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engagement party ideas to help you host the perfect celebration

Apr 3, 2025 Denby

Weddings are always a cause for celebration, but the fun can start way before the big day itself!

As the name would suggest, an engagement party is usually thrown within two to four months after an engagement to celebrate the exciting news with family and friends of the couple. Most couples choose to have one if they're planning on having a long engagement, while others like to use this as an additional opportunity to gather with their closest family and friends before the wedding.

Traditionally, the party was held by the father of the bride-to-be, who would announce the news to guests during the celebrations. Because of this, it's still usually customary that the bride's parents will host the engagement party and cover the costs — even if guests are aware of the engagement beforehand. However, anyone close to the couple can choose to host the gathering, including other family members and friends, or even the couple themselves. In some cases, the whole group will choose to chip in and plan the event together.

If you've never hosted an engagement party before and don't know where to start, you may need a little help planning the event. Luckily, we've pulled together everything you need to know about these celebrations, plus our tips for planning an engagement party. We'll cover:

engagement party venue ideas

Where you host the engagement party is entirely up to the newly engaged couple. Most people choose to have it at their home, or the home of the host. However, there are plenty of other options you could choose, including a local park, hotel, or restaurant. 

If you're not sure where to have the engagement party, then it's a good idea to consider the formality of the event. For relaxed gatherings, then a picnic in the park or a party at home — such as a BBQ, dinner party, cocktail party, or a casual buffet —would be perfect. However, for formal parties, a restaurant or hotel would be a suitable venue.

Often, the size of the guest list can dictate what kind of venue you choose, with more intimate home gatherings better suited to small occasions. However, you may need a bigger location, such as a hotel or park, if you'll be hosting a large crowd.

You may also choose an engagement party venue that's full of memories for the couple, such as the place they first met, got engaged, or a location they love to visit together, such as their favourite restaurant. 
 

engagement party colour, theme and decoration ideas

When planning an engagement party, it's a good idea to stick to a theme or colour scheme to tie the celebration together. This will help you decide what kinds of decorations to go for. Traditional wedding colours such as white, cream, pink, and blue would be perfect for an engagement party, plus touches of gold or silver. Whatever colour scheme you choose, matching your decorations and tableware will add an extra touch. 

Our White By Denby would help make the occasion feel luxurious, along with the creamy hues of Natural Canvas and muted tones of Studio Grey. These sophisticated pieces look lovely alongside a pastel-coloured floral centrepiece in a handmade vase, some fairy lights, and a simple, elegant banner or garland made from wooden hearts.

Don't forget the matching glassware too. Here at Denby, we have plenty of wine glasses, champagne flutes, and celebration glasses to toast to the occasion with. We even have glasses to match our most popular collections, including our beautiful Monsoon glassware.

Alternatively, you could choose a unique engagement party theme, complete with matching decorations and colour scheme. Just take a look at the engagement party theme ideas below, or browse our favourite dinner party themes to impress your guests for more inspiration.
 

housewarming | travel | beach | casino night | movie night

housewarming engagement party

If the newly engaged couple have recently moved into a new home, why not combine their engagement and housewarming parties into one big celebration? While this isn't a traditional option, it's a great way to toast new beginnings. If you opt for this kind of celebration, you may want to advise guests wishing to bring a gift to choose something for the home. This way, your guests can still choose a new home gift that has meaning and suits their budget. 

travel themed engagement party

If the newly engaged couple are keen travellers, then a holiday-inspired party could be a great option. Decorate your engagement party venue to look like the couple's favourite holiday destination, or even the location they plan to wed or honeymoon. Planning a menu and table decorations around this will be easy!

Some popular options include:

French: A French wine and cheese party or charcuterie party is a great option for an engagement celebration. Make sure you have a selection of hard and soft cheeses, plus red, white, and rosé wine to cater to all tastes. Minimalist table decorations, such as a few candles, will add to the laid-back style. 

Spanish: Why not host a Spanish tapas party for the newly engaged couple? Serve up generous amounts of margaritas and tasty Spanish dishes such as patatas bravas, albondigas, gambas, and tortilla Española. Decorate with a rustic colour scheme, ideally with bold accent pieces. Our Heritage tableware would be perfect for this theme.

American: If you're hosting a picnic or BBQ engagement party, then an all-American theme would fit perfectly. Choose a red, white, and blue colour scheme, and decorate with miniature flag centrepieces. Serve up classic American dishes such as burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and potato salad. 

