While traditionally the bride’s parents are in charge of the engagement party, it’s perfectly common for the couple to host it themselves. Whoever is planning the event, these ideas will help ensure a fun, beautiful event for both families.

Atmosphere
If you’re holding the party at a restaurant or function hall, you can work with them to help set up decorations, or bring your own. Whatever type of motif the wedding will have, an engagement party with a personalized backdrop can set the tone. At SignArtEtc you can design it yourself with custom text, colors and images. Or just give us the specs and image files and we’ll design it for you at no extra charge.

The happy couple, their families and other guests can pose in front of the banner, letting them practice for all of the wedding pictures they have coming!

Guests
While traditionally the engagement party was an opportunity for the bride and groom’s immediate families to meet one another for the first time, over the years it has become more of an opportunity to invite their closest friends and family to celebrate the happy occasion. Some couples include friends, colleagues and people they care about who might not be invited to the wedding. Some couples may stick with tradition and only invite their families and closest friends. For most, guests who are invited to the engagement party are also invited to the wedding, but really, it’s whatever the couple wants it to be.

Food
Unlike the wedding, the engagement party doesn’t need to have a proper sit  down dinner. Since the meal doesn’t have to be formal, you can serve whatever the couple likes. You can set up a buffet-style meal to make it easier, or even bring in a food truck if it’s outside. Hello Magazine suggested serving a cake with a cute message like “She said yes!” as the dessert. Just make sure it doesn’t show up the future wedding cake.

Drinks
Champagne, of course! Once the party is in full swing, hold a champagne toast to the happy couple. If you’d rather go the non-alcoholic route, sparkling cider or other type of juice is the perfect alternative. If there are other guests making toasts, such as family members, Punchbowl suggests that you find out ahead of time so you can allocate time for everyone. In addition to champagne, you could also serve a specialty cocktail of the couple’s choosing.

For local businesses like bars, restaurants and nightclubs, Valentine’s Day can be a blessing or a curse. More than almost any other date of the year, consumers are inclined to hit the town for a day or evening of romance and adventure. At the same time, if your Valentine’s Day event doesn’t woo your prospective guests, you could risk losing them to “sexier,” more exciting local happenings.

Valentine’s Day can be big business for local establishments. According to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association “Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey,” consumers as a whole spend an average of $13.19 billion every year on the holiday, with the average per person expenditure a little over $100. Over a third of consumers celebrating the holiday will have dinner at restaurants. To make sure that your Valentine’s Day event hits its target like cupid’s arrow, consider each of the following ideas for turning your establishment into a can’t-miss romantic destination:

The Sign of Love
In dating, first impressions are supremely important. The same goes for throwing a Valentine’s Day event. You want your establishment to feel like something special, not business as usual. First, consider signage or banners that call attention to the events you have going on. If your guests don’t realize you’re doing anything special for the holiday, why would they bother to attend? A vinyl banner hung outside of your establishment can be a quick and easy way to signal that your business is getting into the spirit.

Set the Mood
Dimmed lighting, candles, rose petals and other aesthetic choices evoking the feeling of an intimate, romantic evening are all essential to transform your restaurant or bar into the perfect Valentine’s Day nightspot. A soundtrack of sultry R&B songs and romantic ballads can help complete the mood.

Celebrity Couples (for a Night)
One fun and flirty idea is to host a red carpet inspired soiree, complete with custom step and repeat for photos. Make couples feel like movie stars and celebrities by encouraging formal attire, providing a complimentary glass of wine or champagne and gift bags at the end of the evening.

A Kissing Booth
Alternatively, you can employ a branded backdrop to be the setting of a “kissing booth.” Encourage your guests to stage romantic pictures, exchanging smooches in front of your backdrop. Develop your own hashtag that includes the name of your establishment so that when couples tag their Valentine’s Day photos, you’ll be able to easily locate them and re-post.

Offer a Package
A restaurant that offers a full evening’s menu can attract more guests and streamline operations. Consider scaling back your usual a la carte menu offerings in favor of a package deal that includes an appetizer, dinner, wine and dessert for a single price.

Don’t Forget the Swinging Singles
If you’re looking for an idea that is a bit more offbeat and eccentric, why not host an event geared toward singles? Whether you decide on a purposely “unromantic” anti-Valentine’s Day event or a speed dating mixer, catering to a more niche audience may in the end help your establishment stand out from the crowd.

Just like you wouldn’t want to wait until the last minute to get your sweetheart flowers, don’t let Valentine’s Day event planning sneak up on you. For all your sign, backdrop and step and repeat needs, Sign Art has you covered. Contact us today to learn more.