Event Planning

Discover how to plan an engagement party, from when to host it and who to invite, to choosing a venue and sending engagement party invitations.

Discover the history of engagement rings, from ancient traditions to the rise of diamonds, plus meaningful alternatives. Celebrate your engagement with personalised announcement cards from Dotty About Paper.

Celebrate your engagement in style with an unforgettable party! Whether you're matching your engagement party to your wedding theme or going for something a little different, there's no shortage of ideas to inspire you. So, here are some of our favourite engagement party themes.

Engagement Party Themes

Rustic

A rustic theme is the perfect choice for a boho couple. Earthy tones and natural details are timeless and beautiful. Featured Design: 'Rustic Festoon Lights & Mason Jars' Think woodland whimsy, lace, and foliage for your decorations. You can also add in some festoon lights to keep the celebrations going into the evening. Source: Lights4Fun

Contemporary

If you're planning a modern wedding, a subtle and minimalist engagement party could be the perfect teaser. Look for stylish clean lines and bold colours. Also, don't forget the chic typography invitations... Featured Design: 'Diamond Ring Typography' Muted colours combined with greenery will give your party decorations a fresh atmosphere. Add a simple twist on the classic guest book to create a lovely memento of your engagement party with a personalised signing print. Featured Design: 'Heart Guest Signing Board'

Art Deco

Great Gatsby themed parties with art deco styling are on-trend for all sorts of special occasions. We think this glamorous theme is the perfect choice for a engagement party, too! Featured Design: 'Art Deco Rose Gold' Roaring 20's accessories, like vintage typewriters and glitzy decorations, will give your venue the perfect vibe. Also, mix in cocktails and fancy o'dourves for a night to remember. These geometric rose gold plates have a gorgeous art deco vibe! Source: Ginger Ray

Memories

Do you both love photography? Or are you the kind of couple that can spend hours with a scrapbook? Then make memories the theme of the day. This versatile theme lets you add in your own personal touches when it comes to food and entertainment. You can simply fill the day with all your favourite things. Featured Design: 'Chalkboard Photo Booth' Guests will love seeing snaps of your journey as a couple, so pull out those proposal shots! It's a cute way to look back on how far you've come - and to look ahead to the future. Make some great memories for the future with stylish photo-booths and an old-school Polaroid camera for guests to use. Source: Hello May

The love of your life proposed. You said “YES!” Congratulations on your engagement. It’s such an exciting time, but before you get carried away with wedding planning, (and start spending every spare moment pouring over wedding blogs and feeding your Pinterest addiction) here are three great tips to ensure your engagement gets off to the best possible beginning.

Start off on the Same Wavelength

This is the time to sit down with your partner and have a serious discussion about what you both want from your wedding day. You’ll want to talk about when you want to get married, themes and locations, numbers of guests and, of course, how much you are willing to spend. Money may not be the most romantic subject, but it’s important that you both have realistic expectations and ideas of what you can and cannot afford. Do talk to your families as well – they may have very different ideas and it’s much better to talk things through now rather than cause problems later.

Throw an Engagement Party

Okay, that’s the serious bit out the way – now it’s time to celebrate. So, why not throw an engagement party, particularly if the wedding is likely to be a year or more away? An engagement party can be as grand or informal as you wish. Traditionally, this was hosted by the bride-to-be’s parents, but these days anything goes. Many couples organise the event themselves, and it’s good practice for planning your wedding on a much smaller scale. First off, choose your party style – is it going to be formal or informal, a massive knees-up or an intimate soiree? Will you want to reflect your wedding style (if you’ve chosen one) or your personal interests? Once you’ve decided on your type of party, put together a guest list and sort out the date and venue. Holding the party at either your own or your parents’ house will save you money to put towards your wedding day. But if this isn’t practical then look for hotels, restaurants, and other venues where you can host – sports and social clubs often have function rooms which can be hired very reasonably. With the practicalities sorted, it’s time to send out your invitations. Our personalised engagement party invitations come in a wide range of styles – from bling to rustic - so you are bound to find one you love. Featured Designs: 'Heart Glitter Pattern' and 'Vintage Country Charm' These days, gifts are not expected at engagement parties, but you may well find that many people do bring along something. Have a space where people can leave gifts discretely so that those who haven’t don’t feel awkward. Leave opening them until after the event and make sure you send a thank you card. Our ready to write cards are ideal! Featured Designs: 'Hand In Marriage', 'Champagne Hearts', and 'Gold Glitter Pattern - Table Confetti'

Book an Engagement Photoshoot

Apart from having some wonderful, relaxed photographs of yourselves, an engagement photoshoot helps you get to know your photographer – and lets them to get to know you. So your wedding photos will be even better! It’s a great way to get used to being photographed before the big day and you’ll have some wonderful memories.