Top Engagement Party Ideas, Tips & Themes to Kick off Your Wedding Journey in Style

An engagement party is a brilliant way to kick off the "we're getting married" celebrations and mark your exciting news. It's a chance to get all your friends and family together, catch up with loved ones, and show off your engagement ring, as wedding planner and owner of Love Made Me Weddings Annie Hall agrees: "It's a celebration of your love and a good chance to socialise with your favourite people all in one room, which is a rare occasion!" 

“It's a perfect opportunity to introduce the guests who will be together on the wedding day. It means more of an energy on the dancefloor on your wedding day as the ice will have already been broken. It's also a nice way to celebrate with anyone who can't make the wedding.”

If you've never been to an engagement party before, it's key to remember that you're not throwing a mini-wedding, so don't get overly stressed about it. Remember, it’s not even a requirement to have an engagement party. But if you feel like you’ll enjoy hosting one, you’ll find lots of easy and inexpensive ideas below.

What happens at an engagement party is totally up to you. It can just be dropping in for casual drinks at a pub or brunch at a restaurant, or you can go bigger with a black tie party on a boat or hire out a whole bar. It's really going to depend on who you are as a couple and what your budget is.

We’ve got 23 engagement party ideas to help you choose a theme, plus expert hints and tips from wedding planner Annie Hall. Whether you're going low-key and relaxed or have something more extra in mind, here are our favourite engagement party ideas and where to get started:

• How to Plan an Engagement Party: Nine Top Tips
• 23 Best Engagement Party Ideas and Themes
• Engagement Party Etiquette and FAQs

How to Plan an Engagement Party: Nine Top Tips

If you’re wondering where to start with throwing an engagement party, what happens at one and who gets invited, here’s the place to start:

1. Pick a Host

Traditionally, the hosts would be the bride’s family, but there’s no set rule on who hosts the engagement party, especially for same-sex couples. Most commonly the couple will throw the engagement party together with their parents. Address this question with them early on so you know what budget you have for your theme.

2. Set a Date

An engagement party is typically held in the first few months after the proposal. This gives guests enough notice to keep the day free and maintain everyone’s excitement. Not many people will have seen the ring, but you’ll still be on cloud nine, and everything will have a bit of a buzz to it. 

3. Create a Guest List

As a rule, we’d say people will assume they’re invited to your wedding if they’re invited to the engagement celebrations, so start by drawing up a preliminary guest list for your wedding. The most important thing to remember is that this is about you and your partner and who you want to celebrate with.

On the other hand, if you’re planning an intimate family wedding or have a limited guest list because of the venue or destination, invite all the guests you want to the party and make it clear that this is your way to celebrate with them, as the wedding will be a much smaller affair.

4. Choose a Venue

Your venue is going to be very dependent on guest numbers and the atmosphere you’re trying to create. For a more formal party, hire a private room in your favourite restaurant for a meal. For something more informal, book some tables at a cocktail bar or pub where people can drop in and out. If you’re trying to keep costs down, a picnic in a local park or a barbecue in your garden or parents’ garden is a great idea.

"If you're looking to save money, minimum-spend venues are a good idea," suggests Annie. "People are more open to paying for their own drinks at an engagement party, so usually, you can get a private room in a venue with a bar, and guests can order what they like, meaning no, or a small venue hire fee for you."

5. Plan the Theme

Because you’re unlikely to know your wedding theme yet, it’s best to stick with something easy and non-restrictive for now. You both love to travel or met abroad? Do an adventure theme. You’re foodies? A slap-up brunch. Love glamour? Great Gatsby. Seasonal is great too. Having the party in summer = Pimm's on a roof terrace; in winter = mulled wine and lots of fairy lights at a cosy pub. 

If you do know the style of wedding you'll be having, Annie suggests hosting an engagement party that contrasts with those plans: "It's a great idea to mix up the energies. So, for example, if you're having a gorgeous English countryside wedding in mid-summer, have the engagement party in deep inner city London, like a basement dive bar with great music and cocktails.

