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.
