Posted on August 19, 2021 by New Jersey Bride
Whether you JUST got engaged or you’re getting ready to start planning your wedding, it’s time to start celebrating this journey together as soon-to-be newlyweds.
An engagement party is the next big step in your relationship, so celebrate it with your loved ones! This celebration brings your two families together, it’s good practice for planning your wedding, and it can help you decide who you want on your wedding guest list.
Whether you’re looking to stick to tradition or get a little creative, the wedding planners at Zola have shared with us 48 fun ideas for every type of couple. Have fun planning, and let us know which type of party you’re throwing!
There’s nothing like enjoying the outdoors with your closest family and friends, especially in these times with Covid! Take your party to the beach or add outdoor touches by throwing a backyard luau.
1. Incorporate elegant roses:
Throw a rose-themed party with your favorite colored roses and incorporate touches of rose gold to complete this elegant feel.
2. Get competitive with beach games:
Have a casual engagement party with a beach cookout. Toss volleyballs, feast on your favorite hamburgers, and laugh about all of your favorite memories as a couple.
3. Create your own Japanese garden:
Begin with tea and then transition to your sushi main dish at your brightly colored garden party.
4. Let the leaves fall:
Recreate a heartwarming fall engagement party with rustic reds, greens, and yellows, plus golden silverware and simply decorated centerpieces.
5. Re-create a tropical summer:
Decorate the venue with palm leaves, white minimalist chairs, and simple tables, then hang light pink streamers for a luscious tropical summer party.
6. Have a backyard bonfire:
Light some matches and snuggle up in blankets to celebrate your love over s’mores, backyard games, and traditional bonfire tunes.
7. Celebrate in a winter wonderland:
If you got engaged during the winter months, enjoy sipping hot cocoa with warm blankets up in the mountains for a heartwarming holiday party.
8. Throw a luau:
Serve traditional Hawaiian egg rolls, pineapple pastries, and kabobs while wearing Hawaiian attire and flowers in your hair. Decorate with bright flowers and tropical elements to make your party feel like you’re on the beaches of Hawaii.
9. Have a classic picnic:
Host a traditional plaid picnic party in your backyard or local park. Pack your favorite pastries, popsicles, or sandwiches in celebration of this new milestone.
10. Make your own secret garden:
Decorate your backyard garden with light green streamers, white balloons and even mini gold vases for a whimsical engagement get-together.
11. Add a rustic appeal:
Get a wheelbarrow and picnic table, then crack open some beers to celebrate the next big step in your relationship with your loved ones.
12. Host a farm-to-table feast:
Pick out all of your favorite local food products for your engagement party and create your own farm to table celebration. Serve food on wooden crates in your backyard with festive product labels pointing out both your favorite picks.
Make your party personal and unique with all your favorite things—whether that includes bright watercolor fun or rooftop rosé with your closest friends and family.
13. Ring in the New Year:
Celebrate your engagement while watching fireworks and munching on appetizers with your loved ones surrounding you. Toast to the New Year and your new engagement.
14. Track back to the 1920s:
Throw a Gatsby-themed party with suits, jazz blaring on the stereo, and layered pearl necklaces on your tables for decoration. For more info on how to throw a 20s party or wedding, click here.
15. Host a white party:
Add white lace touches to your decorations and have all your guests wear white to your event to show their love for the newly engaged couple.
16. Create your own Broadway bliss:
Compile your favorite tunes and add touches of velvet in a dimly lit venue for an intimate theater engagement-party experience.
17. Be Parisian:
Paris is known as the “City of Love,” so bring that theme to your party. Have guests sign locks to hang on a wall and toast to love with macarons and Champagne.
18. Be famous at a costume party:
If you have a favorite movie, genre or book, throw your own costume party! Pick out your favorite celebrities and have fun getting into character with your guests.
19. Have a pink flamingo party:
Brighten your party up with pink accents and decorative paper flowers for your flamingo-themed celebration. Blow up a giant flamingo floaty for the perfect backdrop to take Polaroid pictures.
20. Roll out the red carpet:
Make your guests feel like stars by hosting a party full of Old Hollywood glamour. Have a red carpet, flashing lights and music blasting while guests make their way down the aisle.
21. Host a white party:
Add white lace touches to your decorations and have all your guests wear white to your event to show their love for the newly engaged couple.
22. Have an enchanting party:
Decorate your engagement party with deep blues and purples with gold accents and a tiered cake. To top off of your engagement party attire, wear gold headpieces to walk around like royalty.
23. Host a dessert party:
If you have a sweet tooth, create your own dessert décor with your favorite guilty pleasures all on one table. Serve wine, coffee or tea for everyone to indulge in.