"Also, if you're having a wedding planner, why not ask them to help organise your engagement party, too? It's a great way to start building a relationship and get ideas flowing as a team."

6. Decide on the Details and Entertainment

If you’re serving drinks, it's a wise idea to provide food, too - nothing fancy necessarily, but something to soak up the booze. Decide if you'll be taking care of the food yourself, calling in professional caterers or having a cool engagement cake made for the occasion. 

Finally, are you planning to provide entertainment? For laid-back celebrations, this could be light-hearted garden games or a solo acoustic singer. Alternatively, for a large-scale evening party, you might consider a DJ or live band.

7. Send Out Invites

Once you've decided on your party date, get the invites out as soon as possible. Paper invitations are beautiful, but you can also think about e-vites as well. 

Another option is to throw a secret engagement party. Tell your family and friends (but not the close ones you should have told in person) that it’s just a Christmas party, casual summer get-together, or even a birthday party, and then drop the bombshell!

8. Find Yourself an Outfit

The thought of what to wear to an engagement party can send some couples into a spin, but your attire for this occasion doesn't need to send you into a meltdown. What matters most is that you feel good in what you pick. The formality of your outfit will likely depend on your theme and setting. So, if it's a fancy evening do you might want a glamorous engagement party dress, whereas if it's a daytime affair, a relaxed jumpsuit or skirt and top combo will better suit the occasion. Lots of brides choose to wear white for the engagement party, too, but naturally, a more low-key outfit than the final wedding day attire.

A similar approach can be taken when deciding what to wear to an engagement party as a male. Grooms-to-be may choose a suit or relaxed shirt and trousers or jeans combo, but ultimately, it won't be in quite the same league as the wedding day attire. If you’re a same-sex couple, one might want to be in black and one in white, or you might choose complementary outfits. Ultimately, dress for what feels right for the party. 

9. Capture Memories 

Given that it's one of the few occasions you'll have your very favourite people together all in one place, it's important to document the occasion. You don't necessarily have to hire a professional photographer if the budget doesn't stretch; instead, you could create a central point at your venue for your guests to have photos taken with the happy couple, friends and family. Alternatively, you could hire a photo booth for the occasion or, again, if the budget is more modest, create your own photo booth using a backdrop and providing some fun-filled props and a Polaroid camera. 

23 Engagement Party Ideas and Themes

When it comes to engagement party ideas, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a big impact. With just a handful of props and a good theme, you can host an event to remember in not much time at all.

No doubt your budget will be a little stretched after you’ve bought an engagement ring and started saving for the wedding. There are plenty of ways to adapt these themes to throw an inexpensive engagement party and keep to your wedding budget:

• Host at home or a family member’s home
• Keep the guests list small and use e-vites
• Make your own food rather than getting it catered or buying pricey finger food
• Have everyone bring a dish or bottle to save you on costs – this is great for a picnic theme

Here are some of our favourite engagement party ideas, themes and decorations.

1. Wine and Cheese Night

Pair up your port and Stilton for an elegant night of wine and cheese tasting. Local wine bars are often really happy to host these for you, or you can do it at home. It’s a fab chance to find a wine you love that you’d like to serve at your wedding. What a wonderful story you’ll have to tell! If you’re doing this yourself, Waitrose have a handy pairing guide.

Wine and Cheese Night Ideas:

• Serve charcuterie boards, crisps, baked brie and sourdough, too, so there’s more to line your guests' stomachs
• Print out wine tasting scorecards
• Personalise wine glasses with your initials and engagement party date for guests to drink from and take home
• Stick these keepsake personalised cheese markers in each variety so your guests know what they’re eating, and you can use them again in the future

2. Travel Theme

If there’s one word for your impending marriage, it’s adventure – so why not go all out and theme your engagement party around your love of travel? It’s especially perfect if you got engaged while on holiday. Either host at a restaurant with your favourite type of cuisine or do it at home.

