When a couple has made the big decision to tie the knot, the people who are closest to them tend to want to celebrate. According to tradition, it was once customary for the parents of the bride to host an engagement party. However, this has gone out the window due to shifting gender roles, same-sex weddings, and a desire on the part of other family members to take on the task. These suggestions will help you throw the best engagement party you can imagine for people who matter.

The Surprise Factor

Before delving into the details, you first need to decide whether this event will be a surprise to the couple. There are plenty of people who adore being caught off guard by a party. However, there are also just as many individuals who would be completely uncomfortable in this scenario. Since you know your friends pretty well, it will fall on your shoulders to make this call. Discuss the idea with other friends and family members if you’re not sure. You don’t want to make the wrong decision and sour the start of a happy experience. 

If the couple is not into being surprised, then this can work in your favor. You can be open and honest with your friends about the event and what they expect from it. If they want a particular type of food, a specific bottle of wine, or a certain venue, you will have the advantage of knowing. The less you have to guess, the more of a success the party will turn out to be.

The Time and Space

The most pertinent details of planning an engagement event are selecting a date and picking out a venue. This type of gathering is typically much smaller than a wedding. There is generally no need to send out invitations months in advance. In fact, you want to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later. Most experts in the wedding industry agree that this event needs to take place anywhere between the engagement announcement and about two months before the wedding. Any later and it runs the risk of conflicting with other pre-wedding events.

Getting a venue will come down to how large the crowd is going to be. In some cases, a particularly small group may be easily accommodated in someone’s home or backyard. If you need to make a reservation at a specific restaurant, then go ahead and get that out of the way immediately. This way you can guarantee the space for the date you need. 

Engagement Party Entertainment

You don’t need to feel particularly compelled to find entertainment for an engagement gathering. The main purpose of the event is to celebrate the happy couple and their decision to move forward together. By booking a band or making everyone play a game, you could be distracting from what the couple wants to pay attention to. The exception to this would be if the couple requests a specific kind of entertainment or wants a certain type of music played in the background while everyone is mingling. 

Final Thoughts for an Engagement Party

Though there isn’t as much pressure involved in throwing an engagement party as there is a wedding, you still want the event to go off without a hitch. To ensure this, make a checklist of all important steps and a timeline to track when each needs to be finished. Staying ordered will be your biggest advantage during the process. It’s best to figure out whether pencil-and-paper or digital organization works best for you.

Throwing an engagement party is a wonderful way to show friends how much you care about them. Put together the best event possible by thinking through each step in advance and creating a plan for success.