celebratory spirit, but they also make a special keepsake to treasure long after the party comes to an end. 

Unique and cost-effective venue options

When you think engagement party, you probably picture a posh soiree in an event venue, such as a hotel. But it doesn’t have to follow this traditional formula. There are plenty of engagement party venues to choose from:

Garden BBQ at home 

Transform your garden into a relaxed BBQ spot with fairy lights, flowers, rustic table decorations, tablecloths, candles, and of course, a large BBQ to serve delicious burgers, hot dogs and other delectable options to your guests. To get into the celebratory spirit, why not set up a DIY cocktail station? You’ll need drinks to toast the engagement!

Pizza party at home

Now, who doesn’t love a pizza party? If you’re feeling creative, rather than ordering pizza from a local restaurant, why not set up a make-your-own pizza station? It allows guests to customise their pizzas and gives them a fun activity to get stuck into! For an extra personal touch, consider a homemade pizza dough kit. This easy addition allows guests to start with fresh dough, making the pizza-making process even more hands-on and fun. Plus, it’s a budget-friendly way to elevate your party’s menu.

Brunch at a restaurant 

If you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve any time-consuming setting-up or clearing away, consider having brunch at a local restaurant with your nearest and dearest. We’re talking pastries, eggs benedict, avocado toast, bagels, and maybe even some mimosas for those in the mood for a celebratory drink.

Party in an event space

If you’d prefer to celebrate more traditionally, hire a local event space to host your engagement party. Hire a private room in your favourite restaurant or rent out an event space in a swanky hotel; it’s up to you.

Affordable cuisine options

Once you’ve selected a venue, you need to think about the food: 

Rent a food truck

If you’re hosting an engagement garden party, consider hiring a food truck. It’s a relatively affordable but novel way to feed your hungry guests!

Bring a dish

Get into the community spirit by asking each party guest to bring a dish of their choice with them instead of a traditional engagement present. You’ll end up with a delightful assortment of delicious dishes!

Just make sure to decorate the whole space so it’ll feel like a special occasion. Find some square tablecloths that fit your color scheme, along with some nice napkins and table runners to add a touch of elegance. Also, don’t forget to have a special area set aside for displaying the engagement gifts.

Sit-down meal

If you’re looking for a hands-off option, host your engagement party in a private room at a local restaurant and enjoy a sit-down meal made by professional chefs.

Buffet

A buffet is the ideal food option if you’re hosting a party in an event venue, such as a community hall. Push several long tables together, adorn them with tablecloths, and lay out a wide range of hot and cold food for your guests to enjoy.

Engaging engagement party activities

To keep your engagement party guests engaged, you should give them a range of things to do (apart from chatting, eating and drinking). Here are a couple of entertainment ideas to consider:

Photo booth

DIY photo booths are a fantastic option, as they provide endless entertainment and preserve precious memories in photo form! Don’t forget to provide props, such as hats, glasses, signs and balloons for your guests to pose with.

Games and quizzes

Another entertainment option is games and quizzes. We’re talking giant jenga, giant Connect 4, pub quiz-style trivia questions, and maybe even bingo.

Photo slideshow

Show guests your love story by setting up a projector with a slideshow of photos of the happy couple. It’s a great conversation starter for guests that may not be familiar with each other well.

Other ways to optimise your engagement party budget

It’s vital to understand your budget and prioritise what matters most to you and your fiancée. The good news is you can do other things to keep your engagement party way below that scary £1000 average cost, such as:

Secondhand decor

You can use secondhand decor from online marketplaces, such as Preloved, Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, to decorate your venue at a fraction of the cost. 

Cheaper flowers

Hiring a florist to deck out your venue in beautiful flowers is far from essential. Why not go the cheaper route and buy flowers from the supermarket? They’re just as elegant with a smaller price tag!

Digital invites

Save money on printed decorations by sending out digital ones to friends and loved ones over email or messaging apps. 

Playlists

Instead of hiring an expensive DJ or live band, bring a speaker from home and fire up your favourite party playlists. People will dance regardless of where the sound is coming from!

In Summary: Budget-Friendly Engagement Party Ideas

From personalised and custom engagement banners to unique venues and food options, such as a garden BBQ or a pizza party, we’ve demonstrated that a unique and enjoyable engagement party is possible on a budget. Embrace your creativity and think outside the box to plan an unforgettable engagement party that celebrates your love without breaking the bank. Happy party planning!