First comes love — then comes an engagement party. In an era of frequent proposals, your friends and family are about to attend their fair share of celebrations (and we’re here to help yours stand out).
Your love story is unique, and your engagement party should be too. Our team is breaking down 6 creative ways to make your milestone memorable — with ideas, trends, and tips from real couples’ celebrations. Keep scrolling for unique engagement party ideas.
1. Cater to the Occasion
Engagement rings are flying off the shelves — and these caviar rings will certainly fly off your serving dish. Themed catering has never been hotter (or more luxe) — with the right caterer, that is.
Make an announcement with your appetizers. From sliders to small bites, there’s no limit to what you can print on your packaging. This engagement party went from broadcasting a special date’s news to creating cartoons — and we’re craving every small detail.
Sometimes, you have to stick with the classics. This custom cake was perfect for an engagement party of just 6. Covered in the bride-to-be’s favorite mint-green hue and topped with fondant daisies, this decadent dessert perfectly complemented the garden party’s setting.
From now on, we only want churros if they come with familiar faces. Trust us, your guests will never forget their favorite couple-turned-cartoon for the freshest food packaging. To top it all off, the animation was printed on the party’s blush party favors (and they’re oh so sweet).
When you’re college sweethearts, it’s only fitting you show some school spirit at your celebration. Each guest got a taste for where this couple met (math class, specifically) — and we’d give extra credit for the servers outfitted in wedding hashtag t-shirts.
2. Let Your Relationship Inspire a Theme
This couple brought their favorite people to their favorite place (a family-owned ranch) for a Southern-style celebration. While rocking western hats and buckled boots, guests enjoyed Texas staples like comfort food and live music, followed by a fireworks finale.
A little Disney magic is the perfect addition to your fairytale beginning. This couple chose one of their favorite love stories to inspire a jewel-toned dinner party. We can only imagine how stunned guests were when they found Aladdin’s magic carpet brought to life upon entry.
You can’t go wrong with the City of Love. After getting engaged in one of the world’s most romantic destinations, this couple brought their Parisian experience home. From refreshing cocktails to light greenery and creative signage, this themed party was perfectly executed.
Can’t choose one destination? Then include them all. If you’re a couple that loves to travel, this theme is perfect for you. Globes, repurposed maps, and enchanting strung lights filled this backyard to create a worldly setup in Malibu (and mark the start of a new adventure).
3. Add Seasonal Elements
We want pumpkin spice lattes and proposals all year long. When hosting in the fall, consider a clear tent that will allow guests to enjoy ever-changing trees and seasonal surroundings — all from the comfort of a warm enclosure.
Nothing says cozy like a holiday romance. This New York engagement party took advantage of a mild winter evening with outdoor heaters, chunky blankets, and a gorgeous year-round view. The couple’s home also glimmered with frosty branches, rich red lighting, and whimsical winter lanterns.
Florals, florals, and more florals. When the birds start chirping, the botanicals start blooming; so cover your spring engagement party in floor-to-ceiling pastels, seasonal bouquets, and light greenery. We especially love how this celebration engulfed lounge areas in cascading flower walls (that certainly smelled as good as they looked).
When celebrating in warm weather, there are plenty of outdoor spaces to choose from (think rooftops, hidden gardens, poolside patios, and more). This al fresco engagement party added a vibrant floral wall for the perfect seasonal Instagram spot — just throw on your favorite sunglasses and say cheese.
4. Raise a Glass to Forever
Ensure every guest has a glass as they get seated. This Veuve orange-inspired engagement party was perfectly curated in color. Monochrome is most definitely trending — and we love the idea of choosing your favorite color as a couple and running with it from the food and drinks to florals.
Did you know you can put yourself on a frothy drink topper? We love the idea of taking your boozy beverages to the next level with your favorite photo. This couple used their engagement shoot to dress up their drinks — and we can assure you, guests never forgot such a creative touch.
Forget catchy wedding hashtags; we’re obsessed with curating a creative cocktail menu. This backyard party offered “Rose-Marry Me” garnished cocktails as the couple’s drink of choice. To create your own, just choose your favorite drinks and add alliterations, puns, or rhymes — and you’ve got a themed selection to sip from.
5. Tell Your Story With Your Setting
Ocean City, MD
Your partner may plan a surprise engagement party directly after the proposal, or together the two of you can decide to return to that special spot with friends and family in tow. Either way, you can’t go wrong with celebrating in such a meaningful way. In this case, bride-to-be Kayla was surprised by an oceanfront proposal — followed by a beachside lunch with cake, cocktails, and more.
Bucharest, Romania
This couple’s love for London shows. Their favorite travel memory became the design muse for an incredible, floral-filled evening. If only we could have been there to smell the English roses.
Your engagement photos are for more than just Instagram. Whether you hired a professional photographer or had a friend capture your proposal, everyone will love to see that special moment expanded beyond their screen.
This couple had their cake — and told their story on it, too. At each table sat a sweet centerpiece that led loved ones down memory lane. Guests meandered from table to table to witness the future bride and groom’s relationship timeline (and our team is eating up this visual storytelling idea).
This couple brought their Indian roots to their engagement party. They incorporated plenty of traditions, including a ring exchange on an elevated couch, the use of vivid purples and bright hues in their event design, and placing religious statues throughout the venue.
6. Add an Activity That Fits Your Personality
Marrakesh, Morocco
Give guests their caffeine fix, and they’ll keep your party going. We love the coffee station at this summer soirée — especially the variety of offerings. No more settling for bland house coffee. With this station, you can do it yourself and make it how you love it.
Nostalgia makes the heart grow fonder. Toast to love by toasting your s’mores center — and bring back the best childhood memories while doing it. The options range from adding a luxe indoor s’mores bar to bringing guests out back for an authentic gathering around the fire.
Many engagement parties have dance floors, but most aren’t dripping in rose petals. A red rose symbolizes a romantic relationship, so we say it’s time to scatter those petals (and get a photo while doing it).
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
How Can I Use PartySlate to Plan My Engagement Party?
PartySlate can help with all aspects of engagement party planning. Browse photos from real celebrations (and filter by location, guest count, style, colors, theme, and more) to get ideas — plus, you can save your favorite photos and ideas for later.
Once you’ve decided on a style, it’s time to start looking for an engagement party venue. On PartySlate, you can browse event spaces in your city by type, amenities, guest count, and more. Our team has found that restaurants, bars, and rooftops are the most popular spots for engagement parties (although no venue type is off limits).
Once you’ve found your venue and set the date, PartySlate can help you find vendors to make your party unique and memorable. Whether you’re looking for a florist or are going the balloon route, need a caterer, photographer, or want to get your hair and makeup done, the best vendors in your area can be found and messaged all through PartySlate.
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GOOD GRACIOUS! EVENTS
Leave it to Good Gracious! Events to plan your next event. This award-winning event planning company offers clients the full spectrum of event services. photographer: Jana Williams Photography