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Here’s How to Throw an Insta-Worthy Engagement Party
You never have to scroll too far to stumble upon a celebrity engagement party on Instagram, and if you’ve recently got engaged yourself, you’re probably thinking, should I throw one too? The short answer is yes, absolutely. As part of our engagement tips and inspiration, we’ll explore some useful tips to throw an Insta-worthy engagement party in this post.
While planning the wedding is always top priority, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a party to get all your loved ones together and celebrate the big news straight away, particularly when most weddings take place a good 12 to 18 months post-proposal. However, hosting an engagement party of your dreams can still be quite a daunting task.
To help, renowned engagement ring jewellers, Queensmith, have pulled together 11 tips for taking your celebratory soirée to the next level.
1. Decide on a venue
There’s no such thing as kick-starting your party planning too soon. It’ll do you more favours because you’ll have even more flexibility when it comes to booking a venue that’s perfect for you both.
The type of venue you decide to go for will depend on your budget, the number of guests and, importantly, the atmosphere you want to create for your party. There really are no set rules when it comes to deciding on a venue, it can be as formal or informal as you’d like. For example, if you want a more formal party, then you could hire out a private room in a restaurant for a sit-down meal or a rooftop bar to sip on cocktails all night long. For more tips on choosing a venue, read this guide.
If this isn’t really the vibe you’re after, and a more informal and intimate party would suit you better as a couple, then this can still be a spectacular occasion for everyone involved. For instance, host a little shindig at your home, local pub, or even at the park with a big green space and sumptuous picnic for all the guests to socialise and enjoy together.
Our Experience:
Choosing the backdrop for your celebration is so exciting! I remember chatting with my friend, Chloe, after her fiancé, Liam, popped the question. They were torn between a cozy gathering at their favorite local pub and something a little more swanky. They ended up booking the upstairs room of the pub, which felt so them – relaxed, familiar, and perfect for their closest friends and family to mingle. It just goes to show, the venue really sets the tone!
Watch this video for some more tips and insights:
2. Finalise your guest list
First things first, to avoid any drama on the big day, do not invite anyone who will not be coming to your actual wedding. Usually, people invite fewer people to their engagement party (versus the wedding itself), primarily sticking to just their closest family and friends.
Not only does this provide the perfect opportunity to get your wedding invite list together, but it also means that any family members or friends who haven’t met yet can do so for the first time, which will be quite a heartwarming moment. Some people prefer to just invite their friends, no family, for a less formal, much more relaxed gathering than the actual wedding. Check out this Brides article for more tips.
Our Experience
I was at Sarah’s engagement party last summer, and it was such a heartwarming mix of her childhood friends and Ben’s family. It was the first time some of them had met, and it was so lovely to see everyone connecting and getting excited for the wedding. Definitely keep it to those you envision celebrating with on your big day.
Watch this video to learn more about who to invite and who not to invite:
3. Lock in a date
The sooner you pin down a date, the better. Sending out the invite as soon as possible will give your guests enough time to set aside the date, and means that you will be surrounded by all the people you love most at your party.
It’s really fun to celebrate while the news of your engagement is fresh; try hosting your engagement party one or two months after your proposal. This is a great time to show off your engagement ring to people you haven’t caught up with yet! To avoid diary conflicts amongst your guests, aim to have the invites out at least 4 weeks in advance – or at least ask them to save the date via a quick WhatsApp.
Our Experience:
My cousin, Emily, got engaged in the spring and they had their engagement party just a couple of months later. It was such a fun way to keep the celebratory vibes going and for everyone to admire her gorgeous new ring! Sending out those invites early really does help everyone mark their calendars.
4. Take lots of photos
On special occasions like this, make sure you take lots of photos to capture the memories. To save you from snapping away on your phone the whole time, you could go the extra mile and hire a photographer to do the hard work for you. Having a professional on hand to get the best angles and lighting will save you and your guests the worry, and means that you can compile all of the photos into a scrapbook after.
