Celebrating Love without Breaking the Bank: 10 Low-Cost Engagement Party Ideas

Congratulations on your engagement! After you have announced your upcoming wedding, the next exciting event is celebrating this milestone with family and friends at an engagement party. However, planning an engagement party can be costly, with expenses such as venue rentals, catering, and decorations. Don’t worry, though – you don’t have to sacrifice your savings to celebrate your love. This blog post will provide you with low-cost engagement party ideas on how to plan a beautiful, personalized celebration that won’t break the bank.

What is an engagement party?

While wedding planning is probably in your peripheral vision, the first thing to tick off your list is to throw an engagement party! An engagement party is a celebration of your upcoming wedding. It’s a chance for your close family and friends to congratulate you and meet each other before the big day. Engagement parties can range from an intimate gathering of family members and closest friends to larger celebrations with up to 100 guests.

Who do you invite to your engagement party, and why?

You should invite your closest family and friends to your engagement party. This list should include close relatives, closest friends, and colleagues who are likely to be invited to the wedding. Do not feel pressured to invite anyone who you feel you have to invite, such as acquaintances or coworkers you do not know well or have not seen in a while. Remember that while an engagement party is an event to celebrate, it is not a wedding, and you do not have to invite anybody out of obligation. Keep the guest list to a comfortable number, and don’t feel overwhelmed or anxious by who you might leave out.

How to keep the guest light?

The easiest way to keep the number of guests light is to plan a smaller, more intimate gathering. A small get-together could be held in your home or a friend’s home, and you can choose to have only close family and friends present. A close family member or friend also might be willing to lend the space—provided they’re invited to the party, of course. Think about the size of your wedding before you set your guest list for the engagement party. Even consider having a smaller event with just your family and close friends. This will cut down on food and drink costs and make it possible for the party to take place in someone’s home, rather than a rented venue.

Low-cost engagement party ideas

You are about to start a new chapter in your life- the juicy and enjoyable journey toward the aisle! As exciting as this sounds, the phase involves a series of events, including the engagement party. When it comes to budget-friendly engagement parties, the key is to keep costs low without compromising on the celebration. Fortunately, we have come up with ten low-cost engagement party ideas that will help you throw a fantastic party without breaking the bank.

10 Low-cost engagement party ideas

1. Host at Home:

A simple but cost-effective option is hosting your engagement party at home. Not only will it save you money on venue rentals, but it also provides an intimate and comfortable setting for you and your guests. Get creative and add some DIY decorations to enhance the ambiance. Consider making your own centerpieces or hanging up string lights to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. You can stretch your budget by borrowing some items from friends and family members. Table and chair rentals are often one of the priciest party expenses, so even if you only collect a few, they’ll end up saving you money. 

2. DIY Photo Booth:

A photo booth is an excellent addition to an engagement party, and you can easily make one yourself without breaking the bank. All you need is a backdrop, props, and a camera. You can use a white sheet or a patterned shower curtain as a backdrop, and simply have fun selecting props such as hats, masks, and signs to make it personalized.

3. Potluck Style Menu:

Food can take up a significant portion of your budget, but you can cut costs by having a potluck-style menu. Guests can contribute their favorite dishes or beverages, making it a diverse and delicious feast. Encourage guests to bring their own reusable containers, reducing the waste of single-use plates and utensils.

4. DIY Party Favors:

End the night on a sweet note by giving out party favors to your guests. DIY favors are not only cost-effective but also an excellent way to show appreciation to your guests. Consider making homemade candles, jams or designing personalized thank you cards.

Creative DIY Party Favors for Your Engagement Party

If you are planning an engagement party, you know that party favors are an essential part of the celebration. They serve as a thank-you gift to your guests for being a part of your special day. Here are some DIY party favor ideas that you can create for your guests.

1. Mini Champagne Bottle Favors

Mini champagne bottles are a cute way to celebrate your engagement party, and guests will love taking them home as favors. Purchase mini bottles, add some personalized labels with your names and wedding date, and tie a ribbon of your wedding colors around the neck of the bottle. If you want to take it to the next level, paint the bottles with glitter or spray paint them with metallic paint.

2. Personalized Candles

Candles are the perfect gift for your guests, and you can easily make your own personalized candles with just a few supplies. Purchase clear glass jars, wicks, fragrance oils, and soy wax flakes. Melt the soy wax flakes in a double boiler, add fragrances, pour into jars, insert wicks, and let it cool. Decorate the jars with personalized labels and ribbons. Your guests will love the sweet and personal touch of these party favors.

3. Succulent Plants

Succulent plants as party favors are perfect for engagement parties because they symbolize long-lasting love and devotion. Purchase small succulent plants, plant them in mini terracotta pots, and decorate them with paint, glitter, or ribbon. Personalize them with a tag that includes growing instructions and your name and wedding date.

