How to throw a killer engagement party
So we’ve given you five reasons to host an engagement party and you’re totally into it. Now you want to make sure it’s a party to remember! Below are some ways to make sure your engagement party is talked about for years to come.
1. Keep the food plentiful and the drinks flowing
If you do nothing else, make sure there is plenty of great food and enough drinks going around. We promise you the two things people remember most are if they had to convince their Uber driver to detour through Maccas drive-through on the way home or if the party thinned out as soon as the open bar was finished.
Whether it be a champagne breakfast, long lunch or cocktail-style roving canapes in the evening, if there is alcohol in the mix, it is all the more important to line those stomachs. It could mean the difference between dancing the night away or peeling your Aunt Marge off the dance floor. It’s worthwhile to work with the venue manager or caterer to help you with portion sizes.
2. Craft a killer playlist
Music can make or break a party and the music you choose will set the tone for the whole event so make sure you take some time crafting it. If you choose to hire a DJ or band, we recommend working with them to ensure the music is right. A well curated playlist you have put together yourself will do just as well.
Make sure you have a good mix of styles. We recommend breaking the playlist up into three phases: the first includes laid back tunes to start the event off, the second eases people into something more upbeat as people finish eating and have had a few drinks and the third includes the dead-set bangers as people get ready to get down on the D-Floor.
Ensure the list is long enough to last the duration of the party and remember to throw a few love songs in there, that’s what we’re all here for!
3. Get creative with the venue
Quite often your wedding is a formal affair so the engagement party can provide you with the perfect opportunity to host a more fun and casual event.
Finding a unique venue to host the party can be as simple as stepping out into your own neighbourhood. It could be as low key as a party at the park or the beach. If you are out at your favourite cafe, restaurant or bar, keep an eye out for function information or chat to the staff to see if they have any function packages on offer. Some of the coolest cafes and restaurants by day double as an amazing function space by night.
Websites like Hidden City Secrets allow you to search through listings of hidden bars, secret restaurants and unique function venues for various party sizes, budgets, locations. It’s a great way to discover something you would never have thought of before.
4. Recreate one of your most memorable dates
Sharing one of your favourite date nights with all your loved ones is a great way to take them on a journey through your relationship history. It could be anything from hosting the party at the venue you shared your first date, first kiss or got engaged or perhaps where you shared a great activity together as a couple like bowling, bouldering, or mini-golf.
5. Go wine tasting
For the wine lovers out there, hiring a bus and heading out on a wine tour could be the perfect way to incorporate something you love as a couple with a celebration. If you are also dog lovers (so really awesome people), dog-friendly wine tours are growing in popularity with a number of companies offering tours to all your local dog-friendly wineries.
A winery tour engagement party is a great way to scope out the local wineries for potential wedding venues. You can also get feedback on the various wines you’ve tried throughout the day from friends and family to help you create a wine selection for your wedding day.
6. Host it in an Airbnb
Maybe you want a host an intimate cocktail party in a mansion, a 1920’s themed event on a converted train or get amongst nature in a treehouse, whatever unique memories you want to create, there are a whole host of unique spaces available on booking sites such as Airbnb to suit a range of price points and wild imaginations.
7. Trial your vendors
The engagement party provides you with the perfect opportunity to trial some of the vendors you will be using for the big day. You can trial anything from your caterer, DJ, and even your photographer, getting feedback from friends and family. Just ask your vendor what they offer in terms of event packages.
Boyfriend XOXO