Party Budget
Most of us love to attend parties. The good food, the laughs with other people, the music, and the overall positive vibes of their atmosphere are what makes them exciting and memorable. However, they can be expensive to arrange. Aside from extensive event planning, it would help if you also did a lot of budget planning to host a party. The parties you’ve attended before may look extravagant—seemingly sparing no expense—but believe it or not, their hosts did a lot of cost control in preparing them. And you should do the same. So, before you purchase things for your party, budget it well with the help of our party budget templates and examples!
10+ Party Budget Examples
1. Party Budget Template
2. Graduation Party Budget Template
3. Birthday Party Budget Template
4. Party Plan Budget Template
5. Party Budget Proposal
6. Holiday Party Budget Planner
7. Graduation Party Budget Worksheet
8. Wedding Party Budget Calculator
9. Engagement Party Budget Planner
10. Party Budget Example
11. Party Budget Planning in PDF
What Is a Party Budget?
A party budget is a detailed breakdown of a party’s expenses. Every expense that a party accrues, from food and drinks menu to logistics, are all part of its budget. Without a prearranged budget, the host or event planner could end up spending too much, causing a significant financial loss. That said, it’s a cost control tool. Even the grandest of parties or events undergo thorough budget planning before their hosts or organizers start preparations. Take note that overspending doesn’t guarantee a successful event or party. And that’s one of many reasons why a party budget is so important.
How Much Does It Cost to Host a Party?
There’s no exact or standard total cost to follow in hosting a party. It varies on how big the party will be and how much you can afford to organize it. But to give you a hint of much your party might cost, we’ll show you the most common expenses of events and their lowest and highest possible costs. We based them on the estimates of EventKickstart.
- Catering Services – $180 to $30,000
- Cake and Dessert Menu – $100 to $2,000
- Decoration – $250 to $7,000
- Live Music – $200 to $3,500
- Event Planning Services – $100 to $8,000
- Venue – $400 to $24,750
- Photography Services – $125 to $4,500
- Videography Services – $300 to $3,200
- Entertainment Services – $175 to $675
- DJ Services – $200 to $2,300
This information can surely give you an idea of how to budget money for your upcoming party, be it a birthday party budget, graduation party budget, or wedding ceremony and reception budget.
How to Create a Party Budget
For the majority of people, creating a budget is a major headache. There’s the number of items to keep track of, the calculations that often end up becoming quite complicated, and so much more. But do those mean that making a party budget planner should be difficult? Of course not. There are simple tips to make things easier, and we’re going to discuss each of them with you.
1. Make a List of Things You Need for the Party
Before diving into the mathematical aspects of your budget, make a checklist of the things you need for your party. Only you know about them. But make sure they’re necessary for your party’s programs. In making a budget, this is always the first step. You can’t start budgeting if you don’t know what you’ll be buying.
2. Determine How Many Guests You’ll Have
The number of guests your party will have is an essential equation for your budget. It affects the quantity of the things you need to purchase, especially food and drinks. More people means a bigger budget; lesser people means a smaller budget. So keep that in mind before you send your party invitations.
3. Opt for the Most Cost-Friendly Alternatives
Regardless if you’ll be hosting a kids birthday party, a simple get together, or any gathering, try to opt for cost-friendly alternatives. As we’ve said earlier, spending too much doesn’t ensure a successful party. It’s possible to organize a cheap party that can satisfy your guests. Specifically, there is plenty of party on a budget food ideas that you can use. Serving tasty party foods doesn’t have to hurt your pocket.
But, if you have the money to make your party as grand as possible, go for it!
4. Calculate the Total and Cut Some Expenses If Needed
Once you’ve estimated the prices of your party’s expenses, calculate the total. And that’s your total budget. But if the result is too expensive for you or exceeds your estimate, cut some of your expenses. Try to downsize their quantity if they’re too extra.
You can hire event planners if you don’t want the hassle of organizing your party on your own. They can come up with an event budget proposal for you. All you have to do is approve it. But you should know their services aren’t cheap.
What are the most budget-friendly party foods?
These are some party foods that you can easily buy from groceries, order from fast-food restaurants, or make at home:
- Tacos
- Pasta
- Pizza
- Baked potatoes
- Nachos
- Cheese and crackers
- Salad
- Party sandwiches
Is it possible to host a party not more than $50?
Yes, it is. That would probably be the cheapest party in the history of parties. Sometimes less is more. Here are three steps that you can take to organize a decent party under $50:
- Purchase decors at a dollar store or thrift store.
- Purchase gifts and giveaways at garage sales.
- Find food on sale items near your area.
How far in advance must I start budget planning for my party?
It depends on how big the party is. The most ideal, however, would be six weeks before. For smaller parties, with not more than ten guests, you can plan them a week prior. But for a wedding budget planner, it should be six months before. Some weddings even take a year to plan.
Parties don’t happen every day. So you make them as memorable as possible. Among the things you can do to achieve that is by budgeting them well. With that said, take advantage of our examples and templates. You can also refer to our event budget template and small conference budget template.