I have seen some beautiful party ideas that I would love to imitate, but let's be real. I'm a working mom on a budget, so I have to get a little more creative. Do you want to throw the cutest little book exchange/garden party WITHOUT breaking the bank? Look no further! I will show you how to create the cutest party, complete with menu, décor, and activities!
1: The décor
I'm lucky to have a backyard with lots of trees this served as the backdrop for my party. I didn't want to spend money on décor so I got creative with what I had. The one thing I spent money on was a table cloth- the rest I either already had, or I borrowed.
- Pretty table cloth - A sage green is the one thing I bought on an impulse, but I've used it many times since then. I also have a blue checkered table cloth I thrifted.
- Lace table runner - I borrowed this, but if no one you know has one, I would check Facebook marketplace, people are often selling used wedding décor, and the thrift store. If you can't find lace, try burlap, or even flower petals!
- Potted plants - Fresh cut flowers are expensive, so unless you have your own cut-flower garden (props to you, if you do!), you may be looking for some other way to tie in the "garden" theme to your décor. I used some potted zinnias I had as centerpieces. Even if you only have the pot with no plant, it could still be a cute part of your décor.
- Pretty books - You know books have to be part of the décor for a book exchange. I used them on the food table. *hint* Look under the dust covers. Some books are surprisingly beautiful underneath the cover.
- Framed printed art - this is an idea I didn't end up having room for on my table-scape, but try printing out vintage-looking pictures of flowers or famous books and framing them using whatever little frames you can find around the house.
- Odds and ends - look around your house (or your friend's house) for other things to fill out your tables. I was able to find a little owl statue, some small vases, and I also borrowed some paper flower arrangements my sister-in-law had made.
- Real plates, glasses, and cutlery - There is no rule that says you have to use plastic dinnerware when eating outside. using real cutlery elevates the look and feel so much. PLUS is reduces waste.
- Chairs - I brought my kitchen chairs outside. Looked cute and no need for dedicated outdoor chairs if you don't have them.
- Table - I borrowed both of the folding tables we used.
2. The food
If you do it right, the food can become part of the décor. For my party, I made the entrée and side, one friend made the dessert, and another brought the drink. This made party prep a little easier on me and my wallet. I also "cheated" and used store-bought pie crust and croissant dough, but homemade would have been lovely too. Here is a suggested menu for your party. It is beautiful, tasty, and filling without being too heavy.
- Entrée: Quiche
- Side: Chocolate Croissants and fresh fruit
- Dessert: Mini Cheesecake Bites
- Drink: Sparkling punch
3. Activity
The exchange itself is an activity, but I think having at least one additional activity is ideal to help the party go a bit longer without guests feeling unsure of what they should be doing. For our activity we made bookmarks.
Suggested Materials:
- Scissors
- Mod Podge
- Hole Punch
- Glue
- Cardstock (this creates the base of the bookmark)
- Ribbon
- Old book pages (save an old book from the landfill)
- Water color and brushes
- Dried flowers
Don't feel like you need to have ALL the materials. My friends and I pooled our resources rather than having to buy new art supplies. We actually didn't have the dried flowers (it wasn't in my budget), but I think it would have been super cute!
4. The exchange
At the end of the party we did our book exchange. There are a few ways to do this, but here is what we did:
- Everyone brings a wrapped book with a description written on it a la "blind date with a book." I used brown paper from a paper shopping bag, and some cotton string, but fabric scraps or wrapping paper are also acceptable.
- We took turns reading the descriptions. Descriptions included the genre, setting, and premise of each book.
- Each person takes a turn picking and unwrapping a book.
- That's it! If someone ends up with a book they've already read, see if there's anyone who wants to swap. This actually happened at my party, and it was no big deal at all.
6. Other considerations
Pay close attention to the temperature and the sun. You don't want to have the party outside to early in the morning before its had a chance to warm up (if you live in a colder climate like me), or too late in the day when its too hot (if you live somewhere warmer). Watch where the sun is and how it affects the location of your future party. You don't want the sun shining directly into the eyes of your party guests. I timed my party so it would be warm enough to enjoy while also allowing for some shade.
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