Travel Theme Party Ideas:

• Have a globe for guests to sign
• Offer signature cocktails from your favourite country
• String up Polaroid photos of your travels around the world
• Set up an old suitcase to collect cards and presents if you’re expecting them
• Scatter tables with this great value map confetti hearts or make your own from old maps (second-hand bookshops are good for these!)
• Crown your engagement cake with a ‘Let The Adventure Begin’ cake topper

3. Summer Barbecue Garden Party

Transform your garden into the best barbecue joint in town. Barbecue parties are simple to throw, easy to keep to a budget, great to prepare in advance, and you can ask people to BYOB and drop in and out when they’d like. Rain or shine, Brits will be out in force for a good burger. What’s even better is you can leave your Dad and future father-in-law to man the grill while you catch up with friends.

Barbecue Party Ideas:

• If you don’t have a large outdoor table, make a big seating area out of cushions, rugs, hay bales, lots of lanterns and outdoor chairs. No one wants to stand for a whole party
• Have a ‘pimp your drink’ station so kids can add cordial and fruits to their lemonade, and adults can shake their own cocktail. Later, turn it into an ice cream sundae station
• An outdoor games station is a must: frisbees, giant Jenga, Twister, croquet. Water balloons are fab for a warm day if kids are getting hot and restless
• Gingham napkins are a cute all-American touch, a chalkboard menu with what’s being cooked up, and galvanized tin buckets of flowers can transform your tables
• A fire pit can keep the party going late into the night and is perfect for toasting marshmallows

4. Great Gatsby/Roaring ’20s Theme

Add some vintage glamour to your day with a Great Gatsby theme, complete with a speakeasy, flapper dresses, and gangster and moll costumes. Everything about the roaring twenties was about extravagance: think a Champagne glass pyramid and photobooth full of feather boas, pearls and diamond props. Don't forget a selfie photo frame for those social media posts.

Great Gatsby Party Ideas:

• Send Art Deco-style invites out to guests or a ’20s-inspired e-vite
• Decorate with Gatsby inspired gold and black balloons, and gold streamers
• Hire a dance teacher to help you learn a group Charleston or make your own electro-swing Spotify playlist
• Set up a mixologist station with signature cocktails in Art Deco coupe glasses

5. Picnic in the Park

Picnics are a quintessential British summer activity and are perfect for a relaxed engagement party. Head to your local park with plenty of blankets, lots of sandwiches and some jugs of Pimm’s. Set up a table and cushions if you can find a back garden big enough to host one. Friends can drop in and out as needed, and it’s a great idea if kids are coming too.

Picnic Party Ideas:

• Hang streamers and tassel garlands from the trees
• Set up a piñata for kids and big kids (we love this metallic diamond one)
• Prepare little picnic baskets for your guests with paper plates, napkins and cutlery
• Make your food engagement party-worthy: stuffed focaccia, chorizo scotch eggs, Vietnamese summer rolls, mini frittatas and flatbread
• Play a big game of rounders or bring along outdoor games

6. All That Glitters Theme

When else in your life do you get a big bit of bling given to you? A diamond theme gives the perfect excuse for plenty of glitz and glam. To go all out, why not have everyone dress in black tie? Hire out a fancy hotel bar or restaurant and kick the night off with Champagne.

Diamond Theme Ideas:

• Set up a Polaroid for guests to capture themselves with a giant engagement ring photo frame
• Finish your drinks with prosecco shimmer to make them extra fancy
• Pop gold diamond ring straws in the cocktails
• Hang diamond ring decorations

7. Floral Theme

Love yourself some beautiful blooms? Why not throw a floral-themed soirée? Having such a pretty idea to base your engagement party decorations around can only mean one thing: an Instagram-worthy bash.

Floral Theme Ideas:

• Spell out your and your fiancé(e)’s initials with some floral giant letters
• Pick up a pack of pretty floral headbands for you and your pals to wear
• Hang up some pastel floral bunting for quick and easy wall decorations
• Freeze daisies and pansies in ice cubes and fill an ice bucket with them to keep your drinks cool and looking pretty

8. Christmas/Winter Wonderland Theme

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Whether you choose Christmas or a generic winter wonderland theme, it’s all about sparkle, merriment and tonnes of cosy touches. So many things are easily DIY’ed, like fairy lights in glass jars, pine cones in hurricane candle vases as centrepieces, wine glass charms and paper snowflakes. Kick proceedings off with a mulled wine, crack out the Christmas playlist and serve only the finest holiday canapes (when else do you eat a mushroom vol-au-vent, followed by a spring roll, pigs in blankets, prawn tempura and a mini wellington?).

