How to Throw the Perfect Engagement Party
Planning an engagement party sounds pretty straight forward. After all, with hundreds of thousands of engagement party ideas on Pinterest and many personal experiences with loved ones, you probably have a basic blueprint to work with. The truth is, engagement parties can be trickier to plan than your regular get-together. It’s a party with a twist!
For one, your clients may not actually be the ones getting married. Often, hosts will want the special care that comes with hiring an event planner—which means that you’ll have to negotiate both the needs of your client and the happy couple.
Whether you’re the planner for the wedding day itself or not, your engagement party should be memorable. It’s the prelude to the big day so expectations run high. To keep things simple, we’ve put together this engagement party checklist so you can plan the first half of a love story without too much headache!
Who’s hosting?
Are your clients getting married? Or have their parents (or guardians) hired your event and wedding planning services as an engagement gift? Traditionally, the parents of the bride host the engagement party, but this particular custom feels a bit outdated these days. Some couples are choosing to pay (and host!) an engagement party for themselves. Others are throwing joint parties with couples who have gotten engaged within the same timeframe. A party cohosted by both the parents of the bride and groom is a sweet middle ground.
The timing of the engagement party is also significant. It should be set far enough from the actual wedding date so that the engaged couple can celebrate their happy news before planning the next big event!
The guest list
Before you start to think in terms of budget and venue, consider the number of guests your clients would like to invite. Generally, engagement parties are smaller and more intimate than the wedding itself, but your clients may opt for an extravagant pre-celebration. Don’t start the conversation assuming it’ll be small! Listen to what your client really wants before framing the conversation towards a smaller, less-extravagant affair!
Find out if both families and friends will be attending. For some couples, an engagement party is really a formal occasion for both families of the bride and groom to finally meet each other! Once you finalize the list, settle upon invitations. E-Vites are perfectly acceptable for a smaller, and more casual, get-together. However, you’re still expected to send invitations for a formal engagement party, too. Make sure you give guests enough time to RSVP, and indicate dress code or theme—if there is one!
Pro Tip: Many couples are now turning to wedding notification apps to keep guests in the loop. So find out if your clients are using one!
What’s your budget?
Once you know the size of the event, you can start to crunch the numbers. As always, ensure that your services are priced appropriately. While it’s not as elaborate as a wedding, planning an engagement party requires time and effort.
Just like any other event, you will mind the decor details, negotiating with vendors, and coordinating logistics. If the future bride and groom are NOT hosting their own engagement party, but a close friend or a member of the family is, remember that you answer to your client! You can ask for insight, but don’t let your budget get derailed! If there’s room in the budget, considering hiring a photographer for the evening. Friends and family will treasure beautiful pictures of the time they spend together before the happy couple officially say ‘I do.’…and you’ll have a great collection of photos to add to your wedding planner portfolio!
Select your vendors and venue
Of course, this depends on the amount of guests your clients have invited. A more traditional engagement party will be hosted in a home. But if the host wants to take the party elsewhere, look into other popular venues such as restaurants, pubs, or bistros, or a more offbeat location, like an art gallery.
Time of day will also set the tone for the event. If your clients are inviting a mix of friends and family, a brunch may be most appropriate. A vineyard or museum is a terrific venue for an event that is leaning more towards the formal side. A beach is also versatile option. Dress it down for a relaxed clambake, or dress it up for an evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Decor and menu
Some clients choose a venue and then select a decorating scheme. Others want the engagement party to reflect the wedding theme. Some couples even see the engagement party as an entirely separate event, as well as an opportunity to showcase a different atmosphere.
If your clients are looking for a teaser to the wedding, you’ll have to think of ways you can incorporate theme without drawing attention away from the upcoming nuptials. Instead, focus on bringing the wedding theme through subtle touches, such as color scheme and accessories.
The menu is another way to play with theme. A backyard BBQ is informal and fun. If your clients are planning a destination wedding, bring out some bright and colorful tropical drinks. Engagement parties rarely feature sit-down dinners! Feel free to discuss favorite appetizers with your clients and feature some creative catering.
Fun décor and menu ideas:
- Mini wedding cake: Hint at the upcoming wedding with a mini-tiered cake on the dessert table.
- Mini centerpieces: Work with a florist to create a smaller vision of the wedding flowers.
- Create-your-own-cocktail bar: If an open bar isn’t in the budget, or if you are working with a home venue, create a space where guests can choose from different drink ingredients. Recipes can be written on chalkboard. Just make sure the ‘build your drink’ station is sanitary!
- Bride and groom color scheme: For a nod to the engaged couple, stage the event with both of their favorite colors.
- Engagement story: Create a sort of storyline leading up to the engagement with pictures so that guests can get to know the couple’s story.
- Favorite things favors: Thank guests for coming with a small favor that represents what the bride and groom enjoy. Perhaps a votive candle with a favorite sweet.
And keep in mind…
You will have to think about how your clients will accept gifts. Some couples create a wedding registry before the engagement party. Others create a separate registry for the engagement party. Others don’t want guests to bring gifts at all! Make sure you have a plan for how your clients can graciously accept gifts from guests who bring one while placing it away from the party so other guests don’t feel uncomfortable. And remember: confirm all your vendors two weeks prior to the event!
Are you ready for the big day? Here’s a glimpse into a wedding planner’s duties on the day-of!
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Beautifully detailed about planning the engagement party. I suggest a small table , round or small square one with the couples Picture, a mini cake or a 3 tier cupcake with the colors of the wedding colors. The guets favors to thank them. Can be a small votive candle nicely decorated with a lace or a small bow of the couples color scheme. Or it may be a small frame with the couples picture or a thank you inside to keep. A small box of candies with chocolates and tiny note with their names saying thank you. Great ideas?
My sister assigned me as the party planner for her engagement party, and she requested me to look for a personal chef that could cater to us for the evening. Thank you for these tips because you’re right that it would be best to come up with a theme. I’d also keep in mind to inform my sister about the advantage of having an open bar where guests could choose from various ingredients.