How much money you spend on the party is one of the most important aspects of party planning. You have to know how much money you can afford to spend per guest. The budget determines what kind of food and drinks you can serve. A large budget doesn’t guarantee a successful party and a tight budget doesn’t guarantee a disappointing party.
You can save a lot of money by serving soft drinks, and avoiding alcoholic beverages all together. If your party is during the day, you can more easily get away with no alcoholic beverages. Most people don’t drink during the day. An alcohol free evening party may be a stretch.
If it is a party with children present, you can easily explain an alcohol free party. An alcohol free party yields a more peaceful environment, and fights are much less likely. It is much more easier to control sober guests than a bunch of drunks. Baby showers provide a great opportunity for a sober party as a form of solidarity for the pregnant mother.
If you decide to serve alcohol avoid salty thirst triggering foods. Serve food before you serve alcohol. It's better to eat while drinking than to drink on an empty stomach. Designate a friend or family member to be the bartender for the evening rather than allowing people to serve themselves. Be prepared to take away car keys, and know your designated drivers.
Not only that you save money because non-alcoholic drinks cost less, at the end of the party there are no arguments about who's going to drive home!