Christmas Party Ideas:

• A hot chocolate bar will go down a treat, as will a s’mores station with biscuits, chocolate and marshmallows to melt over tea lights
• You can never have enough fairy lights, fact. String them up inside, outside and all around. Light lanterns up the path to the venue, make fab holy-shaped wall decorations out of red balloons and some green paper, and spray anything not fixed down with fake snow and glitter spray
• Pre-mix some big jars of signature Christmas cocktails to make it easy to keep your guests topped up
• Make flavoured ice cubes (or these cool ice cube shot glasses!) by freezing cranberries, pomegranate seeds and sprigs of rosemary in the trays
• Adults love a fun party game too. Shovel the Snow is a great one – move cotton wool balls from one bowl to another using a spoon in your mouth in a set time – or try Pin the Nose on Rudolph. Winners get prizes

9. Recreate Your First Date

This is a super sweet idea. If your first date was really memorable, then recreate it with your friends and family. For example, go bowling, hire out a room in a museum where you went to see an exhibition, or head to an outdoor cinema with wine and snacks.

First Date Theme Ideas:

• Hang up a framed relationship timeline with all your important dates
• Hold your engagement party at the First Dates restaurant if you love the TV show!
• Get all your guests to write a date idea for the two of you and leave it in a cute jar

READ MORE: Our Favourite Engagement Cakes and Cake Toppers

10. Halloween Couples’ Costume Party

Famous couples is a fantastic theme for a costume party – and there’s no better time to throw one than at Halloween! Whether your guests go for a spooky Gomez and Morticia Addams, a sexy Sandy and Danny, Barbie and Ken or Beyoncé and Jay-Z, you’ll have amazing memories and photos. Any time in October is justifiable for a Halloween party in our eyes, but if you just love costumes, you can do this theme any time of year.

Couples’ Costume Party Ideas:

• Games! Get a round of Who Am I? or Heads Up going, where guests have to describe a famous person from a slip of paper to their partner. Otherwise, try Halloween movie trivia, a treasure hunt or spooky charades
• Have a ‘How well do you know the couple?’ competition, where you must put baby pictures in order and answer tricky trivia
• Play UP in a separate room to keep young guests’ entertained – arguably the best Disney couple ever!
• How about a murder mystery game?

11. Rent a Rooftop

If you’re in a big city, take advantage of the height and head to a rooftop bar for some serious skyline views. Obviously the weather in the UK isn’t always guaranteed to be great so find somewhere with some roof coverage too.

Rooftop Party Ideas:

• Rosé all day! It’s the perfect summery drink to keep you cool. If your rooftop bar is able to make frozen drinks, ask them to make a batch of frosé, which looks amazing on Instagram
• Set the mood with loads of comfy cushions, lanterns, flower garlands and potted plants to complement the wow factor of the view
• A party isn't complete without music, so make sure your playlist is full of your favourite songs. Alternatively, hire a live musician to have some light guitar music in the background or make a Spotify playlist with all the latest bangers. As the evening goes on, you’ll want everyone dancing
• If you are planning on hiring a band or DJ, add some extra fun for guests with party inflatables or heart-shaped sunnies for the dancefloor

12. Big Brunch

Book a big table at a café or restaurant and choose a set menu for brunch with things everyone will enjoy. You can do it at home, of course, but it’s a lot of work to keep all your eggs and bacon warm while toasting your bread and mashing avocado. If you’re doing that, stick to one thing well, like bagels with lots of topping options or a cold brunch buffet with fruit, pastries and muffins.

