As I grew up, my birthday parties became less about going out on the town and more about drinking wine with friends. I wanted to celebrate my age by enjoying delicious cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, but I didn’t want to break the bank doing it.
To that end, I created some elegant birthday party ideas for frugal adults (like myself!). These budget-friendly ideas will make you feel like you’re living in a fairy tale. The best part is that these ideas can be easily customized so you can host them at home or at your favorite venue.
1) Exotic Tea Tasting Party
A tea tasting party is an excellent way for a group of friends to elegantly celebrate a birthday. Guests will have fun learning about the different types of tea and identifying the flavors in each cup. A tea tasting party can be tailored to fit any budget and requires few supplies that you may already have on hand at home.
2) DIY Champagne Bar
Set up a table with all the fixings for a DIY champagne bar. Spread out different kinds of sparkling wine, such as Prosecco (similar to Chardonnay), Cava (similar to Champagne), or Crémant d’Alsace (a French sparkling wine). Serve these with delicious syrups and garnishes. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, design your own menu for guests to try and experiment with.
3) Bring The Spa Home
A spa party is a great way to relax and unwind. You can invite your friends over and enjoy some quiet time together, or you can use the spa as an excuse to get out and meet new people. At home spas are becoming increasingly popular, so this is a good option if you’re trying to find something on the cheaper side of things.
You’ll need: A few bottles of wine, some snacks (or none), candles, incense/potpourri…basically whatever makes you feel relaxed!
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4) Wine and Dessert Pairing Party
Whether you’re celebrating your birthday or entertaining guests, pairing wine with dessert is a great way to celebrate. Pairing wine and dessert is not just for wine connoisseurs! Everyone can find something delicious to pair together—even if it’s just a boxed cake mix and some cheap wine. And what’s more frugal than mixing up some boxed cake mix?
5) DIY Charcuterie Board and Cocktail Party
A charcuterie board is a platter of cured meats, cheeses, and other foods that are meant to be eaten with bread or crackers. It’s a casual yet elegant way to serve finger food at a party. A cocktail party is also served with drinks, but it’s more formal than a dinner party and usually has fewer guests.
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6) Vintage Elegant Dinner Party
Invite friends over for dinner, and make a menu that is simple but elegant. Make sure the food is delicious, the table set nicely and your guests are comfortable. You might want to avoid budget-busting desserts like champagne or caviar, unless you’re making them yourself (in which case they’re free!).
7) Bougie Brunch
Brunch parties are also a great option if you want something more casual than a fancy dinner party—but still want to impress your guests with your food and drink expertise. You might want to consider hiring someone else as the chef for this particular affair (or at least giving them some guidance), because it’s often hard for people who don’t work in kitchens all day long to come up with creative brunch recipes on their own!
Conclusion
It’s my birthday, and I’ll spend money on it if I want to! Birthday parties are wonderful excuses to celebrate, relax, and receive special treatment from loved ones. However, they can also get expensive. Accordingly, we’re focusing this article on seven elegant (but inexpensive) birthday party ideas for adults who want to treat themselves without breaking the bank. We’d love to hear your ideas too; add them in the comments section below or on social media!
