Things You'll Need:
- Meat
- Pasta
- Truffle oil
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Rosemary
- Cheese platter
- Fresh mint
- Sorbet
- Alcoholic beverages (your choice)
- Vases
- Candles
- Dinnerware
- Flatware
- Flowers
- Live band (optional)
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Step 1
Use seasonal food ingredients to make a bigger impact without splurging too much. They tend to be a better deal than out-of-season or specialty items.
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Step 2
Splurge on key ingredients, and consider using less expensive cuts of meat or inexpensive ingredients like pasta. Guests will hardly think about the affordability of pasta when you mention that it has been tossed with truffle oil and sun-dried tomatoes.
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Step 3
Create artful presentations of the food and beverages with garnishes and clever arrangements. Keep in mind that a little garnish can go a long way for presentation. A few sprigs of rosemary on a cheese platter or fresh mint on a martini glass filled with sorbet can make just as much of a decorating statement than other expensive embellishments.
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Step 4
Offer guests a signature cocktail for the event rather than purchasing a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. Not only will this add a specialty touch to the theme and impress guests, but it will significantly cut down on the amount you spend on alcohol by limiting the options.
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Step 5
Decorate the table or food station with items you already own or can borrow from others. Use vases, candles, and various décor from other rooms of your home. Get creative and use things in a different way than intended, such as making a pretty curtain into a table runner or tablecloth.
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Step 6
Create an eclectic-style party by mixing and matching plates, glasses, and flatware. This unexpected but trendy touch works well for a bohemian-chic party. If you prefer instead for everything to coordinate, check your local dollar store for plain, glass plates, which are much more stylish than paper plates, and you can use them over and over again.
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Step 7
Embellish the party space with simple decorations. Go for a simplistic, modern style by placing vases containing a single flower around the room, or save even more by creating arrangements with fragrant herbs instead of fresh flowers.
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Step 8
Provide live music for entertainment. This party element is sure to impress everyone attending but doesn't have to take an enormous chunk out of your budget. Contact the school of music at your local community college to ask about hiring musicians-in-training rather than professional bands with outrageously expensive rates.