Brunch Party Ideas:

• Even though it’s a brunch, give it a party feel with a cocktail like a mimosa or Bloody Mary – and have lots of coffee ready
• Make-ahead recipes will be your best friend if you’re hosting at home, like a frittata, French toast casserole or bircher muesli pots
• For a polished look, do not have cartons or containers on the table. Decant juice in mason jars, milk into jugs, granola in a serving bowl, smoked salmon on plates, cream cheese on a butter dish, etc.

13. Casino Night

If you've found your Lady or Lad Luck, put that winning hand to good use with a fun casino night. It’s so easy to host at home or in a garden marquee. You can hire the tables and croupiers from party companies or set up your own. It’ll be much more fun if you use fake chips, so no one has to worry about ponying up at the end of the night. Stipulate a black tie dress code for total James Bond vibes.

Casino Night Ideas:

• Send playing card invites and play with personalised poker chips
• Embrace the Las Vegas vibe with a red and black colour scheme, showgirl headpieces, a big ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ prop sign and lots of dazzling touches
• Find casino hire companies near you among Hitched’s brilliant entertainment suppliers

14. Rock n’ Roll Theme

Celebrate the fabulous ’50s with a retro rock' n' roll-themed engagement party full of Elvis tunes, Marilyn Monroe wigs, muscle cars, and fierce Pink Lady jackets.

Rock n’ Roll Party Ideas:

• Music is your most important factor here, then clothes. If you’ve got the funds, hire a jukebox or swing band, otherwise a Spotify playlist will be great
• Gentlemen, channel your inner American high school jock, rockabilly Greaser or East End Teddy Boy. Ladies, think swing dresses with big petticoats, oversize bows, Audrey Hepburn white gloves or even a tight-fitting capri pant
• Serve diner food, like shakes, sliders and fries, in the traditional black and white check packaging
• Bags of popcorn are an easy treat to give to guests as they leave to remember the party

15. Pastel Theme

For a subtle theme, you could go for a colour instead of basing it on one strict idea. Our favourite broad colour range for an engagement party is a pastel theme. This soft palette ensures everything looks really tasteful, while still adding a splash of colour. 

Pastel Party Ideas:

• Personalised Love Hearts are great to get guests on a sugar high (we’ve found it helps keep the dance floor full)
• Go all out on old-fashioned pastel party hats for a bit of fun and flair. String pastel pom pom bunting and paper fans around the room
• If you like unicorn-themed things, search for pastel rainbow and unicorn items that will add some whimsy to your theme

16. Boho Chic

If a colourful palette isn't for you, try a chic boho vibe - perfect if getting hitched at a rustic wedding venue! Think large, patterned antique-style rugs, wicker furniture, burlap, mason jars and soft tones with an emphasis on greenery to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Boho Chic Party Ideas:

• To bring this theme to life decorate your party venue with faux foliage and hessian bunting 
• Tipi tents add a rustic element with minimal effort required - plus, they make an excellent shelter should the weather turn
• Relaxed seating, such as throws and floor cushions, will create a cosy space. We love the idea of laying vintage rugs out

17. Boat Party

Depending on which part of the country you live in, a boat party could be very different! We love the idea of a swanky night-time party down the Thames taking in London’s sights or a lazy day on a boat just off the Cornish coast with stops for swimming. Your style of boat party is as formal as you want it to be, but it’s all guaranteed to be Instagrammable.

Boat Party Ideas:

• Anything nautical will work for decorations – blue striped straws, nautical confetti and chocolate boats. The list is endless
• Go even further with an outfit theme for your day, like a black tie, under the sea, a yellow submarine, or The Love Boat
• A silent disco is great for a boat party along the Thames or any big city river where there’ll be noise restrictions as the night goes on

18. Après-Ski Party

If the two of you love skiing or were engaged on a ski trip, throw an après-ski-themed party for your engagement. This is a great way of keeping guests warm and entertained in colder months like November, December, January and February without leaning into a Christmas theme. Think mulled wine, fondue and a roaring fire!

