An engagement party is an opportunity to bring together friends and family, celebrate your love, and get everyone excited about the wedding to come. However, planning an engagement party can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing the perfect theme, venue, and entertainment. Whether you’re looking for a casual backyard barbecue or an elegant evening affair, there are endless engagement party ideas to make your party unforgettable. In this article, we’ll explore some creative and unique engagement party ideas to inspire you and help you plan the perfect celebration.
Engagement party themes
From a classic garden lunch party to an intimate cabin retreat with your closest family and friends, take a look at our suggestions for an eventful engagement party.
Elegant floral party in the garden
Whether set up in your own garden or a rented venue (see photo below), a garden party is what most people choose for their engagement parties. The trickiest part is planning your date around good weather—unless you’re lucky enough to live with nice weather year-round, of course!
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Mikasa
Blossom Crystal Vase
Rustic patio dinner with cocktails
With its warm and inviting atmosphere, a rustic patio dinner and cocktails engagement party offers a charming and intimate way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials, surrounded by string lights, lush greenery, and cozy seating areas for guests to mingle and enjoy delicious food and drinks.
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Barbecue bash in the backyard
Engagement parties don’t need to be stuffy affairs steeped in awkwardness and social decorum. They’re celebrations of love and life, after all, so why not celebrate with a good old-fashioned barbecue party?
Wine, grilled veggies, fresh burgers, and loved ones close—what could be better?
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Stesha Party
I Do BBQ Cutlery bags
Tropical theme engagement party
Dreaming of surfing with dolphins and drinking coconut water straight from the source? If a visit to Hawaii is too difficult to coordinate with your friends and family, then bring the Hawaiian spirit to your home!
Decorate with botanicals, serve tropical drinks, and play some feel-good beach tunes for your tropical engagement party. Weather permitting, the best place to host this engagement party would be outdoors.
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Michaels Stores
Tropical Bird of Paradise Leaf Spray by Ashland
Build your own dessert social
Donut walls are also a popular decor for engagement parties. Check out this adorable donut mini wall supplemented by what looks to be jars of pastel marshmallows.
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Maddy Made Pottery
Cotton Candy Lidded Jar
Cozying up in a cabin for the weekend
If you’d rather host the festivities away from home, consider taking the gang up to a lakeside cabin for a weekend of fun. Whether your friends and family prefer actual camping or glamping, they’re in for a treat at your destination engagement party!
Set up different activities that cater to individual tastes, so no one’s feeling left out.
Seaside soiree – engagement party on the sea
Another unorthodox engagement party location you might not have considered is on a boat. Spend the day out on the river or bay eating and toasting to new beginnings! Many boat companies also provide catering, which is great news if you want to free up some mental space for your wedding planning.
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Made Trade
Ticking Stripe Bunting
Engagement party decorations
From charming DIY decorations to elegant centerpieces, the options are vast for creating a unique and personalized atmosphere that reflects your style and personality. Take inspiration from these engagement party decor ideas to help you plan a celebration that’s as beautiful and unique as your love story.
Table linens
If serving a meal or snacks, table linens are a great way to incorporate your theme into your engagement party decor.
(Read our design blog on how to dress your dining table with linens, centerpieces, and flatware for more inspiration.)
Classic bridal white
Why wait for your wedding day to use gauzy, ethereal fabrics—a glimpse into your upcoming special day!
Bridal Veil
This white on white print couldn’t be more perfect for an engagement party. Accented with delicate gold motifs ensconced in a heart-shaped trellis pattern, Bridal Veil is the print for anything wedding-related.
While we don’t offer any table linens for this gorgeous print, you might use a curtain panel as a large rectangular tablecloth. Besides table linens, you can use Bridal Veil as decor. Hang up a set of curtains to cover bare walls, or use them as drapery above a doorway or arch.
Vanilla Glace
Another white and gold print, Vanilla Glace conjures up images of deluxe, creamy desserts embellished with edible gold flakes and pearls. Serve up matching sweets on Vanilla Glace tablecloths for a pristine, sumptuous table setting.
