Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Freehold | Shore Love Photography

Getting engaged is such an exciting moment. Now that you have the ring, you’re probably excited to celebrate your upcoming wedding with family and friends! 

Don’t want to wait until the wedding day to do so?

You don’t have to! 

You can have an engagement party in a matter of weeks.

We've got you covered if you’re getting ready to plan an engagement party. 

Here’s everything you need to know about engagement party planning to help you decide when to have one, if you should have one, who to invite, what to wear, and more!  

Does Every Couple Have an Engagement Party?

An engagement party is a celebration of your engagement proposal and commitment to marry. Many newly engaged couples have one, but many don’t. In most cases, it depends on when and where you’ll get married.  

Engagement parties are most common among couples who plan to have a long engagement of at least 12-18 months. 

Engaged couples who plan to wed within the year typically skip the engagement party. Couples planning a destination wedding within the year often throw engagement parties, knowing that most invited guests won’t be able to travel to their destination.

What Happens at an Engagement Party?

So, what exactly happens at an engagement party?

That’s entirely up to you!

Some couples host chic cocktail parties with drinks, dancing, and passed hors d’oeuvres. 

Others plan backyard barbecues or activity-based events. During these events, guests play lawn games, solve a murder mystery, or play casino games. 

It can be as formal or as casual as you want it to be. From a Sunday brunch to a Saturday night soiree, your engagement celebration can be super chill or oh-so-fancy!

An engagement party is a celebration of your love, and it’s a chance for everyone invited to toast to the happy couple in anticipation of the big day. It’s also an opportunity for the bride’s family and friends to gather with the groom’s family and friends — in many cases, for the first time.

When to Have an Engagement Party

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Raleigh | The Chase Collective

Engagement parties can happen a few weeks or several months after the proposal. The timing usually depends on when the wedding day will be.

If you’re renting a venue and hiring a caterer, two to three months after the proposal is typical. If you’re hosting a party at home or a restaurant, you can throw one in a few short weeks!  

Either way, an engagement party should occur multiple months before the wedding day so that the two events are spread out over time.   

Some couples even choose to do a surprise engagement party. They invite close friends and family for a different celebration, like a holiday or a birthday, and then surprise them with the news!

Couples with families in different states or different countries often have two separate parties. 

You can also have different parties for different people. For example, consider having a formal celebration for your family hosted by your parents. You can then have a separate, more casual celebration just for friends.

Where to Have an Engagement Party

You can literally have an engagement party anywhere. 

Some couples have a laid-back bash in someone’s home, while others throw a super elegant affair in an upscale venue. We’ve seen some couples host engagement parties so formal they rival weddings.

Most couples have a simple get-together with their closest relatives and best friends, who will become the bridesmaids and groomsmen in their wedding party.

When it comes to engagement party planning, anything goes.

Unlike wedding planning, which can take several months, you can quickly plan an engagement party. There’s no need to spend months deciding on an engagement party theme or waiting for a specific party venue to become available. 

Just pick a place, send your invites, and get to celebrating!  

Who to Invite to Your Engagement Party

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Columbia | Melissa Brewer

Everyone you invite to your engagement party should also be on the wedding guest list. Your engagement party guests will expect it.

As the happy couple, you should expect everyone in attendance to ask when your wedding will be. They’ll assume they’ll get an invite to the big day and probably want to mark their calendars ASAP. 

If you haven’t set a date yet, just let them know you’ll be sending save-the-date cards soon!  

Who Pays for the Engagement Party?

Traditionally, the bride’s parents host, plan, and pay for the engagement party, but that’s not always the case anymore. 

Anyone can plan the party, and anyone can pay for it. Sometimes the groom’s parents pay, sometimes both sets of parents pay, and sometimes the couple pays.  

Should You Register for Engagement Gifts?

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Charleston | Natasha Coyle

Gift-giving at an engagement party is usually optional. Some guests, like your closest friends and close family members, will likely bring you gifts.

If you include registry details on your engagement party invites, your loved ones will think you expect a gift. It’s best to exclude that detail from your invitation. Instead, include a link to your wedding website (if you’ve had a chance to make one), and add a link to your registry there.

What to Wear to an Engagement Party

Whether casual or formal, the groom and bride-to-be should show up looking their absolute best for their engagement party. You’ll probably take many photos. So you’ll want to wear a stylish, appropriate outfit.  

Engagement Party Looks for Brides-to-Be 

Lots of brides like to wear white to every pre-wedding event. This includes the rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, bachelorette party, and engagement party. 

Here are some options that might be perfect for your celebration:

Jenny Yoo Ayla Dress 

The Jenny Yoo Ayla dress is sexy, sophisticated, and oh-so-chic! Long sleeves and an off-the-shoulder neckline make this midi dress a gorgeous option for any pre-wedding celebration.

By Watters Petal Dress 

The By Watters Petal dress is soft and silky in a playful mini silhouette with a flared A-line skirt, long puffed sleeves, and an open back. With a plunge V-neckline, this look is easy to dress up or dress down.

Shop our entire collection of event dresses for guests and the bride!

Amsale P3934 

With a one-shoulder bodice and a bow on the shoulder, the Amsale P3934 evening dress wows in an ultra-flattering midi silhouette. If you don’t want to wear white to your engagement party, this dress comes in 30+ colors.

Engagement Party Looks for Grooms-to-Be 

Depending on the formality of the event, guys can wear a suit, dress pants with a vest, a blazer, or a nice pair of pants with a more casual shirt. 

Here are some styles that are perfect options for just about any celebration:

Men’s Light Blue Suit Jacket 

In stretch fabric with two front buttons, this Men’s Light Blue Suit Jacket works for nearly any event in any season. This tailored jacket looks super stylish paired with a matching pant or worn as a blazer with contrasting trousers.

Men’s Light Blue Suit Pants 

With a modern, slim fit, these Men’s Light Blue Suit Pants are a must-have in every groom-to-be’s wardrobe. Pair them with a matching blazer if you need a suit, or wear them with a great button-down shirt when a jacket is not required.  

Read our post What Should I Wear to an Engagement Party? for even more outfit ideas!

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Engagement party planning should be fun, memorable, and stress-free — like wedding planning. 

Whether a casual party or an upscale event, your engagement party is the first special event to celebrate your love story with family and friends. So dress your best, invite the people you love the most, and prepare to make memories that will last a lifetime. 

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