So you’ve finally popped the question (and popped open a bottle of bubbly) – what next? What else but an engagement party! An engagement party is the perfect chance to celebrate your love for one another with your family and friends – and to let loose before wedding planning kicks into gear.
At GiftWell, putting on parties is our speciality, and we know several strategies to ensure you have a brilliant time. Here, we’ve put together our top tips for planning a beautiful engagement party you’ll never want to forget.
Set your date
Unlike the wedding, which you’ll plan well in advance, engagement parties are generally more spontaneous, taking place soon after you announce you’re getting married – within three months of popping the question is a good guideline. Decide on the date for your engagement party as soon as you can to make sure the majority of your guest list will be able to come.
Or, for a bit of a sneaky surprise, why not announce your engagement at the party itself? Your guests won’t suspect a thing, but they’ll get to celebrate as soon as they find out.
Book a venue
Once you’ve decided your date, book the venue as soon as you can, to avoid heartbreak down the line. Even if you have a perfect venue in mind, ultimately the choice should come down to the size of your guest list; intimate parties work well in smaller spaces with plenty of mood lighting, while raucous parties are perfect in large spaces where your guests can run wild. If you prefer something a little more exclusive, a backyard event gives you complete control – and it’s more personal, as it’s in a place you already know and love.
Send out invites
As well as communicating all the important details, your invitations should set the mood of the party and indicate the theme (more on this below). That way, your guests will know what to wear (no fashion faux-pas here!) and will know if they have to turn up with a gift in tow or whether you’d prefer money or a donation to charity.
Decide on your theme
Your party doesn’t have to be a formal occasion if that doesn’t speak to you. If you’re a more laid-back couple, you could opt for a casual cocktail party, a morning tea in the park, or brunch on a summer’s day.
In terms of styling, choosing a theme can make it easier to settle on design choices, and gives your event a unique flavour. Select a few complementary colours or a loose style (rustic or beachy, maybe?) and your planning will be made a whole lot easier.
Plan the menu
The menu is where the theme will come into full force, and your choice of food and drinks will set the stage for a great party ahead. If you’re planning a formal dinner, work with a caterer to select several courses and matching wines; if it’s a more casual event, choose roving canapes and finger food and fun cocktails to match. Be sure to include options for people with different dietary needs – or ask your guests specifically what they love to eat.
You can even have some fun with your menu choices – lay out a buffet spread of your favourite lollies and sweet treats, or a selection of customised cupcakes for dessert.
After the event…
The fun’s not over yet – you still have things to do even once you’ve removed your dancing shoes. Send out thank you notes to everyone who came along, and make them personal by including a photo or memento from the party. If they brought a gift, or even just gave you flowers, make sure to mention this in the note – a gracious host is the best kind to be.
And then it’s time to plan the wedding…
