You Don’t Have to Be Boujee to Have an Amazing Summer Party

A few years back, I threw what was probably the most extravagant work party of my life. It was for my old agency—mid-sized, ambitious, and definitely not rolling in spare cash.

The venue? The Groucho Club.The bill? Well let's just say the feeling when the invoice landed was somewhere between mild panic and deep regret.

Don’t get me wrong—it was an unforgettable night. We talked about it for months afterwards. But lying awake at 3am doing mental calculations on whether I’d accidentally bankrupted the business wasn’t exactly the vibe I’d been going for.

Since then, I’ve learned you don’t need to torch your budget to throw an amazing party. In fact, some of the best nights happen in sheds, parks, or scruffy community spaces with cheap drinks and good people.

So if you want to get everyone together this summer—without ending up with a financial hangover—here are 10 tips for a non-boujee blowout that won’t cripple you:

1. Skip the Fancy Venue

You don’t need a members’ club or rooftop terrace. A park, an outdoor space, or any spot with room to roam and mingle works perfectly. The less formal seating, the better—people naturally drift, chat, and get to know each other.

2. Go BYOB

Everyone’s happy to bring a bottle. Saves you hundreds, and someone always turns up with something wonderfully weird (homemade cider? random liqueur?) that becomes the unofficial drink of the night.

3. Order Takeaway

Forget posh catering. Pizzas, curries, or giant bags of chips go down far better once the drinks start flowing.

4. Make a Crowd-Sourced Playlist

DJs are overrated. Ask everyone to add a few songs to a shared playlist and watch it turn into a glorious, chaotic soundtrack.

5. Use Whatever Seating You Can Find

Garden chairs, stools, upturned crates—it all works. No need to hire fancy furniture.

6. Ditch the Dress Code

No theme, no costumes, no stress. Come as you are. Always a win.

7. Borrow Before You Buy

Need a BBQ, extra glasses, or fairy lights? Someone you know has them. Ask around before spending money.

8. Set a Finish Time (Even If You Ignore It)

This is more for your own sanity. At least pretend you’ll wrap up by midnight—even if you end up dancing in the kitchen at 3am.

9. Skip the Party Favours

Nobody needs branded tote bags or novelty candles. Save your cash.

10. Remember: It’s About the People

It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget. The best parties aren’t about fancy venues or Instagram-worthy decor. They’re about good people, loud music, and that collective moment of letting your hair down.

Final thought:Having done both ends of the party spectrum—from Groucho blowouts to pizza in a shed—I can confirm the cheap nights are often the most fun (and you’ll actually sleep afterwards).

Here’s to non-boujee summer parties: proof you don’t need deep pockets to make brilliant memories.

#NonBoujeeParties #SummerOnABudget #GoodTimesGuaranteed