What Are Some Fun Themes or Ideas for an Engagement Party?

Having an engagement party is always a fun way to celebrate with friends and family before walking down the aisle. While engagement parties used to be more about the soon-to-be in-laws meeting give couples today are also taking the opportunity to really celebrate the couple. Engagement parties can be anything from a nice dinner at a restaurant, a simple backyard BBQ, or even a bash at a reception venue.

Deciding what type of party, you want will depend on how much money you have budgeted, how soon your engagement is before your expected wedding date, and if the couple want something low-key or go all-out. Weddings are usually pretty formal so having an engagement party is the perfect opportunity to let loose and throw a themed party!

Do I Want a Themed Engagement Party?

When people think of a themed party, they often associate it with something goofy or kid-like, but themed parties can be whatever you want them to be! When thinking about a themed engagement party you can make it as formal or as casual as you want. Here are some of our favorite themed engagement party ideas:

Wine Tasting Engagement Party

Ask guests to bring their favorite bottle of wine to share at the party or provide all of the wine and let guests take home a bottle of wine that they enjoy. Be sure to have all wine glasses on hand and prepare lots of yummy foods that will taste great with wine. Some great food ideas are fresh cut cheese selections (including fresh, aged, soft, and hard cheeses), a variety of bread and crackers, olive trays, and fruit trays.

Backyard Luau Engagement Party

Elevate your typical backyard luau by using a tropical themed color palette and decorate with stylish and elegant pineapple and palm tree decorations. Serve tropical cocktails such as margaritas, Mai tais, sangria, and mojitos. For food, keep it simple and BBQ style with grilled pineapple and shrimp kabobs, pulled pork and rice, or any other good your heart desires.

Chocolate and Champagne Engagement Party

It doesn’t get more engagement party than popping open some bottles of champagne and enjoy some chocolate. For this party you can set up a table full of gourmet chocolates, truffles, flourless chocolate cakes, a chocolate fondue station, or whatever else your heart desires. Not a big chocolate fan? Try setting up a dessert spread with a variety of delicious desserts.

Cooking Class Engagement Party

This themed party is great for smaller crowds and foodies. Many local cooking schools and restaurants offer cooking classes for small groups. You can even hire a chef to come to your home and teach your guests how to make something delicious (providing you have a kitchen big enough to host everyone.) Try to think of something that goes well with you and your partners’ personalities. For example, do dessert party and make several different sweets, or if you love Mexican food, you can have everyone make tacos and fajitas. Send guests home with recipe cards with the meal they created together.

Beach Clambake, Fish Fry, or Crawdad Boil Engagement Party

If you live near the ocean and love spending time at the beach, have your engagement party overlooking the water. Host a clambake or fish fry and serve grilled shrimp, lobster, and scallops. As far as side dishes go, you can’t go wrong with classic clambake foods such as corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and watermelon. Keep drinks simple with bottles of local beer and vodka or rum-packed seltzers. Set up tables and chairs on the beach and when the sun starts to go down roll out some beach towels and pillows for your guest to sit on. If permitted, start a bonfire and roast some marshmallows for s’mores.

Brunch Engagement Party

This themed party is perfect for couples who live to brunch. Serve all your favorite breakfast foods such as waffles, French-toast, quiche, omelets, fruit parfaits, yogurt, and fresh fruit. You can pair with lunch favorites or keep it breakfast themed. As for drinks, you can serve coffee, orange juice, mimosas, and Bellinis.

Budget Tips

When planning your budget for a themed engagement party it can be easy to go overboard and spend too much money. Instead focus on purchasing or renting small pieces of decorations that will bring out your theme and spending most of your money on food. Ask guests to dress according to the theme of your party and work at the location you’re in. For example, if you are having your party on the beach grab some tiki torches. They not only look great but provide light as your guest will be walking around.