Après-Ski Party Ideas:

• Kick off with mulled wine and have warm cocktails on offer throughout the party, including hot toddies and Bailey's hot chocolate. Aperol Spritzes and Schnapps shots won't go down badly either!
• Serve different types of fondue, such as a rich cheesy one and a delicious Swiss melted chocolate one. Add charcuterie boards, bratwurst, warm soft pretzels, and that mountain top classic - French fries - to keep guests full
• Decorate your venue with faux fur, warm blankets, and wintry props like lanterns and antlers. Make sure there are LOTS of fairy lights!
• Heard of a shostski? It's a ski paddle with holes in it that you fill with shot glasses. Guests line up in a row to take shots together from it. It's a great evening activity as the party kicks off!
• If your venue has a fireplace, have a lovely warm fire roaring. Otherwise, hire a fire pit and let guests toast marshmallows over it

19. Sweet Tooth Style 

If you've got a sweet tooth, a candy-inspired engagement party will be heaven! Impress your guests with treats galore and set up your very own sweet-filled buffet - it's bound to please guests of all ages!

Sweet Tooth Party Ideas:

• Fill jars in different sizes and styles with your favourite sweets for a haven of sugary treats with a personal touch
• Rather than providing a range of desserts, create your very own doughnut wall
• Serve a chocolate fountain with dipping options such as fruit, cake and biscuits

20. Movie Night

Create a cinema oasis in your or a loved one's home or garden to relax and have fun in. We love the idea of setting up a projector and playing your favourite rom-com films or montage edits of amazing memories with your partner, friends and family. 

Movie Night Party Ideas:

• Have you really had a trip to the cinema without tons of snacks? We're talking pick 'n' mix sweets and popcorn
• Hand out these movie theatre tickets as guests enter - they can be personalised with their name, the date, time and film
• If you're having an alfresco engagement party, remember to leave blankets, throws and fluffy socks out to ensure maximum comfort

21. Camping or Glamping

Head to a campsite to enjoy a night of camping or glamping. We recommend setting up sticks at an easy-to-manage site, such as one with bathrooms, cabins, or tents, so there is less time spent setting up and more time spent relaxing! This is a really affordable idea should you have guests travelling from afar and needing to stay the night.

Camping / Glamping Party Ideas:

• Pop travel-sized toiletries in the bathrooms and create your own fully-stocked bar (aka, cool box) so your guests feel like they are having a five-star experience
• If the venue allows, bring kebab sticks and marshmallows for a nostalgic night of marshmallow toasting around the campfire
• Bring along some board games and cards - remember to pack torches and lanterns that you can hang when the sun starts to set

22. Fiesta Celebration

Nothing screams celebration more than vibrant colours, upbeat music, and good food! Enter the fiesta-themed engagement party. Ideal if you're throwing a summer bash, transform your garden into the ultimate Mexican-themed event.

Fiesta Party Ideas:

• Keep with the theme by serving up tequila-based cocktails and tasty Mexican treats. We love the idea of having a taco/fajita/nacho buffet with all the toppings! This will work as a great way to cater to a large guest list
• Challenge your guests to a salsa-making competition - provide the ingredients, give them a time limit, and you and your partner can be the judges
• String bright banners across the venue 
• Turn up the tunes and play some fun fiesta-inspired games, such as hoopla cactus and llama piñata. All fuelled by margaritas, of course...

23. Sustainable Soiree 

If you're planning an eco-friendly wedding, chances are you'll want your engagement party to follow this theme too. Whether you want your day to be green from start to finish, or you want a few mindful touches, a sustainable soiree requires little effort and gives a great reward.

Sustainable Party Ideas:

• First things first, you'll want your engagement party invitations to be low-waste. Opt for e-invites or recycled paper invitations
• Food is a key source of waste, so be mindful of guest numbers and quantity. Search for a catering company with green values or use local, organic ingredients
• Decorations will tie your engagement party together so you might not want to skip on these completely. Consider recycled jars with candles, potted plants and DIY bunting made from second-hand clothes

12 of the Best Engagement Party Games

Games and activities are great engagement party ideas. They'll boost the fun and act as a no-pressure ice-breaker among your guests. 

