How to Plan an Engagement Party

There are so many resources on how to plan an engagement party, engagement party etiquette, gifts to bring to an engagement party… But hey, hi, hello, here’s another! I was lucky that my friend, Sarah, asked if they could throw us an engagement party for our friends to get together and celebrate. Even though I didn’t plan the the engagement party, I wanted to share about our engagement party and a few other engagement party ideas.

And if you’re into ideas, check out my Destination Wedding Inspiration.

How to Plan an Engagement Party

Do It For The Gram with Balloon Therapy

Step one to planning an engagement party, get a great backdrop for Instagram pics! Balloon Therapy absolutely killed it with this balloon install. They used some of my favorite colors to give us something we’ll remember forever. I’m sure it was done for visual reasons, but it made me laugh seeing the C on top of the A…. told Austin that it was a sign for how our marriage is going to work 😉 AYO.

I know it might not seem like a huge deal to some, but I think having a centerpiece for the party is a way to bring everything together. Instead of spending time and money on a bunch of small decor pieces, go big (or go home). Of course we did take a lot of photos in front of the balloons, but it also made the home feel like it was truly transformed for the party. And it was a great talking point– you know, the potentially awkward small talk moments. Instead of talking about the weather, talk about the balloons. Much more fun!

PS- if you want to try DIY balloons, this is a great DIY balloon garland resource! And you can find some great options on Amazon. We used this balloon kit, this arch kit and this balloon pump from Amazon for a baby shower.

Cheers with On The Rocks Cocktails

Can you even with these pre-made cocktails? On the Rocks is a cocktail company in Texas that creates the cutest bottled cocktails that you can use for both party decor, and the party drinks. How to plan an engagement party? Double dip with as much as you can!

But back to OTR Cocktails… my favorite is the Cosmopolitan. It’s made with Effin Vodka, and it’s bright pink. Austin’s favorite is the Old Fashioned, made with Knob Creek. They taste even better than they look, which is saying something.

Add some straws (like these from Amazon) and you’ve got yourself an easy cocktail bar!

Cake, Cake, Cake

Can you go wrong with a little Drake on Cake? I think not! Our cake was accompanied with Blue Bell Bride’s Cake ice cream…. can I get a heck yes! A cake is a great touch to a party, and an easy dessert for guests to indulge in. Pro-tip, use the cake to add some fun flare! Whether it’s a custom cake, cookie cake or a store bought cake with a great saying, make it fun! The key to the perfect engagement party is making sure it feels like the couple. No pressure, just have some fun!

This cake is from Whole Foods, but a few great Dallas cake vendors: Goodies Cakery, Society Bakery and Caked by Shef.

Party Entertainment

We had an engagement party that was more on the casual side. There were about 20 of our closest friends that live in Dallas at the party. The majority of our entertainment was from catching up and chatting, but of course we had music in the background! Here’s a great party playlist if you need one.

Sarah and Drew have a great backyard for games. They had set up a jumbo size game of beer pong (along with a fire pit because it got a little chilly). I’d like to say it was only the guys who were outside playing, but that would be a bold faced lie. The gals all enjoyed the game just as much, if not more! Want to create your own trash can beer pong game? Check this out.

You know what another great activity is? Passing around a handle of Fireball while the song Fireball is playing in the background. We did that, and I am very proud of that fact. I encourage you to not take anything too serious and enjoy a party that fits your/the couple’s personality.

If this is it casual, and you’re thinking “I need more structured events at the engagement party I’m planning”, here are a few things that I have saved to my Pinterest board.

Ring Toss + dozens more (via Brides.com)

How Well Do You Know the Bride and Groom? (via MyWedding)

Snacks on Snacks

We kept it simple, and by we, I mean the queen of pizza Sarah. She ordered from one of our favorite pizza places, Pie Tap Pizza Workshop. She also had some snack food set up for us to much on before the pizza arrived. Y’all, I love a good veggie tray! I could dip carrots all day long. You can find me at a party next to the veggie tray.

If you are trying to set up a food table, here’s some inspiration.

S’mores Cart (via Seventeen Magazine)

Dessert Table (via Pinterest)

Charcuterie Board (via Cuddl)

What to Wear?

Brides to be, now is the time to start stocking up on the white! If you’re like me, the white in your closet was a bit limited. I ordered, I kid you not, 19 dresses. They all ranged in price points and level of “fancy”, but in the end I went with a simple Old Navy dress because I knew I would be able to re-wear it for non wedding activities. The 2 most important things to remember… 1) dress for the party style, don’t show up in a fancy dress if it’s a backyard party. Don’t show up in jeans a tee if your guests are going to be in cocktail attire. 2) don’t go overboard! There will be lots of outfits you’ll need during your engagement, so don’t go too over the top right away because you have plenty of other occasions to shop for.

Guys, take a cue from your gal and plan your outfit based on what she wears.

Engagement Party Gifts

I don’t know what the etiquette here is, but almost everyone who attended are party brought a gift. We weren’t registered originally, and didn’t ask for anything, but after a few people messaged inquiring, we decided to register. We kept it easy with Target and Amazon. There were also some sweet gifts that were engagement themed… As well as some gifts that we could drink. If you’re on the fence, create a registry and only share it if someone asks. Also an idea, send the registry to either the host or your closest friend/family member. That way if someone asks them, they already have it on hand.

Thanks to Sarah and Drew for hosting our party– and for taking photos before everyone’s arrival. Your friendship means the world to me (I guess I should say “us”…). Love you long time!