Engagement Party Themes: 12 Ideas and Matching Invitations
Congratulations on this big milestone! We know how excited you are to be engaged and start planning all of the festivities. One of the first ways you may want to celebrate is with an engagement party. This event gives you the chance to shout the exciting news from the rooftops and spend time showered in love by the people who mean the most to you.
While you can certainly host the engagement party yourselves, you can also get a friend or family member to take on the hosting duties. Whoever’s in charge, choosing an engagement party theme makes it easier to pick a venue, decorate the space, and coordinate food menus.
Explore unique and stylish engagement party themes with this list of ideas, including classic, modern, and seasonal options. You’ll also find inspiration for party decor and complementary invitations.
12 Unique and Classic Engagement Party Themes
When it comes to your engagement, you can choose from time-honored themes or dream up something entirely unique. Whatever your preference, it helps to think about your personality and interests.
Whether you like modern accents, love boho design, or want a casual gathering, there’s a party style to suit your needs. Here are some of the best engagement party themes to consider.
1. Garden Party
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Invitation Inspiration: Vintage Rose Garden Invitation
Plan a magical affair with an outdoor garden party fit for a fairy princess. Hang fairy lights around the event space, whether it’s your own backyard, a loved one’s patio, or a public event space. Decorate the tables with fresh greenery and incorporate rustic elements like rattan, rope, and Mason jars for a vintage vibe. Serve farm-to-table foods and meals using fresh ingredients to match the theme.
2. Backyard BBQ
Design: Carmia Jordaan
Invitation Inspiration: Rustic Succulents Invitation
Invite loved ones to celebrate with a casual backyard engagement party. Set the scene with colorful pillows and picnic-style seating. Serve classic summer BBQ fare like hot dogs, burgers, and grilled veggies.
For entertainment, play engagement party games like trivia and bingo to learn more about the happy couple. To match the theme, pick BBQ-inspired games, and pair them with matching decor like gingham tablecloths.
3. Elegant Brunch
Design: Jen Montgomery
Invitation Inspiration: Romantic Ornament Invitation
A wedding brunch is one of the most popular ways to spend time after the big day — and it also makes for an excellent engagement party theme. Plan a brunch featuring all the fixings, from mimosas to finger sandwiches.
Make it an elegant celebration by featuring gold napkins, gold cutlery, and glitter charger plates. Serve the bubbly in crystal glasses, and decorate the tables with fancy centerpieces filled with fresh flowers.
4. Charcuterie Picnic
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Invitation Inspiration: Enchanted Arbor Trail Invitation
Another sophisticated way to celebrate your engagement is with an aesthetic picnic — no matter the season. Find a local park, botanical garden, or lakeside restaurant to host the event.
For a spring or summer vibe, use pastel hues, or opt for moody colors like emerald and ruby for a fall affair. If your engagement party is taking place in winter, consider using snowflakes and silver or blue decor to set the tone.
Plan on serving charcuterie favorites like salami, cheese, and fresh fruit. Make it an elegant affair with white tablecloths on picnic tables, or keep things casual by serving guests and having them sit on sand-hued cotton or linen throws.
5. Cocktail Soiree
Design: Cat Caudillo
Invitation Inspiration: Martini Toast Invitation
One of the most classic engagement party ideas is a cocktail party. Work with a mixologist to serve signature cocktails that mimic your personalities or feature your favorite spirits.
Your wedding party will love putting on glam outfits and getting to know the two of you better. For this easy-to-plan party, serve light hors d’ouevres and avoid any silly games that don’t match the elegance of this theme.
6. Murder Mystery Dinner Party
Design: Leah Bisch Studio
Invitation Inspiration: Delicate Geometric Frame Invitation
For a unique evening celebrating your upcoming nuptials, plan a murder mystery dinner party. This is a fun theme idea for couples who are close with their guests. Some restaurants will help you plan the dinner party, or you can host the event at home and use a murder mystery party provider instead.
7. Beach Bash
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Invitation Inspiration: Beach Botanicals Invitation
Have some fun in the sun and celebrate the new season of your life with a beach engagement party or pool party. Add a personal touch by hiring an artist to build a sand sculpture of the newly engaged couple. Select engagement party decorations like inflatable engagement ring floaties to add a little fun.
Don’t forget to feed your guests beach-inspired foods, such as a clam bake or seafood boil if you want an elegant celebration, or a cookout for something more casual.
8. Dessert Social
Design: Ashley DeMeyere Design
Invitation Inspiration: Cairns Invitation
Isn’t love sweet? Celebrate with a stunning dessert social featuring treats like ice cream, donuts, cupcakes, and s’mores. Everyone on your guest list will be thrilled to attend — and you can make it more fun by asking them to come in a costume inspired by their favorite candy brand. Set up a photo booth so guests can take memorable snaps of the special moment in their creative outfits.
Fill large jars with candy that guests can snack on or add as toppings to their DIY ice cream creations. Make this laid-back celebration more fun by creating a candy-themed playlist with songs like “Sugar” and “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You.” For easy party favors, put together bags of candy for guests to take home.
9. Movie Night
Design: Claudia Owen
Invitation Inspiration: Diamond Drop Invitation
Gather your closest friends and family to celebrate your love story with a movie night. It’s a fun way to spend time with loved ones and watch your favorite romantic movies. It’s also a great idea for other events like the bridal shower and bachelorette party.
Create a magical ambiance with comfy seating and romantic lighting from fairy lights or lanterns. For something more fun and lighthearted, plan on playing board games and trivia to celebrate the newly engaged couple.
10. Taco Night
Design: Robinson Creative House
Invitation Inspiration: Eclectic Electric Invitation
Looking for unique engagement party ideas? Look no further than this tasty taco party idea! It brings everyone’s favorites together, from tacos and tequila to vibrant party decor. Use brightly hued textiles to dress up the space. Hire a taco truck to do the heavy lifting for you, and consider working with a bartender to keep the margaritas flowing.
11. Wine Tasting
Design: Molly My
Invitation Inspiration: Vintage Charm Invitation
Plan a sophisticated afternoon wine tasting party to celebrate your recent engagement. For an over-the-top celebration, consider visiting a famous wine region like Napa Valley.
If travel is too complicated, bring this themed party to your own home by planning a wine tasting in your dining room. Serve a selection of wines and pair them with cheese, crackers, and cold cuts as well as fresh fruit for a whimsical event.
12. Wonderland Tea Party
Design: Make and Tell
Invitation Inspiration: Garden Celebration Invitation
Raise your pinkies and go all-out with this festive theme of a wonderland tea party. Get inspiration from the book “Alice in Wonderland” or dream up your own wonderland with magical elements like fairies.
Incorporate tea party decorations, such as pillar candles, flower-filled vases, and vintage tea sets. To continue the party theme to your wedding day, you can use the same color palette for a cohesive look.
Want to add more fun to this theme? Consider implementing a regal dress code where guests have to attend the celebration in their best royal attire — wigs and all!!
Dream Up the Perfect Engagement Party
Whether you’re planning a big bash or a casual get-together, you’ll find the perfect idea on this list of engagement party themes. Once you’ve decided on a theme, you can browse through engagement party invitations on Greenvelope to find a matching design that sets the tone. All of our digital invitations are entirely customizable, putting you in control of crafting your dream stationery.
Continue browsing our Stationers blog for all of your wedding planning needs. Whether you’re putting together a bridal shower, bachelorette party, or the rehearsal dinner, you’ll find themes, tips, and ideas to make it perfect.