24. Celebrate with rosé all day:
Rent out your favorite rooftop bar to celebrate with a view. Toast to your engagement over rosé and city lights.
Have you thought about toasting to your new adventures over brunch? After all, breakfast may just take the top spot as everyone’s favorite meal. Consider celebrating your love with a donut party or a mimosa bar.
25. Make a mimosa bar:
Buy your favorite fruit, juice and champagne to toast to your journey as a newly engaged couple. Set up a full bar for your guests to create their ideal mimosa.
26. Jazz brunch:
Eat your classic go-to breakfast dishes at your own French Quarter Courtyard. From scrambled eggs to french toast and egg casserole, cheers to your new journey together over morning champagne.
27. Cool off at a morning pool party:
Fill a pool with bacon-shaped floaties, lather up on sunscreen and take a deep dive into the pool for a relaxed morning celebration.
28. Have a morning fiesta:
Enjoy breakfast burritos with guacamole and a tall glass of orange juice on tables decorated with cacti and bright pink for a proper morning fiesta celebration.
29. Bring out the sunshine:
Add lemons to clear vases for your table centerpieces, and create your own full coffee bar for the perfect wake-up call. Incorporate bright yellows throughout your venue for a morning sunshine feel.
30. Show your love for blooms:
Have a sunrise breakfast celebration by decorating your venue with flower petals scattered on each table, bright-colored peony centerpieces and mini breakfast sandwiches and pastries.
31. Create a donut wall:
Set up a sweet surprise with a donut wall and glasses of milk to dip them in. Make your own pegboard wall filled with your favorite donut flavors for all your guests to test out.
32. Join the breakfast club:
Have your guests dress as they would in the ‘80s in remembrance of the classic 1985 “Breakfast Club.” Share breakfast appetizers like egg bites, coffee, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
33. Host a Spring tea party:
Fill vases with brightly colored flowers, fill plates with light snacks, and serve pots of tea. Have various morning pastries like banana bread and muffins to pair with your tea.
34. Have your own bake-off:
Have your guests bring their favorite baked items to compete for the best-baked masterpiece at your engagement party. Have a prize table of gift cards and wedding-ring cookies for the winners.
35. Have a morning BBQ:
Throw some bacon, sausage and patties on the grill for everyone to make their own breakfast sandwiches. Top off your meal with a variety of juices, smoothies and mimosas.
36. Throw a pancake pajama party:
Have your guests show up in their favorite PJs to get the pancake party started. Have a variety of pancake toppers from fruit, granola, syrup and edible roses to eat while enjoying the morning.
Get creative and let your playful spirit out to celebrate. Whether you’re a superhero geek, wannabe detective or art lover, these are just for you! Incorporate all of your favorite things into your engagement party for a night you’ll never forget.
37. Have a movie night:
Rent or buy a projector to have a movie night with all your loved ones. Stockpile all your favorite rom-coms or love stories to bring out the laughter.
38. Design a scavenger hunt:
Think of all your relationship milestones and put your loved ones to the test. Break up into groups and send them on a scavenger hunt to see who knows you best.
39. Go modern Gothic:
Incorporate dark tones into your engagement party with taper candles, black roses and even a couple of skulls for spooky touches.
40. Be the superhero:
Come to the rescue by incorporating your favorite desserts, photo-booth superhero props and capes to mimic your playful spirits as a newly engaged couple.
41. Become the Mad Hatter:
Play up your tea party with Wonderland essentials. Wear the classic Mad Hatter hat, sip tea and brighten your party up with paper flowers.
42. Create your own taco bar:
Display a variety of salsas, guacamole, beans, meats and tortilla shells for your guests to make their own tacos. Have a full margarita and Bloody Mary table to quench your thirst.
43. Gamble the night away:
You may have already hit the jackpot, but your guests will want to win big at your party! Have your loved ones gamble with play money to see who will win the big prize (ring-shaped cookies) by the end of the night.
44. Have fun with laser tag:
Bring out your competitive side and play laser tag. You’ll get to see which one of your friends is the most competitive and the best shot.
45. A touch of history:
Rent out a local museum and hire guides to give your guests a tour of your favorite exhibits. Have appetizers and cocktails and a designated seating area for guests to relax.
46. Host a murder mystery:
If Halloween and scary movies are a couple of your favorite things, consider hosting a murder-mystery party. Break out the extravagant characters and storylines—may the best man win!
47. Go to an arcade:
Take a break and act like a kid again. Rent out an arcade or bring the arcade to you by incorporating games you loved as a kid. Whoever wins may just get a ring (cookie).
48. Host a homecoming party:
Re-create your high school dream of being homecoming king or queen as you dance the night away.