A huge trend for engagement parties is installing a ‘step and repeat’ or balloon arch – essentially a little setting to perfectly frame your photos; choose a photogenic backdrop and throw in balloons, flowers, or fun props to take your photos up a notch. We’ve seen ‘step and repeats’ blow up on Instagram amongst celebrities and friends alike!
You could also leave some disposable cameras around your venue, so your guests are free to snap away. This can result in some of the best candid photos, and you can send your guests physical copies along with their wedding invites!
Our Experience:
At a recent engagement bash I attended, the couple had set up the cutest little balloon arch with their initials – it was the perfect Instagram moment! Everyone was lining up to take photos, and it created such a fun and festive atmosphere. Don’t underestimate the power of a good photo backdrop!
5. Make a banging music playlist
Nothing kills a party quite like a bad song – or worse, no music at all… Whether you opt for a DJ, live band or a huge speaker at your engagement party, it’s important to pull together a big list full of your favourite tunes to get everyone up on their feet dancing.
You’ll probably want to start your engagement party with a laid-back playlist while people mingle and chat. As the night progresses, the bigger tunes can start to play – and why not throw in some songs that are meaningful to you and your partner? Think flashbacks to the biggest hits from when you met or a teaser of what might feature at your wedding!
If you really want your guests to party, then it’s well worth considering whether there’s a dance floor available at your venue of choice too.
Our Experience:
I remember at one engagement party, the playlist started super chill while everyone was arriving and catching up, and then as the evening went on, it turned into a full-on dance party! The bride told me they even included a couple of songs that were special to their relationship – such a sweet touch!
6. Rock the Decorations
It goes without saying that decorations are the star of the show. They can completely transform any space, so depending on your theme of choice, it’s important to get this part right. It’s so easy to blow your whole budget just on decorations, so bear this in mind before you get too excited.
Rock the decor. Photo courtesy of Queensmith
Photo courtesy of Queensmith
Once you’ve narrowed down your theme, there is still a lot more to consider. A good tip is to choose between flowers or something lower cost like ribbons; flowers may feel more like your actual wedding (and blow your budget), so giant ribbons, bunting or even keeping it simple with just candles will help keep the mood casual. A single candle stick with a plush white ribbon tied around it is simple, low-cost cost and super bridal. Check out this colourful engagement party for inspiration.
Order loads of your favourite photos from throughout your relationship, and hang them like bunting around the room. You could start with the earliest photo you have of you and your partner, and end with photos of the proposal!
Fairy lights and lanterns will give the space a real warm, romantic glow from dusk through the night. A trend we’re loving at the moment is fabric signage with simple lettering stencilled on – think a long, flowing piece of linen with your names and the date of your upcoming wedding. Refined, minimalist and very chic.
Our Experience:
I visited a bride-to-be last week who was brainstorming ideas for her engagement party. She was thinking of hanging photos of her and her fiancé throughout their relationship – such a personal and lovely touch! She was also considering simple fairy lights to create a warm and romantic feel. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top to be beautiful.
7. “Wow”, your guests with food and drinks
If you and your partner are true foodies, then you will want to wow your guests with incredible food and drink options. In fact, plan out the food menu in advance and be sure to include all of your favourite things, or order in from the places you love to add that extra personal touch without too much effort. However, be careful not to choose food you’ll want at your wedding later; save that for the big day!
Photo courtesy of Queensmith
Photo courtesy of Queensmith
If you have a sweet tooth, then think about organising a dessert table — in the Summer, think fresh Italian lemon tarts, cannolis or delicious French pastries if you’re a daytime do. In the winter, make the most of cosy treats, from mince pies to mulled wine.. Many couples like to order a cake for the occasion, decorated with phrases like ‘he’ or ‘she said yes!’ or both of your names, and there’s a massive trend for vintage cakes with highly decorative icing.
