A Complete Guide to Planning the Perfect Engagement Party
Engagement party planning is a journey that can be joyous yet challenging for the newly engaged couple. While the man plans for the proposal, women take engagement celebrations quite seriously. Since the proposal is out of the way, planning the perfect engagement party is a task with overwhelming moments. After all, this life-changing moment deserves an engagement celebration like no other.
Some couples like to call their family and friends to celebrate this exciting news intimately, while others want an elaborate extravaganza. There is no right or wrong way to announce to your family, “We’re getting married!” It really does not matter how you celebrate your engagement as long as you’re happy doing it. This is an opportunity to introduce your partner to each other’s family and friends and solidify your decision.
What Is an Engagement Party?
The basics are always important. Before getting into those lengthy party itineraries, learn what an engagement party is. As the name implies, an engagement party is a celebration for a newly engaged couple to announce their engagement to family and friends. This significant milestone marks the beginning of a season of love and celebrations following the wedding.
Planning an engagement celebration is overwhelming and it may feel like you have bitten off more than you can chew, but it is nothing that you cannot handle. In this simple guide, you will find all the essential information you need to successfully plan your engagement party
Who Usually Plans the Engagement Party?
Traditionally, engagement parties are thrown by the bride’s family. However, the contemporary world is moving fast, and modern couples mostly choose to share the budget. So, anyone close can throw an engagement party or the couple themselves.
Who Will Pay for the Engagement Party?
Be it dinner parties or engagement parties, any party is expensive these days. In the old days, the bride’s parents used to pay for the celebrations. But nowadays, whoever hosts the engagement party pays the costs. Just like everything else, engagement celebrations have been evolving. Now, mostly the couples themselves cover the payment. The main costs include food, drinks, venue, decorations, DJ, clothes, and a photographer.
Finalize the Date
You cannot have an engagement party on a random day. The first and foremost thing is setting up the date, which leads to other factors. Unless it is a surprise engagement party for one of the partners, the engagement party should be after a few months of the proposal. Once you finalize the date, it gives enough notice to guests, family, and friends to prepare for themselves. Many people will be very excited to hear that you are finally tying the knot!
Party Budget – Where You Lose a Little Dough!
Setting up a budget for the perfect engagement party is quite a task. Generally, an engagement celebration costs around a few thousand dollars. As much as a luxurious and expensive party is tempting, finding a reasonable spending amount is definitely something to consider because your wedding is right around the corner.
The best thing you can do is sit with your loved ones and decide how much you will spend. The discussion should include everything, from food to decorations. One option is hiring a party planner, but this will greatly increase your cost than if you were to plan the party yourself. A great benefit of throwing an engagement party is having the chance at vetting some party vendors prior to your wedding.
Pro Tip: Selecting an experienced wedding DJ can actually help tremendously with party planning, so choose wisely.
Whom to Invite – Create Your Guest List!
An engagement party can be a grand celebration or an intimate one. This depends on the newly engaged couple. Preparing a guest list will help you to figure out two major things. Firstly, you will know who is important to you and your partner. Secondly, the guest list helps you figure out the venue space. And generally speaking, if they come for your engagement party, they are also making it to the wedding. Some of the most important people for your engagement party include:
- Parents & grandparents of both bride and groom
- Siblings
- Close friends
- Members of the wedding party
- Close relatives
Find Your Venue & Book it!
Venue hunting is one of the most exciting (and intimidating) parts of engagement party planning process. Planning ahead is the key. It is not like you will get engaged one day, and the venue will just be there waiting for you. Hundreds of couples get engaged every week and competition for the best venues can be fierce. Hence, we recommend you look for a venue three or four months in advance. Having the venue booked beforehand will give you enough time to focus on other party ideas and vendors.
There is no hard and fast rule for finalizing the venue. It depends on your choice. For instance, you can throw an engagement party at a classy restaurant or a mansion if that fits your budget. The whole purpose of an engagement party celebration is to make endless memories.
While finalizing the venue, consider location, public transportation, and size. Since you will spend hours there, don’t compromise and make sure you find the right venue for both you and your partner.
Set the Scene!
Now that the basics are completed, the next thing that comes up is the theme of your engagement party. Who doesn’t love a theme-based party with perfect lighting to set the mood? Apart from guests, venue, and date, don’t forget to explore engagement party decor and themes. Keep this in mind during all the decision-making.
The theme of your engagement party can be anything you and your partner like. If you like boho themes, finding a countryside venue will be ideal. If you love luxury and glamor, finding an upscale venue in the city is perfect for you.
In addition, remember not to pick the same theme for the engagement and the wedding. This also gives an edge to different ideas. Consequently, you can have two different themes for two of your functions.
What to Serve – Let’s Eat!
Usually, an engagement party is more or less like a dinner or cocktail-style party. But it is not like you should not serve food. Just like every other party, food is important for an engagement celebration. You can choose either a full-course dinner or just a buffet. You must ensure that there should be enough food for everyone.
Planning the menu is tricky as you don’t know what to serve. Hence, asking your venue manager can be useful. With catering experience, venue managers will offer you a variety of menu options. This way, you can explore, taste, and finalize your party menu easily. Plus, make sure that you consider your guests’ dietary requirements and allergies (Aunt Karen is probably gluten Free). A small gesture such as this may seem arbitrary, but It’s the little things that people notice and appreciate.
Entertainment Is Essential
An engagement party is for celebrating love and making endless memories. And parties are no fun without entertainment. Choosing the right entertainment will enhance your engagement celebration. There are multiple entertainment options available, but a disk jockey and emcee is essential to help fill in the blanks and coordinate the entertainment throughout the evening.
You can have an engagement celebration with a full band or a solo acoustic singer. While music is sorted and guests are getting situated, light-hearted games such as the shoe game or an exciting scavenger hunt for the kids are trending and your DJ can help to ensure games are a success. Besides this, you can also hire a professional entertainer such as a magician or a comedian to guide you and your guests into having fun.
Don’t Forget to RSVP!
Spreading the word about your love can be fun. There are multiple ways to send invitations to your loved ones, but social media is the fastest and most cost-effective option these days.
By all means, you can set up a social media page where you can post updates regarding your party. If you like old handwritten or printed invitations, send them out around four to six weeks before the event. This way, your guests will have plenty of time to RSVP and plan their schedules. Plus, this will help you get an idea of the number of guests coming to the party and make table arrangements accordingly.
Raise Your Glasses & Toast
Toasts and speeches are a way to express love for the newly engaged couple. Generally, anyone who is close or not can give the speech, but it depends on the couple, too. Usually, the father of the bride-to-be begins with the opening speech, followed by mothers, friends, and other members. Hence, it is important to plan your toasts accordingly.
How Do You Dress for an Engagement Party?
There is a saying that the first impression is the last. When a couple gets engaged, they first appear at the engagement party. Hence, you deserve to shine. Find the perfect dress and tuxedo for your special day. Outfits can be anything as long as you are comfortable. You can choose clothing that matches your theme or be a little casual. It is up to you!
Final Thoughts
From choosing the date to selecting the menu, you have your guide here with everything you need to know for a grand engagement celebration. It’s smooth sailing from here on out; just enjoy your day to the fullest with your friends, family, and don’t forget the champagne!
So, if you are amidst engagement party planning, connect with Buffy’s Beats and let a professional DJ coordinate the event and provide a rocking party that your friends and family will love.
