Have you recently become engaged? If so, there’s no doubt that every friend and family member is anxiously asking if a date for the wedding has been set yet. And while you may not have gone that far in the wedding planning stage, there is another party you can focus on that happens well before the wedding – and that’s the engagement party.
Engagement parties aren’t anything new, but they are a trend that seems to have been picking up popularity in the last decade or so. These parties are typically thrown well in advance of the wedding itself and can be anything from a casual backyard gathering, to a full-blown elegant gathering at a reception hall. So, if you’re on-board with an engagement party, and you want to be sure it is a huge success and everything you dreamed of, then these five tips can come in extremely handy.
Location, Location, Location
One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is the location of the engagement party. You want to think about such things as the size of the venue, how easy/convenient it is for guests to find, on-site parking, the facilities/services offered, whether it has on-site catering, if the location requires a rain plan, etc.
Give Guests an Incredible Menu
Just like with the wedding, feeding your guests is a necessity at the engagement party. That doesn’t mean it has to be a full meal, but you at least need to offer a variety of snacks, appetizers, and beverages. You can choose a themed menu, or just a variety of items that you think would appeal to guests. Working with a caterer will help to ensure the food is done properly, the work is taken off your shoulders, and they can offer advice with the menu itself.
Keep Your Guests Entertained
While some couples choose to go the route of a mini-wedding when it comes to their engagement party, others look at it more as a typical party atmosphere. This means taking out the elegance and sophistication of a traditional wedding, and spicing the engagement party up with games, activities, and fun. Keeping your guests entertained is a sure-fire way to throw a successful engagement party.
As for how to keep them entertained, this is a great time to think outside the box. Take game rentals as an example. Fun Crew USA is a company that features carnival rides for rent that can be the perfect addition to your engagement party. You’ll find everything from standard carnival rides, to giant inflatable games, and even an outdoor cinema rental perfect for a slideshow.
Décor Will Pull the Party Together
Décor plays just as big a role in the engagement party as the wedding, just on a smaller scale. You don’t have to go overboard where decorations are concerned, but the little touches will still pull things together. Typically, it’s a good idea to use a theme or a color palette to provide you with direction. It can relate to your wedding, or be completely separate.
Send Out Invites Well in Advance
If you’re hoping for a good turnout at the party, you also need to be sure you send out invites well in advance. At least six weeks is recommended.
All of these tips will help ensure that your engagement party is a blast.
Main Image by michael negrete on Unsplash
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