The Grand Setup Begins
The college fresher's party was just around the corner, and the event planning team—Jay, Kabir, Kiya, and a few other seniors—were determined to pull off a stunning Black & Gold Photo Booth. But when they got the quotation from a professional decorator, their enthusiasm took a hit.
"40,000 rupees? Just for a backdrop and some balloons?" Kabir exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"That's a rip-off," rahul shook his head. "We can make this ourselves for a fraction of the cost."
Jay grinned. "Exactly. Let's get to work. We'll order the materials separately, bring everything to Chahat's house, and assemble as much as possible beforehand. We'll leave only the balloon setup for the party day."
Budget Breakdown: Professional vs. DIY
Savings: ₹15,300!
"Not bad at all!" Kkabir said, calculating the savings.
"And if we store everything properly, we can reuse most of it for future events," Jay added.
The DIY Preparation at Chahat's House
That evening, the team gathered at Chahat's house, turning her living room into a makeshift workshop.
They unrolled the black sequin curtain and attached it to a foldable metal frame they borrowed from the drama club.
Gold satin drapes were pinned on the sides, creating an elegant layered effect.
Jay and Kabir carefully arranged the LED fairy lights, weaving them behind the sequins for a soft, glowing effect.
Step 2: Props & Accessories
Kiya painted wooden hand signs with phrases like 'Slay' and 'Party Mode'.
Chahat and another senior, Rohan, cut out gold cardboard frames for a DIY "photo frame prop."
Kabir customized masquerade masks with gold glitter and sequins.
Step 3: The Neon Sign Dilemma
They had planned to buy a custom 'Golden Vibes Only' neon sign, but it was too expensive. Instead, Jay found a rental shop offering neon signs for ₹2,500.
"Good call, Jay. This saves us even more!" Kiya said, securing the sign to the backdrop.
Step 4: Organizing Everything for Transport
Once the backdrop and props were done, they carefully packed them into labeled storage boxes.
"Let's keep these safe. No one wants a crumpled backdrop on the main day," Chahat reminded them.
They decided to store everything in the college storeroom after the event to reuse for future functions.
The Final Step: Balloon Work for Party Day
Since balloons deflate quickly, they left the balloon arch assembly for the party morning.
Jay and Kabir would blow up the balloons using a rented electric pump.
Kiya and Chahat would arrange them into an arch, securing them with plastic strips.
The Night Before the Party
As they wrapped up at Chahat's house, everyone looked at their work with pride.
"We did this in two days, and it looks like something a professional team would charge a bomb for," Kabir said, stretching his arms.
"And the best part? This isn't a one-time thing. We'll use this for all our college events!" Chahat smiled.
Jay clapped his hands. "Alright, team! Tomorrow, we finish the balloon arch, set up the booth at the venue, and enjoy the party. Let's do this!"
As they were done the rest was left for professional team which was going to do the rest work now their waork was just to get ready and to appear in the party.