In terms of drinks, you could custom-make a menu of your favourite cocktails as a couple, and even think about renaming them to reflect memories of you both. For an extravagant look and to keep your guests happily topped up, a champagne or prosecco wall is an eye-catching addition to any party. Or, if you’re keeping it casual, make it BYOB. That’ll be one less thing on your to do list, and you can save booze budget for the actual wedding.
Not everyone has food or an open bar at their engagement parties – after all, you’ll have a wedding to save for! If you’re hosting your party at a bar or pub, let your guests know if the bar is paid for. It can be a nice gesture to pay for the first few bottles of champagne or prosecco.
Our Experience:
Food and drinks are always a highlight! I went to an engagement party where the couple, who are total foodies, had curated a menu of all their favorite little bites. They even had a signature cocktail named after how they first met! It was such a personal and delicious way to celebrate.
8. Coordinate your outfits
Planning an outfit for you and your partner is usually the stressful part. However, to secure those perfect couple shots in advance of your wedding, it’s worth it.
According to traditions, the bride-to-be usually dresses in all white, but there are no hard rules. If you’re the bride, consider bridal details: silk, lace or light, pale colours, for a whimsical look. It’s your party, so the formality of the dress code goes back to the vision you have in mind. For example, a jumpsuit or cocktail dress and a smart shirt with trousers combo will create a chic look for you both, but a floral dress or shorts with trainers for the groom-to-be may feel more “you”. So many brands from high street to designer now offer ‘bridal party’ looks, whether for your hen do or engagement party, with rising trends in mini dresses or more casual takes on wedding dresses. Ultimately, dress for what feels right for the party.
Our Experience:
Looking and feeling your best is part of the fun! I remember the bride at one engagement party I went to looked absolutely radiant in a beautiful white lace dress. She and her fiancé weren’t matchy-matchy, but their outfits definitely complemented each other, making for some gorgeous couple photos.
9. Clean your engagement ring
Whatever you do, don’t forget to clean your engagement ring! This could be the first time many of your friends and family will see it for the first time, and of course, it will be subject to lots of photos. Diamonds are oleophilic, meaning they attract oils and dust, particularly from makeup, moisturisers and cooking oils, which will make the diamond look a little dull – but it’s an easy fix with a quick clean! Cleaning your engagement ring won’t take long, and you can clean your ring safely using household items like Fairy Liquid and a toothbrush. If your ring is from a jeweller, like Queensmith, that offers free ring cleaning whenever needed, then make sure to book this in a day or two before your party and avoid oils after the clean.
10. Organise games to play
To keep your guests entertained, you could come up with some themed games for them to get involved in. These do not need to take much planning time, but could result in hours of fun for your guests. For example, wedding date predictions or a competition that quizzes guests on ‘how well do you know the couple’, or create your own version of ‘Mr & Mrs’ while your guests watch on. Your guests might not know each other well, so you can create ‘get to know each other’ games. For example, write 3 facts about each guest and distribute them amongst your guests, who must find the person the fact is about and take a selfie with them. If your party is outside on a summer’s day, then you could offer some games like mini golf or croquet and adult-sized Jenga to play. The Knot has some great ideas for engagement party games.
Our Experience:
Games can be such a great icebreaker and add to the fun! At one engagement party, they played a “how well do you know the couple?” quiz, and it had everyone laughing. It’s a lovely way to get everyone involved and create some fun memories.
Watch this video for some ideas:
11. A quick speech
There’s no need to get into long and detailed speeches at your engagement party – save the good stuff for the wedding! But a quick ‘thank you’ to guests for attending always goes a long way, particularly if they’ve travelled for the occasion. It can be nice to reflect on the fact that the people there are the people nearest and dearest to you as a couple. And of course, a thank you to your partner can be really sweet. Maybe this will be a good opportunity to recite how the proposal went, so you don’t have to repeat yourself all night long when people ask!
Our Experience:
A little thank you goes a long way! I remember the groom at one engagement party giving a short and sweet speech, thanking everyone for coming and saying a few lovely words about his fiancée. It was such a heartfelt moment and made everyone feel so appreciated.