• Order or DIY romantic personalised biscuits to eat on the day or give away as engagement party favours. It's actually a really fun way to reveal your wedding date, as you can have cookies like the ones below with your wedding date on - or just the date of your engagement.
• Play a trivia game with questions about you as a couple. See who knows you best with a mix of easy and tricky questions about the two of you that'll challenge friends and family.
• Have a timeline of your relationship that guests can join in on. Make a giant timeline on Kraft paper and stick it up on the wall with key events like when you met, your first date, the date of the proposal. Then let guests go wild with adding in the date you first met them or favourite anecdotes in your life you shared with them. You'll end up with the most incredible memento of you and your partner's life.
• Introduce guests to your wedding party with a Polaroid board. You can also have another board of fun facts about them that guests have to match up to the photos.
• Ask for wedding date predictions - get guests to write these down and keep them safe to see who gets the most right on the day. Ask for things like what they think your first dance will be, what flavour cake you'll have, who'll give the funniest speech, what will your outfits look like, which guest will get the most drunk, what theme will you have.
• If you're after a game that'll make everyone laugh, gather them around for The Shoe Game. You and your partner sit back-to-back with one shoe from each of you. A quizmaster will ask questions like 'Who is the messiest?' and 'Who starts the most arguments?' and you raise either your or your partner's shoe. It's super interesting to see who thinks what!
• If hosting your party outdoors, guests will love a selection of garden games - think giant Jenga or Connect Four, outdoor noughts and crosses, skittles or croquet. 
• Create a trailer about your love story and project it onto screens. This could be a movie trailer or simply a cute slideshow.
• Want a nighttime party but can't be noisy? A silent disco will solve your problem, and they're seriously fun.
• Create table runners out of photos of the two of you. They look amazing in photos and are easy to DIY together. You can get photos printed cheaply through companies like Snapfish. If you use white tac to put the runner together, you can reuse the photos!
• Let guests vote for what they'd like to see on your big day. For example, if you're stuck between two cake flavours, have a table set up with tasters and get your guests to vote for their favourite. They'll love the idea of being part of what happens on your big day. Same goes for writing song suggestions for the DJ.
• Play match the ring to the couple. Put up photos of sparklers - yours, your parents, grandparents, and celebrity rings - and have guests guess who they belong to.

Engagement Party Etiquette

It’s easy to give a great list of dos and don’ts, but it’s best to take the below with a little pinch of salt. All engagement parties are unique to the couple, which means you should only pick and choose what resonates with you from the list below. As a guide, we think these are the most commonly agreed-upon dos and don’ts when it comes to engagement party etiquette.

Do:

• Send out your engagement party invites as early as possible to give people plenty of time to set aside the date
• Make sure the date is okay with key people. There’s nothing worse than booking a venue to then finding out your key wedding party guests are busy
• Make a note of any engagement gifts you get as you open them, so you can remember who gave you what when you come to write thank you cards
• Think about the music. Whether it’s a band or a Spotify playlist, make sure the songs you pick are likely to keep the dance floor packed all night. We all know that’s the true sign of a good party

Don’t:

• Feel like you have to put on all the food or drinks. A little bit of money behind the bar for nibbles and your first glass is great, but from our experience, people come expecting to pay for plenty themselves
• Forget to take plenty of snaps. Your engagement party is a really monumental occasion, so having those memories documented will be precious in years to come. If you’re likely to forget, get one of your wedding party or friends to be in charge of snapping away all night. Alternatively, hire a photographer for the engagement party, too - it's a great way to get to know your photographer
• Expect to spend any time with your partner! The evening will go so quickly, and with so many people there, it’ll be hard to catch a minute where it’s just the two of you. If possible, try and sneak off, even if it’s only for 10 minutes, for a quick moment of quiet

Engagement Party FAQs

Got one of those questions that you’re not sure if it seems silly to ask? No worries, we've got them all covered and have asked our expert, wedding planner Annie Hall of Love Made Me Weddings, to share her thoughts, too. 

What is the Purpose of an Engagement Party?

