Engagement Party Ideas To Announce Your Celebration In Pink Heaven Style

Engagement party ideas are all about announcing a couples intention to get married. Traditionally it is the brides parents who are told about the engagement first and then the big announcement is made at the engagement party.

These days, however, an engagement party is a celebration of the impending marriage with the future bride and grooms closest friends and family.

It is not as flamboyant as the actual wedding itself will be but, often, it is the first time the future bride and groom will meet many of each others family and friends so you can still add a sprinkle of Pink Heaven style!

Some couples like to have a small meal with their closest family whilst others would rather hire out a large room for a buffet and disco. There are many venues that you can choose for your engagement party dependant on the guest list and the budget!

Typically the engagement party should take place within a few months of the actual proposal and when the wedding plans already in motion. It is a nice touch for the actual wedding date to be announced at the engagement.

Also if you already have a few plans in place such as color scheme, theme, budget and a rough guest list it makes planning the engagement party a lot easier.

If you haven't made any plans yet don't worry the engagement party can be totally different to the wedding party so no one will know what to expect! Popular themes are romance, 60s, 70s, 80s, favorite film, Luau or even a casino party.

Just keep in mind, however, that this is not the actual wedding and you don't want the engagement party cutting a large chunk out of your wedding funds.

INVITATIONS

When planning the guest list for your engagement party ideas keep in mind that the guests that come to your party will probably expect a party invitation to the wedding.

Dependent on your choice of venue and also your wedding guest list it may or may not be appropriate to send invitations. Although it has now become popular for a couple to throw a larger engagement party and have a smaller wedding party as this often proves more cost friendly.

If you are only going out for dinner with the future in-laws then invitations may not be needed. But if you are having a larger party and budget allows then invitations are a nice touch and it also gives a little taste of the style of the upcoming wedding.

If you already have the color scheme set for your wedding then it's a good idea to also use this in your engagement party invitations.

Also if you have a theme to your upcoming wedding this would be useful when choosing the invitation ideas. An example of this is at my wedding we had a pink butterfly theme so the invitations to the wedding featured pink and butterflies. You could then use a more toned down version of this for the engagement party invitations.

You can buy personalized invitations from specialist invitation shops or on the internet or you can buy cheaper ready made invitations from your local supermarket or party shop - a good idea if you have a small budget and a large guest list.

A more unique engagement party idea for invitations would be to make your own home made invitations. All you need is some card, embellishments and, of course, ideas! Have a look on invitation or craft websites for more ideas that would suit your style and theme.

When attending an engagement party a lot of guests ofter wonder "Do I buy a present for an engagement party?" You can set this straight in the invitations if you wish, by creating a suggestion of engagement party gift ideas and giving guests the option whether or not they want to purchase anything.

This will also save you receiving quite a few toasters. If you feel bad about doing this you could just give this option to close family and friends or just not bother.

Also if your pushed for time and budget send out some emailed invitations using Evite, who even have a design your own option!

If you want to make some easy but professional looking invites then the Pink Heaven Party Angel recommends creating extraordinary free digital invitations in minutes at Smilebox.com! You can even add your own photos, video clips and music.

DECORATIONS

If you are going to throw a large engagement party you will probably need to hire out a room. This could be in a local restaurant, a rented hall or reception center, a church or even a country club. You can then decorate this room in keeping with your engagement party theme.

Even if you are only having a small meal at home or in a restaurant you could still have a few table decorations just to mark the occasion.

Here are a few engagement party ideas for decorations:

Tablecloths and party ware in your chosen theme colors, the Pink Heaven Party Angel would suggest pink, of course!
Plastic diamond ring confetti
Balloon center pieces - a couple of balloons tied down with a balloon weight on each table
Engagement banners
If you are going with a theme also include theme items in your engagement party ideas, such as for a butterfly theme you would have different items with butterflies on or for a love theme you may have lots or red and pink hearts
Streamers and sashes hung from doorways
Following a wedding party idea you could also have a guest book so the guests can leave messages for the happy couple. This can then be kept to cherish along with the wedding guest book and, of course, all the photos!

FOOD AND DRINK

Engagement party ideas for food and drink can either be of the dinner party or buffet variety. For a smaller do a dinner party can be more intimate. When thinking of the menu serve up some of you and your loved ones favorite dishes, just make sure it' something that you can cook - if not order takeout!

If you have a large guest list a buffet or even a BBQ is a good option. Here are some buffet options:

Quiche
Cheese platter
Mini hot dogs and burgers
Dips and chips or bread sticks
Chicken wings
Salad
Filled rolls
Potato skins

For some more buffet and dinner party ideas visit the Pink Heaven adult party food page.

ENTERTAINMENT

There is a wide variety of entertainment that you could use for engagement party ideas, ranging in price, such as:

Playing some of the couples favorite CDs
A disco complete with DJ
A karaoke
A live band or singer
A tradition for engagement party ideas is to let people wish the happy couple good luck for the future and maybe even tell a story or two about one half of the couple. The story of the proposal can also be told. This is the couples personal choice, however, and if there are some things that you would rather not have said then skip this one!

FAVORS

There is no real need for for favors. But the Pink Heaven Party Angels favorite engagement party idea for favors is to give everyone a Save The Date magnet. engagement favors This is a pre-invite to the wedding which states your names and the date of the wedding on a fridge magnet. This only works however if everyone in the engagement party is invited to the wedding and if you have actually set the date!

If you do want to give out favors here are some ideas:

Personalized mint tins
Personalized chocolate
Candles in champagne glasses
Diamond ring key rings
Small calenders with the wedding date circled
Candies and chocolates
Crystal candle holders

Remember, if you can't find what you are looking for here then why not ask the Pink Heaven Party Angel, who is there to answer all your party questions. Or why not help others with their party planning problems by answering their questions!

Then once you've thrown your party let everyone know about it at YOUR parties, readers can then rate your party and give their comments. Your party could then help others searching for the perfect party idea, whilst giving your ideas the fame they deserve!

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