Hawaiian: For a Hawaiian themed engagement party, offer your guests spiced tuna and Mai Tais and hand out leis at the door. Decorate with a tropical colour scheme and bright table settings. Colourful floral arrangements complete with palm fronds, banana leaves, and split leaf philodendrons will add to the atmosphere.
 

beach themed engagement party

If the newly engaged couple are planning a beach wedding, then hosting a coastal themed engagement party would be a great way to nod to the occasion. Evoke feelings of being by the waves by serving up a seafood menu, and choose seaside-inspired table decorations, such as fishing nets, beach balls, seashells, and miniature palm trees (real or inflatable). Deep turquoise tableware, such as the pieces in our Azure collection, will help add to the look.

casino night engagement party

If you're looking for a more novel and unique engagement party theme, then a casino night could be the solution. Go for a red, black, and white colour scheme, and decorate with touches of gold and green — the rich, sea-green hues of our Greenwich tableware would be perfect for the occasion. 

You could give out hand-decorated playing card biscuits as party favours and serve up trays of martinis. Set up individual tables for your party games and include casino games for all skill levels. Blackjack and poker are popular options, and you could organise a quiz or a game of dominos for beginners.

movie night engagement party

For film buffs, why not celebrate the occasion with a movie night? Put up a projector in your back garden and gather the couple's closest family and friends for a cosy night in. You could choose to screen one of the couple's favourite films or, if you have the skills, ask everyone to send in their favourite clips of the couple and make your own movie of memories. 

Serve up bowls of traditional cinema snacks, such as nachos, and set up a popcorn station complete with a variety of toppings. Nuts, marshmallows, and a selection of chocolate treats would be perfect. Sending out cinema ticket invitations and popcorn party favours will help add to the theme.  
 

engagement food ideas

If you're hosting the party in a restaurant or hotel, the venue may provide their own catering. But, if the engagement party will be at home, then you'll need to plan a menu. It's a good idea to ask guests of any allergies or dietary requirements before you start planning the food, so you can cater for everyone. Asking them to RSVP to your invitations is an easy way to do this. 

The food for the engagement party is usually determined by the couple's preferences, plus the kind of celebration you're throwing. Some of our favourite engagement party food ideas include:
 

brunch | dinner party | buffet | champagne and dessert | cocktail party | afternoon tea | BBQ | picnic

brunch

If the guest list is small, then hosting an engagement brunch could be the perfect way to celebrate. Serve up delicious dishes such as homemade waffles, French toast, and pancakes — such as our red velvet pancakes or blueberry, oat, and banana pancakes. One-pan-wonders such as frittata and shakshuka can be cooked up in our oven to tableware with minimal effort.

Don't forget the glasses of fresh orange juice, prosecco, and mimosas, along with mugs of tea and coffee. As brunch is a more informal celebration, you can put your juice and mimosas in jugs at the centre of the table so everyone can help themselves.

dinner party

If you're catering for a small crowd but would like to make the event feel special and a little more formal, then a dinner party would fit the bill perfectly. Serving up the couple's favourite dishes and drinks will add a personal touch to the event, especially if you match your menu to a unique theme.

Some of our favourite recipes for a dinner party include: 

For an intimate atmosphere, lay out candles of different heights along the length of your table to create a beautiful centrepiece that is bound to impress your guests.
 

buffet

For a more relaxed celebration, or if you have lots of guests, serve up a buffet that you can prepare in advance and lay out in time for guests arriving. Dishes you can prepare and cook in one pot are best, such as our hearty one pot bean stew, along with quick finger foods and nibbles, like a charcuterie board.

Alternatively, make your buffet a potluck and ask guests to each bring their own dish for the party. This can add a much more personal touch to the celebration as everyone can contribute their favourite recipes to the occasion.

champagne and dessert

A champagne and dessert night is the perfect way to celebrate at more intimate gatherings, especially if the newly engaged couple have a sweet tooth. So, pop open a bottle of fizz and serve up your favourite desserts. If you're feeling nervous, our guide to serving champagne and sparkling wine has plenty of advice for storing, opening, and pouring champagne that will help you serve your wine without a hitch.

Creamy dishes, such as panna cotta and cheesecake, pair particularly well with champagne, along with luxurious macarons and chocolate-based dishes. Why not serve up a slice of our orange and ginger chocolate torte with a dusting of cocoa powder?

cocktail party

A cocktail evening is a popular option for engagement parties, and for good reason. They take minimal planning and are perfect for getting everyone together for some fun. Serve up a menu of the couple's favourite drinks or introduce them to something new. Don't forget to offer non-alcoholic versions such as our rose, rhubarb, and juniper mocktail. 

It can be a good idea to also provide a few small dishes for your cocktail engagement party. So, lay out serving platters full of finger foods and canapés, such as our minted broad bean tartlets, as well as ramekins filled with nibbles, such as our pumpkin and herb crispbread.
 

afternoon tea

Hosting an afternoon tea is a great way to make any occasion feel special, so it's a perfect option for an engagement party. Serve up plenty of cakes and sandwiches for the event. A tiered cake stand or serving platter filled with slices of our lemon pound cake, mini chocolate muffins, macarons, and dainty lemon shortbread will look great sitting pride of place in the centre of your table. Provide plenty of freshly brewed tea in a teapot, along with matching cups and saucers for the full effect. You could also add a bottle of champagne or prosecco — you are celebrating, after all!