Put simply, an engagement party celebrates a couple's decision to wed and spend the rest of their lives together. It's also a wonderful excuse to bring your nearest and dearest together for good times.

"Engagement parties are all about celebrating and socialising," adds Annie. "So just make sure everyone is well-cared for, and it will be a success!"

Are Engagement Parties Tacky? 

The type of theme you opt for will change the atmosphere of the party, so if you aren't keen on flashy decorations, there are tons of ideas above that will keep your engagement classy and elegant. 

When Should an Engagement Party Take Place?

As mentioned, the engagement party usually takes place soon after the proposal, often in the following two to three months. If possible, Annie suggests hosting it on a significant date for you as a couple: "It's a lovely idea to hold your engagement party on a special date, like when you first met or had your first date, or perhaps on your wedding date, but a year in advance."

Who to Invite to an Engagement Party?

Close family and friends are definites on the engagement party guest list. Ensure early on that they can make your chosen date. Other than that, it’s your decision.

As we covered in the tips section, those you invite to the engagement party will likely be invited to the wedding, but, as Annie agrees, there are no set rules. "I'd say to invite the people you would like to invite to the wedding," says Annie. "But, if you want to invite other people, too, do! It's your day, and your gut will know who feels right to celebrate with."

Who Pays for the Engagement Party?

That depends on your budget. It’s totally up to the couple to decide whether to have the party, so it’s up to you (or your parents, if they’d like) to cover all of it, some or none. Just make it clear on the invites if you’re expecting guests to pay for their own food and drink, if it’s a cash bar, etc. If you can’t afford it, it’s totally OK not to have an engagement party.

What are the Main Considerations when Planning an Engagement Party?

"Engagement parties can be much lower-key than your wedding," says Annie. "The beauty is there are no rules, so anything works - picnic in the park, barbecue at home, cocktails on a roof, day out to the races, etc. They can also be weekday after-work affairs to make it easier for everyone to fit into hectic schedules. If this is the case, make sure there are easy transport options, such as picking a venue near a tube station. It's also a nice idea to hold the party somewhere special to you. So, for example, where you and your partner had your first date, your favourite café, pub, park or a childhood home.

"Theme-wise, I'm a big fan of contrasts as most people have multiple sides to their tastes. So, for example, if you're planning to have an urban warehouse winter wedding, why not have a summery barbecue or picnic engagement party to mix it up? Above all, so as long as there is good food, good drink and good lighting, you can't go wrong."

What to Wear to an Engagement Party as the Bride-To-Be?

As mentioned earlier, there are no set rules on what to wear for an engagement party, but, as Annie points out, it should make you feel fabulous: "Pick something that makes you feel beautiful! It doesn't need to be wedding-y - dress like it's your birthday."

Many newly engageds like to get into the bride-to-be spirit by wearing white and often choose a dress or jumpsuit. Options vary from simple, chic, and pared-back to fun, party-style dresses with eye-catching details, like feathers or sequins. Take a look at some of our top engagement party outfit ideas for inspo!

What to Wear to an Engagement Party as a Male?

We'd give similar advice to all! Make sure it's something you feel comfortable and great in, whether that be a relaxed suit, chino and shirt combo or even shorts if it's a summer bash. Just be sure to save your most impressive attire for the big day! 

Can You Suggest Any Unique Engagement Party Ideas? 

"Book a Wedding Yoga London experience," suggests Annie. "Enjoy a group yoga class for all abilities, followed by brunch, lunch, dinner, etc. It will get your guests moving, talking, and having a good time, and it will definitely be something they will remember!"

Should We Expect Gifts at the Engagement Party?

Not necessarily. Some people like to give gifts for both events, but most people would save up the cash and buy you something bigger for your wedding present. The engagement party really isn’t about getting presents – but be super grateful if you do get any!

What to Give for an Engagement Party Gift?

Getting the happy couple an engagement party gift is a great way to show them how excited you are. Check out our edit of the best engagement gifts for couples - it includes everything from homeware and food to unique experiences. 

Once your engagement party is ticked off, make sure you read our complete guide to everything you need to do once you get engaged!