Touch of floral
Another way to incorporate florals is through your table linens.
Enchanted – Ivory
Whimsical, exquisite, dreamy—this pastel-forward print lends itself to a picture-perfect engagement party. Serve lunch on our Enchanted – Ivory placemats if you want to add a touch of luxury without being too formal.
French-inspired engagement party ideas
Instead of French country cottage, you might go the more sophisticated route with a classic French wedding theme for your engagement party. A night comprised of a full-course meal, dancing, and getting to know future in-laws.
Versailles
A symbol of 17th century French royalty, our Versailles collection will have you feeling like a member of the French monarchy.
Rustic botanicals
Are you and partner nature lovers? How about an engagement party featuring lush botanical prints and green decor?
Woodland Ferns
Table settings decked out in Woodland Ferns will perfectly illustrate your love of the outdoors. Coordinate with potted plants as centerpieces. You might even give away living mini succulents as party favors!
Bright and graphic engagement party linens
Perhaps you and your loved one prefer loud, brilliant styles instead.
Spice Route
Moroccan engagement parties are lavish, merry events. Lively music, stunning decor, and plenty of food make for a night full of of fun. Use our Spice Route table linens like this Moroccan medallion table runner to capture that Mediterranean verve.
Ruby Kilim
Ruby Kilim, a rustic print many of our customers use for Christmas-theme decor, is also a fantastic choice for outdoor gatherings like barbecues. Graphic and dramatic, yet inviting. Serve charcuterie boards and red wine as appetizers on top of Ruby Kilim for a more laidback vibe.
Lights bring romance to your engagement party
Fairy lights, candles, and lanterns add a whimsical touch to your engagement party, while colorful LED lights create a more lively and festive mood. Think about the placement of the lights to ensure that they’re neither too bright nor distracting.
Fun games for your engagement party entertainment
Traditional games like charades, Pictionary, or trivia can be customized to include the couple’s love story or interests, adding a personal touch to the festivities. Interactive games like “never have I ever” or “two truths and a lie” can help break the ice and get guests laughing and chatting.
Outdoor games like cornhole, croquet, or giant Jenga can also bring some friendly competition to the merriment, and are more inclusive if children are on the guest list. Ultimately, including games at an engagement party can make guests feel more relaxed.
Centerpieces for an elegant engagement party
Centerpieces help tie together the party’s theme, color scheme, or overall aesthetic. Floral arrangements are a popular choice, providing a fresh and natural look. Alternatively, candles, lanterns, or other decorative objects add a more contemporary or whimsical touch.
Ensure that the centerpieces are not too tall or obstructive: they should not hinder conversation or visibility.
- Floral arrangements
- Custom table place settings
- Themed arrangements
- Vase and flowers for guests to take home
Banners and backdrops for an engagement bash
Banners and backdrops add a personalized touch to an engagement party. Banners can be customized with the couple’s names or a special message, while backdrops can provide a beautiful setting for photos and create a focal point for the event. They can be made from a variety of materials such as fabric, paper or vinyl and can be designed to match your theme or color scheme.
Try pinning up a pair of sheer curtain panels for a sustainable, waste-free alternative to disposable banners and backdrops.
Practical and decorative signs for an engagement party
Signs can be a fun and useful decor an engagement party; they can be used to direct guests to various areas of the event or to display important information such as the date of the wedding or the couple’s wedding hashtag. Signs can also be used for embellishment purposes, such as a welcome sign or a custom-made sign with the couple’s names. Depending on the theme, signs can be designed using materials such as wood, chalkboard or acrylic.
Guest book for an engagement party
A guest book at an engagement party is a lovely way for the couple to remember their special day and receive messages of congratulations and well wishes from their loved ones. It can also help the couple keep track of who attended the party.
Wall decor engagement party ideas
Wall decor can be a great way to add a pop of color and create a beautiful backdrop for photos that will be cherished for years to come. The couple’s initials or a personalized message can also be included in the decor to add a personal touch.
- Bunting
- Streamers
- Lights
- Drapes
