If you just got engaged, it’s time to celebrate this momentous milestone in your relationship. An engagement party is a chance to hang out with your nearest and dearest and celebrate your engagement. Some couples spend years engaged before they even consider planning a wedding.
Don’t wait until your wedding day to show off your engagement ring and share the proposal story. You can celebrate your engagement in several ways – from having a movie night with the girls to throwing a dinner party. Here are a few things to consider when planning an engagement party.
Set the date
An engagement party is usually just a few weeks after the proposal. It can be quite a rush to organise everything for the celebration – especially if you’re throwing a more significant celebration. Decide who is hosting the party, whether it’s your family or maid of honour, and let them take the reins of the celebration. You need to determine the budget early on and what kind of celebration you would like too.
Create a guest list
If you’re having a more intimate wedding ceremony, a larger engagement ceremony is a great way to celebrate with all your friends and family. Throw a big party and let your guests know that this is your way of celebrating with them. Be clear from the start, so your loved ones don’t get upset when they aren’t invited to the wedding ceremony.
The weeks after the proposal can be overwhelming and a little stressful with everyone asking about the wedding and marriage. Take some time to relax and have a small brunch with your family to enjoy the moment together. Or, you could have a much more relaxed engagement celebration with your close friends and family.
Choose a venue
Your venue will be determined by the type of celebration you want to have and how many people are attending. Keep in mind that popular venues will be booked up for months in advance and may not be suitable for a last-minute engagement celebration. You could use your local pub or back garden for a little soiree instead.
Send out invites
Once you have decided to have an engagement party, you need to get the invites out as soon as possible. Ask your guests to respond quickly to get a better idea of how many people will be coming.
Plan a theme
The theme of your engagement can match the theme of your future wedding or go in a completely different direction. Have fun with it, and choose a theme around your first date together or favourite movie. For example, you could throw your engagement party in the bar you went to on your first date. Research a few options and keep your theme as bold or as subtle as you like.
Your engagement party should reflect your journey as a couple so far.