The Ultimate Guide to Planning an Engagement Party (+ 10 Unique Theme Ideas)

Congratulations! You’ve said “yes!” to spending the rest of your life with your person. Before you get stuck into wedding planning, why not focus on the here and now and throw an engagement party? We’re big believers in celebrating every step of the way and, as the first wedding-related event on your list, we think your engagement party should set the tone for what’s to come.

Engagement parties are so much more than celebrating the happy couple, they’re also a great chance for friends and family from both sides to mix and mingle ahead of the hen and stag dos, and the big day itself. That means guests can break the ice and build a rapport before the wedding day rolls around – making for even better vibes at the reception.

If you’re unsure where to start, let us lend a helping hand with our comprehensive planning guide. We’ve also rounded up some of our favourite ideas and themes for you to choose from. So, get working on your guest list and get ready to party!

Before you can begin to plan your engagement party, you’ll need to know how many guests you’re going to invite. Guest numbers will inform venue size, catering choices, and much more. 

Decide if you’d like to invite your nearest and dearest only, or everyone you plan to invite to your wedding. If you’re planning a more intimate wedding, you could invite a wider circle of friends and family to celebrate with you at the engagement party – just make sure guests are aware that this will be the main celebration. It’s totally up to you how you’d like to do it, just make the decision before looking at potential venues. 

With a rough idea of numbers in mind, you can start looking at where to host your engagement party.

Pubs with function rooms and restaurants with private dining areas are ideal choices. Alternatively, you can reserve a few tables at a bar and keep vibes casual as guests dip in and out. Village halls or social clubs are great if you need a bit more space, plus they’re often great blank canvases for a variety of themes.

If you’re on a tighter budget or simply wish to take to the great outdoors for your celebration, why not invite everyone to gather at a nearby park or in your (or your parents’) garden? Pop-up marquees can be used in case of any last-minute downpours and rugs and blankets are all the seating you need. 

Engagement parties are typically held within a couple of months of the engagement. With the engagement fresh and plenty of people who are yet to hear the proposal story and see the ring, there’ll be plenty of excitement in the air at your party.

Check with your venue for availability and keep in mind that weekend dates will likely book up in advance. For more purse-friendly partying, try a weekday or Sunday celebration. 

Is your party taking place in the daytime or the evening? Will you provide food or just drinks? Or will you cover food and ask guests to buy their own drinks at the bar? If the party is an after-dinner event, you might only need to provide nibbles whereas all-day or afternoon affairs will need something more substantial. With a venue and theme in mind, decide on what and how you’d like to provide for guests. 

Food trucks are a great way to add a festival feel to outdoor celebrations or a simple party buffet can be prepared in advance and put together for a reasonable cost. 

Next, think about décor. Balloons and ‘Just Engaged’ banners are a simple way to brighten up a hired space and let guests know they’re in the right place but if you want to take things further, there are plenty of options. Floral arrangements, photographs of the two of you, and on theme décor can all help to bring the party to life. 

Think about the kind of entertainment you’d like to put on. Many of the ideas below are based around food and drink but some involve games and activities too. Live music can serve as the main form of entertainment or be used to end the night on a high with a party band or DJ set. 

With the venue, date and theme sorted it’s time to send out your invites. Whether you’re sending paper invites or evites, you can give guests a hint of what’s to come. Keep the design on theme by using some of the theme specific names below and incorporate colour and illustration into the design. For example, an anchor with your initials or just a simple blue and white stripe background is perfect for an Aye Do, Captain! Engagement party. Websites like evite allow you to choose designs and personalise them in a few easy steps, so don’t sweat it if you’re not a dab hand at photoshop or Canva. 

Finally, it’s time to shop for the first wedding event outfit! With hen dos becoming weekend events and the bridal shower trend making its way across the pond, there are plenty of pre-wedding fashion options out there. 

Kick off your bridal era with a white party dress like this one from Odd Muse or a sharp suit with an unbuttoned shirt for men. For more casual engagement parties, go for a linen suit in a more relaxed fit like this one from Mango or a jumpsuit like this one from Reiss.

If you’re not into traditional wedding wear, simply choose the outfit that makes you feel the best. Like your wedding, your engagement party is your event and there is no set dress code so wear what makes you feel fabulous and invite guests to do the same- whether you love dopamine dressing or relaxed casuals. 

While your engagement party doesn’t need a specific theme, it’s sometimes easier (and more fun!) to base your celebrations around an idea you both love. From foodie functions to pun-tastic party ideas, these are some of our favourite themes. 

Simple and delicious, a BBQ engagement party is guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Whack a selection of meat and veggie option on the coals and put some drinks in ice filled tubs for guests to help themselves. 

Are you a competitive couple? Set up a series of games (think beer pong, board games, volleyball) and invite guests to get involved. Games will help break the ice and get friends and family from both sides mixing and mingling. 

Or ‘Two Less Fish in the Sea’ if you prefer. Hire a boat and take guests on a river or mini sea cruise. Life jackets, captain hats, sea food canapés, and blue and white striped outfits will all help this theme come to life. Don’t have the budget for boat hire? Keep for feet firmly on the ground and use sea-themed décor in your garden or land-based venue instead – all the fun with none of the seasickness! 

Perfect for pub or cocktail bar parties, this theme is begging for personalised cocktails. Serve each of your favourite cocktails or have a mixologist create something especially for you. Have personalised coasters or drink stirrers made for a unique touch. 

Love to snack on sweet treats? Why not host an afternoon or evening filled with them? Lay out plates of your favourite sweets and chocolate or pile up donuts and bakes for guests to help themselves to. Love a bit of Bake Off? Challenge guests to bring a bake, act as judges and announce a winner at the end of the evening. 

If you fancy more of a laidback celebration, or you’re simply not the kind of couple to take centre stage, allow your Hollywood faves to step in. Choose a movie you both love or one about weddings (we’ll always love Bridesmaids) and host a screening complete with drinks and snacks. It’s the perfect lowkey way to mark your engagement. 

If your engagement falls in the spring or summer months why not make the most of the seasonal changes? Host a Love Blooms engagement party amongst blossoming roses in May or surrounded by sweet peas in July. A garden or park filled with flowers is all the décor you’ll need, just add some floral paper plates and cups to complete the look. 

Host a sophisticated wine and cheese evening with a fun and romantic spin. Set out ‘perfect pairings’ in the form of wines and cheeses that go together and ask guests to bring their favourite cheeses, so everyone has something they like. 

Whether you love to travel or met on holiday, travel is a fun theme that’s easy to adapt according to your tastes. You could serve up your favourite country’s cuisine, display photos of you on your travels, and even host a travel themed quiz. Create teams in advance and be sure to mix guests up so they can meet and mingle with people they haven’t met yet – it’s the perfect way for people to bond before the big day. 

Naturally, we think there’s no better way to celebrate than with some live music and dancing. Live music can create an atmosphere a recorded playlist just can’t compete with, and bands can change up their set based on audience reaction as they go. Ask your band to play some of your favourite tracks as well as some fun wedding anthems like “Marry You” by Bruno Mars to get guests in the wedding spirit.  Check out our party bands and find the band for you. 

Hopefully you’re feeling more prepared to start engagement party planning than you were when you clicked on this article. Check out our other party planning articles for more ideas and advice.