Our DIY Engagement Party

Our DIY Engagement Party: Moon, Stars, and Chaos in a Village Hall

Planning an engagement party sounded easy enough, right? Pick a venue, grab some decorations, sort out the food, and voila—a magical night to remember. Well, let me tell you, hosting in a local village hall is a whole experience, especially when you're doing it all yourself. But we had a vision—moon and stars to signify the very special way we got engaged, navy sashes, and a cold buffet to save cash. And while it came together in the end, we definitely learned a thing or two along the way.

Setting the Scene: Celestial Vibes on a Budget We wanted our party to feel personal, with a moon and stars theme. Thanks to the wonders of online shopping, we got everything we needed for a fraction of the cost—navy chair sashes, satin table runners, glitter cut-out stars, battery tea lights, and a few extra touches like a light-up moon lamp. We even had a memorial welcome table to honor those no longer with us, using wooden easels, prints I designed on Canva, and some letter lights for that added glow. Getting all the decorations online saved us a fortune, but also meant a lot of DIY on the day.

The Buffet: A Labour of Love (or Madness) The cold finger buffet... where do I even start? We thought we'd save a ton by doing it ourselves, and while we definitely kept costs down, it was a LOT of work. From prepping the food the night before to arranging it on aluminium trays bought at the supermarket, we were in the kitchen more than we were partying. We even went the extra mile and labeled everything with little flags for our vegetarian and gluten-free friends. Looking back, I think next time I’d splurge on catering or even pre-made trays from Morrisons or M&S to save the stress.

Our cake was gifted to us by Matts sister who is very skilled in baking, truly the best cake ever! 

Music and Lights: DIY Disco The sound system was another DIY win. We created our own playlist, added a laser light and rope light we had lying around, and made use of the hall’s spotlights. Sure, a DJ or live band would’ve been great, but we saved hundreds and had complete control over the vibe. Though I’ll admit, a disco ball would’ve taken it to the next level. The only downside? It’s hard to keep everyone dancing without a DJ to work the crowd. Lesson learned! Wild friends at this point are essential. ✅

The Great Decor Debacle Now, let’s talk about what went slightly wrong. We had a 1.5-hour window to transform the hall, thinking we’d be fine with five adults and three kids helping. Spoiler: we were not.

By 6:45 pm (with the party starting at 7), we had:

• Half-covered chairs with sashes that did NOT look like my Pinterest dream.
• A buffet that looked more like chaos than an elegant spread.
• Only one foil fringe curtain up because time had completely run away from us.
• No blown-up balloons with exception of a few for the kids because the electric pump didn’t work in the socket.
• Balloon stands that just wouldn’t stick to the glass plates.
• By this point I had given up on the labeled buffet flags, I don't think I even remembered to put out the bio degradable wooden forks!!

If I were to do it again? I’d either book the hall for a few extra hours or, even better, decorate the day before with one other person and take our time. Or, and this is a big OR—hire a decor team. Trust me, some things are worth outsourcing.

Once the Guests Arrived: Once people showed up, the party vibe took over and the little decor details didn’t matter as much. But we learned a few things for next time:

• Keep part of the room lit! We had areas so dark people could barely see the buffet (no wonder we had leftovers).
• Plan for cleanup. We had no covers to rewrap the buffet trays or rubbish bags to take things home, which turned into a bit of a faff.
• Clear tables of empty drinks & used buffet plates - I didn't but a family member did, it was a solid idea!! 
• Don’t divide the tables. We had three tables on either side of the hall, and it literally created a social divide. Future note: bring everyone closer to the middle.
• The playlist was good, but not diverse enough for everyone’s tastes. You want to mix personal tunes with crowd-pleasers to keep the dance floor buzzing, but if your guests are sensory sensitive keep the volume lower.
• I am known for capturing everything on camera, I was so time pushed I didn't even think to take a photo of the buffet & hall before guests arrived. 

Hosting is exhausting. You spend so much time chatting with guests that you barely enjoy your own party. Maybe next time, I’ll just park myself in one spot and let people come to me... genius or rude? I’m not sure yet!!

          

The Aftermath: The Hard Part If your venue offers a cleanup service, take it. Seriously, offer them your best kidney if you must. Nothing is worse than, after a few drinks, having to take off 60 chair covers while kids run around with balloons and your brain is fried from people-pleasing all night. I’m ALL about saving money, but the exhaustion of cleaning up afterward makes me rethink that stance!

Further advice - if your event is on a Friday/weekend don't chance booking any taxis on the night because you will not get one unless it costs a fortune.

What We Learned When it comes to planning an event, you’ve got two options: invest more time or invest more money. Trying to do it all yourself saves a fortune, but it comes with its own costs—mainly your sanity. In the end, though, we had a fantastic night, and despite a few hiccups, it was exactly what we wanted—a personal, fun celebration of our engagement.

Happy party planning! Until next time,

Miss Whimsy xx