Engagement Party! Cheep as Chips, ideas please.

hellokitty08

My sister just got engaged (must learn how to spell that correctly) and she really wants an engagement party. Problem is she has no money what so ever and living in a one bedroom flat, she doesnt have the space to have it at her home, nor does our mum in her two bed bungalow. I would really like to be able to come up with some suggestions for her that cost under £150 as i think we might be able to work to this. I suggested a picnic, but she doesnt want to wait until the summer, she would like to celebrate it sooner.

Any suggestion from my money saving friends? I just cant think what else might work, as obvioulsy we need somewhere with space, dont mind doing a bit of diy catering.

We would be looking at about 50 people, thats just his and hers closest family, so maybe a couple more people might be added, tight budget but i know if anyone can help you guys can!

shellsuit

What about his family? Could one of them not hold it in their homes?

Failing that, is there any village/sports halls etc, or even a local pub who may let you hire a room?

happyfili

Hello there, I'm just about to organise an engagement party myself!

Why don't you try ringing round lots of local pubs...many in our area have free function rooms to hire

Congrats to your sister

talulahbeige_2

Alot of bars will also rope you off a VIP area free of charge or you may have to order a few plates of sandwiches etc. Its worth it to them for the money it will bring in based on drinks sales.

I'd make a list of bars / pubs in the area she wants to the party and do a ring round, if oyu dont ask you dont get!

hellokitty08

We have tried some places, but they want bar sales to reach £700 to do the room hire for free, otherwise its £200 room hire. His family live about 100 miles away and they cant really accomodate a large number of people either. Others have said we must have their food, with the cheapest so far being £6 a head. Maybe we should try a few more places. Dont think we have tried many pubs, will have a think about which ones could rope of a section and ideally dont do food! hehehe

Phyzelda

Try local social clubs too. We held our engagement party in one, paid a £50 deposit and got the money back the day after the party

kr15snw

Social Clubs are good and normally pretty cheap, then could family and friends help to do food?

hellokitty08

well my sister is a member of the local working mens club, they want £195. I dont really get it, maybe we are just unlucky. Still have a couple more of places to try, i think! lol

hellokitty08

Right, we have a venue, they are great £100 and we get it back if they make £700 in bar sales (i doubt it) but its half the price of the other places, we can bring our own food and they will let us bring CDs for their entertainement system, so no need to hire a dj. They also said we can bring food any time during the day and they will keep it stored for us, plus we can have access to the place what ever time we like and have it until 12am and they clear up for us!

Awesome, just working out how much food to buy now! Any help would be appreciated, ive already been and got prices in iceland, think they thought i was a pork pie short of a picnic, wondering round with my notepad and not actually buying any thing.

Also compared prices for paper plates and cuttlery from local cheap shops.