I was especially interested in doing the research for this post, because my boyfriend and I are hosting a holiday/birthday party in a just a few weeks. Since I love entertaining, it’s really easy for me to go overboard with party expenses—party decorations, fancy beverages, amazing hors d’oeuvres—you get the idea. My parties start out with a low-key plan and get pricey fast.
But you can make a party fun, original, classy, memorable, festive—whatever you’re going for—without spending the big bucks. Here’s how:
• Keep it simple. The food that is. Think appetizers and finger foods instead of main dishes. Hummus, peppers, olives and pita slices is one option. So is cheese and crackers. You’ll find lots of fancy but cost-conscious appetizer ideas here.
• Calling all cooks. There are always those dorks who love nothing better than to spend the afternoon making an awesome dish for a party. I know because I am one. It doesn’t need to be a full-blown potluck for you to have select friends who love to cook bring something special.
• Drink cheaply and be merry. When it comes to beverages, don’t feel the need to go out and buy all of the bells and whistles. Instead, pick a few signature drinks (punch, hot cider, egg nog) to offer and have some guests bring juice, beer or any other beverages you’d like to offer. When buying ingredients for your signature drinks, discount stores are a host’s best friend.
• A little ambiance goes a long way. You’re just dying to go out and drop $100 bucks on strings of lights, poinsettias, balloons and more, aren’t you? Well, you can cut that down to $20 and still set the mood. A few candles, a red table cloth and a large vase or bowl filled with red ball ornaments would do the trick. Hopefully you have a few of those things to start—the rest you can find at a craft or discount store for cheap.
Keep these tips in mind as you prep for your party and you’ll be off to a great start. Remember: people don’t need to have the most expensive foods, drinks and decorations to have an awesome time. In fact, they aren’t likely to notice the difference. Make the planning process even easier with this Entertainment Planning Calculator.
—Liz R.
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