Your Ultimate Guide to Thrifted Party Perfection
Times are TOUGH yall. But that shouldn’t mean we have to stop doing all things fun and enjoyable. We just have to be a bit more savvy in the way we do those fun things.
To me, traveling and hosting parties are top-tier excitement. For those of us who are struggling right now, travel is nearly impossible. Flights are expensive and on top of that, they’re being canceled left and right (plus I don’t want to fly on a plane where the doors fall off mid-flight). Gas has been expensive so even road trips are out of the question for some. PLUS, if you have dogs, boarding them is just as expensive as the hotel, so that has to be budgeted in as well.
OK, mini rant over.
Hosting is something that can be done on a tighter budget. Really, you could host your friends or family and only pay for food or even just some of the food if you do a potluck. But, I’m extra and I love having a theme, which means new decor, a signature cocktail, potentially supplies for activities, the list really goes on.
One of my favorite “hosting hacks” is going thrifting for all the things you would normally buy at Target (not knocking Target – it is my sanctuary and I will never betray it). Skip the dollar spot and hit up your local thrift store instead!
I’ll share a few tips that I’ve picked up over my last few years of thrifting and hosting to turn you into the Queen of Hosting Parties Where People Think You Spent a Bunch of Money on Stuff but Really it was all SO CHEAP. That would be a long title, but you get it.
Let’s get into it!
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Start With a List
When I say list, I’m not talking about your standard list of exactly what you want. I’m saying bring a list of a few ideas for things to look out for. If you go into a thrift store with an exact product in mind, you will be disappointed.
If you know you need extra place settings for the party, write that down. You could even write the colors that you would prefer to best match your theme or existing place settings.
A list not only keeps you from impulsively buying table linens you might already have, but it also helps you to stay focused because there is always something else (clothes, handbags, etc.) that you might find when thrifting. And because the prices are typically really good, it doesn’t feel like you’re splurging.
Choose a Theme
If you haven’t already decided on a theme, do this before you go shopping. And a theme doesn’t have to literally be Disney Princesses. We are adults after all. But if this is a Galentine’s Day Party, or a Garden Party, or anything like that, you will want to go shopping with that in mind.
And if you’re deciding between a couple of themes, you can let the thrift store choose for you depending on what you find.
I often find that when I’m thrifting for a party and don’t have a set idea in my head, I will find something eye-catching at the store and base the rest of the decor off of that.
One time, I found this really cool retro platter and decided the party would have a retro theme!
DIY
Thrift stores are underrated when it comes to craft supplies! A lot of times, they’ll have bags of similar crafting supplies like faux florals, yarn, etc. If you have an activity or decor or a photo booth you want to incorporate into your party, determine if you can do any of it yourself.
The activity could also BE the craft if that tickles your fancy.
Top Thrifted Items
If you are new to thrifting and don’t know the “unwritten rules” yet, here is a list of things I ALWAYS look for when thrifting for a party. These are things you absolutely DO NOT NEED NEW and will cost you twice (or more) what you can pay at the thrift.
- table linens: tablecloths, runners, placemats (napkins can be included if you wash and sanitize and don’t feel icky about the fact that they go on your mouth, but honestly is it any dirtier than napkins from a store?)
- PS: any cloth can be a table runner if you believe
- candle sticks and candle stick holders
- clear vases for flowers – anyone who is ever sent flowers receives a vase and it always ends up at Goodwill
- napkin rings
- chargers for place settings (although this is tricky because you may not find a complete set)
- bowls, platters, serving ware
Don’t Give Up
Thrifting can be a time-consuming activity, especially if you are on the lookout for something semi-specific. And by semi-specific I mean “I need 6 extra napkin rings to fit my theme”, vs “I need 6 yellow floral napkin rings”.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find what you’re looking for at the first store. Where I live, we have about 6 thrift stores within a few miles from my house, so I am fortunate to be able to thrift hop as needed.
If that’s not the case for you, be sure to plan ahead and hit the thrift stores once a week or so. Most stores are constantly setting out new items, so you’ll almost always find something new each time you go. You could even ask your local thrifts when they put out new inventory if you’d like.
Contact Vintage Vendors
If you don’t have the time to bounce from one thrift store to another, digging through all the junk to find a handful of great items, you can contact local vintage vendors to ask them to find things for you! It will cost a bit more than if you thrifted things yourself, but it will definitely save you time while also helping to curb the overconsumption we have built over the years.
You can contact these vendors by searching online, on social media, or popping into your local antique or vintage stores. A ton of vintage vendors source their products from thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales, so I always think of vintage stores as filtered thrift stores.
You can check out my online vintage collection here > wanderinplacevintage on IG
If you’re in the OKC area, you can check out my blog about the top thrift stores in the area, and what each of them has to offer.
Happy thrifting!
