Having an engagement party is an exciting way of celebrating your relationship and upcoming nuptials before you get into all the details of wedding planning. It’s an opportunity to get everybody to come together and take a moment to celebrate before your lives become consumed with venue searching, guest list dilemmas and centre pieces.

If you’re anything like us, we’re sure your Pinterest boards will already be overflowing with your favourite ideas and inspiration for your wedding – and whilst you might want to save the best ones for the big day, don’t be afraid to think a bit creatively when it comes to your engagement celebrations. The team at eve have been to may an engagement party in our time as event planners, and we’re here to share our favourite game-changing (or name-changing, if you will) engagement party ideas for a pre-wedding party that’s truly memorable.

Engagement party decoration ideas

Pretty flower wall

Flower walls are becoming increasingly popular as elegant party features. Particularly ideal for blank canvas venues, you can choose your favourite flowers or colours that match your event theme and have your guests take photographs in front of them: not only does this provide an elegant touch to your engagement party venue, it also creates great photo opportunities for you to look back on for years to come

Not-so-traditional theming

Whether you’re going for a traditional wedding or something more unique – or perhaps you haven’t decided yet – a themed engagement party can be a great way to get creative. Maybe there are some common interests between you and your love that you wouldn’t include within the wedding itself – but your engagement party could be their time to shine! Both love a good ol’ fancy dress party, but wouldn’t want it at your wedding? Give it a go at your engagement do.

If you’re looking for something really unique, you could incorporate an activity at your party: think murder mystery, games night, wine-tasting, for example.

Minimalism

We love an extravagant event – heck, it’s our job – but we totally appreciate that sometimes, less is more. The magic of a grand event can really be something special, but the truth is that sometimes you don’t need anything too mega to make your private event magical.

Think simple décor or minimalist theming with candles, balloons to enhance your colours scheme or jars of one or two flowers dotted around the place: simple, yet effective.

Engagement party catering ideas

(S)he-popped-the-question popcorn

Whichever kind of food setup you decide to go for – buffet, sit-down meal, canapes – popcorn is always a good idea. These sweet snacks can be picked up and enjoyed by guests during your party, and you can incorporate your colour scheme or theming for a personal touch. You can even make them yourself with this useful guide.

Marry me mocktails

We love a mocktail at eve: you just can’t go wrong with them. It’s important to accommodate the needs of every guest at any event, and providing alcohol-free drinks and alternative catering options to meet dietary requirements is an important part of this. No longer do those skipping the booze (or children) need to rely on lemonades!

It’s simple to create your own picture-perfect mocktails nowadays with tonnes of alcohol alternatives available – or if your venue has a bar or a catering team, we’re sure they’ll have some fabulous recipes.

Why not create your own recipes for a ‘his’ and a ‘hers’ drink – no squabbling about which one goes down best, though…

An “I do” BBQ

For something more chilled, a BBQ can be a great way of getting everyone together in a relaxed environment – especially if some of your families haven’t met before.

Engagement party entertainment idea

Mr & Mrs

This is a fun game for guests as well as hosts, and is versatile enough to be switched up and get everybody involved. Find out how well you really know each other in a hilarious quiz-style game that puts your knowledge of your loved ones to the test. It doesn’t just have to be about you as a couple, either – get everybody involved and find out how well your friends know each other, whether your sister knows you as well as you thought or whether your MIL is really going to back off.

If I could tell you just one thing…

Include your loved ones in the celebrations and have them provide you with their best advice for marriage. Each guest writes down the one thing they’d like you to know as you prepare for marriage and life-long commitment, and you can store them in a jar or box and have a read through them before you get wed. Well, that’s the next date night activity sorted!

Pick the playlist

Giving your guests input into your wedding can be a great way of getting them as excited about it as you are – and ensure that people feel they’ve put their pennies’ worth in, if you catch our vibes.

Have your guests make suggestions for your wedding reception playlist and you can have a dig through and pick out the ones you like best – it’s a guaranteed way to make sure that dancefloor is never empty!