How to Plan an Engagement Party on a Budget

Planning an engagement party while also saving for a wedding can be stressful. Justin McIntosh and Nathan Smith, a recently engaged couple from Nashville, Tennessee, pulled off an amazing party without breaking the bank. Here are some budget tips they learned along the way.

If you have to rent a venue, save money by picking a spot not in the heart of a city. Popular, in-demand venues tend to have higher rates. Nathan surprised Justin with an engagement party in downtown Franklin, Tennessee – about 20 minutes south of Nashville – at Lillie Belle’s, a Queen Anne style Victorian home across the street from where they originally met.

Decorations don’t have to be expensive to be beautiful. Clear glass vases and candles can be purchased very affordably at your local craft or dollar store. You can also save money on buying flowers from a local wholesale florist and putting the arrangements together yourself.

Use free templates online to download and print a banner instead of buying. Stores like Paper Source have great paper selections and DIY banner kits that allow you to customize a banner like the “Congrats" one shown here hanging in the entryway for the party.