BBQ

For a summer engagement, why not make the most of the warm weather by hosing a BBQ engagement party? This is perfect for casual occasions, and you can host it either at your own home, or the home of the newly engaged couple.

BBQ foods such as our prawn and chorizo skewers would make the perfect addition to your BBQ engagement party. Decorate with pastel-toned balloons and bunting, and add a few fairy lights and lanterns for when the sun goes down. Take a look at our guide to hosting a BBQ garden party for more inspiration.
 

picnic

If you don't have the outdoor space to host a bigger gathering, or if you just fancy a change of scenery, then why not host a picnic for the engagement party in your local park or on the beach? Find a scenic spot and serve up a selection of tasty salads and finger foods. Our advice for hosting the perfect picnic will give you plenty of menu ideas for the occasion.

engagement party games and activities

With everyone in such high spirits, an engagement party is a great excuse to have a bit of fun. Some of our favourite engagement party games and activities include:

  • Photo booth: Savour the memories of the special occasion by having a photobooth. You can hire a company to come to your party equipped with props and a camera to take photos of all the guests. However, if you'd like to do it all yourself, you can easily make your own in the corner of the room. Just lay out a few props and put up an interesting backdrop, such as a balloon wall, flower wall, or an elegant fairy light curtain. Ask guests to take photos with their smartphone and encourage them to share their snaps on social media using a specific hashtag so everyone has access to the memories.
  • Find the ring: If you're searching for a game that you can play all night, then a ring hunt could be the answer. Just as you would with an Easter egg hunt, hide small carboard engagement rings around your venue for guests to find. Be sure to put them in some hard-to-find areas, such as in your party favours and around your table settings and centrepieces. Whoever finds the most wins a prize.
  • Fling the ring: This would be the perfect engagement party game for an outdoor celebration such as a BBQ. Place a few empty wine bottles in a crate or box (you can paint them to match the theme if you'd like) then make a few giant engagement rings from a piece of card. Guests take turns to get the ring around each bottle. Whoever gets the most wins.
  • Couples trivia: This one is bound to result in a few laughs. Put together a list of questions based on the couple's likes and dislikes, or facts about their relationship (such as where they had their first date). Then, either ask the other person to answer on behalf of their partner, or ask guests to guess the answers.

 

engagement party favours

Party favours aren't an essential part of the celebrations, but it's always nice to leave guests with a little gift they can take home and remember the event by. You don't have to give out anything elaborate — heart shaped truffles or biscuits are bound to go down well.

Alternatively, match your party favours to your theme. For example, consider DIY s'more kits for a BBQ engagement party, a personalised message in a bottle for a beach theme, or handmade tea bags for an afternoon tea party.

engagement present ideas

Guests may ask you about gifts, so it's a good idea to have a plan so you know how to advise them. For engagement party, gifts are usually a low- to mid-range items, with bigger items being saved as wedding presents. A good rule of thumb is to recommend guests pick something that is around 1/3 of the cost of the wedding present.

The couple may decide to set up a gift list before the event. This ensures they are getting something they want and it takes the pressure off both you and the guests. However, if they haven't arranged a list and you're not sure what to give for an engagement party gift, see our ideas below. Or, take a look at our gifts for couples or wedding gifts selection.
 

  • Kitchenware: Traditionally, the couple will be gifted something they can use in the kitchen as an engagement present. This is usually something small, like a serving platter, cake stand, or a cast iron pot. Bigger gifts, such as dinnerware sets, are usually saved as a wedding gift. This is an especially great option if the couple have recently moved into a new home together.
  • Homeware: Another option is to gift the couple a homeware gift, such as a candle or vase. Again, this is a great option if the newly engaged couple have recently moved house, or moved in with each other. We also have a selection of new home gifts you might like to browse.
  • Champagne: What better way to celebrate an engagement than with a bottle of champagne? Add a set of champagne flutes or crystal glasses so they have everything they need to toast to their exciting news.
  • Hamper: Creating your own gift hamper is the perfect way to add a more personal touch to your engagement present. You can include anything you think the couple will like, and you've got total freedom to pick and choose whatever will suit them best. Our guide to making a gift hamper is full of ideas to get you started.
  • Money or gift cards: Some couples may ask for money or gift cards to their favourite shops as an engagement present. This is usually because the couple would prefer to buy their own homeware, or would like to save up money for the wedding. 
     

These engagement party ideas should have given you plenty of inspiration to host the perfect celebration for your nearest and dearest. With the right theme and plenty of great food and drink, you're sure to throw an amazing party that the happy couple will remember for years to come.

We have a fantastic range of tableware, serveware, and kitchenware that would make the perfect addition to your celebrations. All Denby stoneware is handcrafted in our Derbyshire pottery, and is styled by life, meaning everything is created to be both beautiful and functional. These versatile and durable pieces also come with a 10-year guarantee, making them great wedding gifts. 

 

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