4. DIY Sugar Scrubs

Sugar scrubs are easy to make and perfect for guests to take home and enjoy for weeks after the party. Combine sugar, coconut oil, and essential oils or the scent of your choice. Pour into small glass jars, and decorate them with personalized labels and ribbons. Your guests will love using these scrubs and will be reminded of your engagement party.

5. Personalized Wine Glasses

Wine glasses make the perfect party favor for your guests, and they will use them long after the party. Purchase stemless wine glasses, and use a paint pen to personalize each glass with your names and the date of the party. Keep it simple and elegant or add designs or graphics that match your wedding colors.

5. Play Engagement Party Games:

Games add a fun and interactive element to an engagement party, and there are countless DIY options that you can try to play. You can set up a DIY piñata filled with confetti or candies, have a balloon burst competition, or create a personalized Mad Libs game.

6. Host a Backyard Picnic:

A backyard picnic is an excellent low-cost option for an engagement celebration. You can decorate your backyard with flowers, balloons, and DIY banners. You can also buy disposable plates, cups, and utensils to keep things easy and affordable. Prepare sandwiches, salads, and other finger foods to share with your guests. You can even turn it into a themed picnic, like a romantic French picnic or a rustic picnic. Dress up tables with colorful fabric or a few accents that hint at your wedding theme, like seashells for beach nuptials. Don’t forget to bring a Bluetooth speaker to play your favorite music!

7. DIY Decorations: Engagement Party Decoration Ideas

One of the most enjoyable parts of planning a party is decorating for the occasion. Rather than buying expensive decorations, you can make your own using simple materials. For example, you can make paper garlands to hang on the walls or ceilings, make flower arrangements for centerpieces using cheap flowers like baby’s breath, and create lovely table settings with candles, burlap, and ribbon. Use Pinterest for inspiration, and don’t be afraid to get creative!

Sample of DIY decorations for an engagement party:

1. Personalized Banners 

Hang a personalized banner with your names or a sweet love quote. You can make one using paper, paint, ribbon, and glue. Cut out pennant-shaped pieces of paper, paint them or cover them in glitter, and glue them to a ribbon. Then, write the letters of your message on each piece, and hang the banner for a beautiful touch.

2. Floral Arrangements

Flowers are a classic choice for any gathering, and you can easily make your own arrangements. Choose flowers that match your theme or color scheme, and place them in mason jars or vases. You can find affordable flowers at your local supermarket or floral shop.

3. Photo Booth

Set up a fun photo booth at your party with props like mustaches, hats, and sunglasses. You can create a backdrop with streamers or balloons and set up a camera or smartphone to capture the memories. These photos will be a great addition to your wedding album or scrapbook.

4. Seating Cards

Put a personal touch on your seating cards by making them yourself. You can write each guest’s name on a paper card and tie it to a small gift, like a succulent or a mini bottle of champagne. These cards will show your guests how much you appreciate them.

5. DIY Centerpieces

Make your own centerpieces using items you already have at home. You can fill jars or bowls with fruit, flowers, or candles for an elegant touch. You can also create your own custom labels for your candles with your names and wedding date.

8. DIY drinks:

Bar services can be expensive, so why not create your own signature cocktails and mocktails? You can use simple ingredients like fruit and soda to create a refreshing drink. Pass three to five appetizers and serve a few cocktails, beer, and wine for a lovely party at a relatively low cost. This is also a great time to add some personalization to the food and drink by featuring cuisine from a memorable date or vacation. You can also make a batch of sangria or margarita and add some colorful fruits to make it Instagram-worthy.

9. Rent a Communal Space:

If you don’t have space at home to host a party, consider renting a communal space. For instance, you can rent a public park, a community center, or a church hall. These places often come at a low cost and offer plenty of space for your guests to socialize and enjoy. Don’t forget to decorate the place to make it more personalized and festive.

10. Celebrate Virtually:

For couples who don’t want to spend money but still want to celebrate their engagement, consider having a virtual party. You can use Zoom or other video conferencing tools to invite your friends and family to join you. Ask them to dress up, prepare some drinks and snacks, and toast together. You can even play games or enjoy a movie night together.

Planning a memorable engagement party doesn’t have to be expensive. With creativity and DIY tactics, you can host a beautiful and personalized event that celebrates your love without draining your savings. From hosting at home to DIY party favors, these low-cost engagement party ideas are sure to create a memorable experience that you and your guests will never forget. Love is priceless, and sharing that love with cherished ones truly matters. Remember this pre-wedding event should be more low-key than the actual big day. Be careful not to blow your entire wedding budget on this one pre-wedding event. So plan accordingly and have fun! Congratulations!