How to Throw a Cheap Engagement Party for Under $400

Are you looking for cheap engagement party ideas? We were able to throw a cheap engagement party for under $400 for our daughter. By all accounts the party was a success!

The engagement party is the first hurdle to be crossed when planning a wedding. We chose the venue and date first since those decisions inform so many others.

Our challenge was to find a venue with plenty of parking and space for activities. Ultimately, we rented a pavilion at a local city park for $50. The park suited our needs and the personalities of the bride and groom perfectly.

Next, I tasked the happy couple was compiling a guest list. A cheap engagement party means reducing or eliminating postage. We sent invitations through Facebook, email and telephone. This saved money, prevented chapped lips and fits the lifestyle of college students.

I was able to develop the food budget once I knew roughly how many people might come. The setting called for a cookout. It didn't take us long to figure out that steak kebobs and shrimp were out and burgers and hot dogs were in.

We planned to serve 50 people. Our menu included hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments and cole slaw, chips, baked beans and chili. After looking at costs I estimated that our food costs for this cheap engagement party would be about $200. The cake and most of the food was purchased at the wholesale club for $160. A few items were picked up at the grocery store for about $20. This came in under budget by about $20.

There were 10 tables and a short walkway to be decorated. I used my daughter's colors of Malibu blue and Sunshine yellow. By sheer luck, we already had a number of bowls and serving pieces that matched the Sunshine yellow. The rest of the supplies were picked up at a dollar store and a craft shop. This helped make the cheap engagement party a reality.

The park activities reduced our entertainment needs. The big grassy field was ideal for the large kites that my daughter's friends brought along. The playground, track and dog park were also utilized.

Skipping on the music helped make it a cheap engagement party. Music wasn't really an option. The electrical outlets were needed to keep food warm in the slow cookers. We talked about a boom box but wound up not needing it.

The day of the party dawned bright and sunny. We put bows on the posts at the end of the walkway and lined the rest it with brightly colored pinwheels. Everyone loved them but none more so than my daughter and her special guy. Cheap engagement party or not my daughter says that she enjoyed the special day.

I purchased items with an eye toward reusing them for the wedding. A few of the serving pieces and all of the vases will be reused later. There are a couple of packages of bows and a few silk flowers that weren't opened. Having these items gives me a head start on wedding planning.

How did I do on the budget for the cheap engagement party? Some items cost more than planned but others cost less. I wound up over purchasing food. We have enough soda, hot dogs and hamburgers left to feed us for a month. Despite the over purchase we still came in at under $400.

Here's the actual cost breakdown.

Cheap engagement party budget $400
Food $200
Decorations $75
Venue $50
Utensils and paper goods $40
Flowers $35

Actual cheap engagement party costs
Food $182
Decorations $51
Venue $50
Utensils and paper goods $46
Drink containers and dowels $22
Flowers $22
Lowe's $12
Total: $385

Difference
The cheap engagement party came in at $15 below budget. An experience like this will only be topped by a cheap wedding. I can't wait to see how that goes!