Wondering How to Make Your Engagement Party Special? Here’s Seven Ideas Guests Will Love

If there’s one thing more special than the grand proposal, it’s the engagement party you plan for your friends and family after. However, ensuring that this event meets your high standards, and has guests sharing your excitement, can be challenging.

The problem is that there are so many options. You could choose to go all out and book a banquet hall in Glendale, or keep things low-key in the backyard. You could also choose to have a strict schedule, and fill the time up with activities, or let things go with the flow and rely on the caterers to keep spirits high.

With so many choices to make, it’s hard to know where to begin. So, here are some engagement party ideas to help you get the ball rolling.

A Classic Brunch

No matter how many trends come and go, brunch is here to stay.

A favorite activity of Los Angeles’ elite, brunch will guarantee that your engagement party turns out to be a classy affair. Plus, with the right menu and a steady supply of mimosas and espresso martinis, there’s no doubt that guests will have a good time too.

Hosting an event in the afternoon could also do wonders for your budget, as most venues in Los Angeles are flexible with prices depending on the time of day or season.

A Beach Blowout

California is famous for its warm weather, incredible beaches, and laid-back vibe. So why not make the most of the situation and host a beach blowout?

Not only is this one of the easier-to-execute ideas for engagement party planners, but it’s also a crowd favorite because, honestly, who doesn’t love being by the sea?

Unfortunately, throwing a party on a beach is not always feasible. In that case, many large event venues in Glendale can help you recreate that experience indoors.
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A Cocktail Party

It may not be one of the most creative ideas for engagement party planners, but the cocktail event is a classic for a few reasons: It gives guests the chance to dress up, bartenders the chance to experiment with drinks, and takes the pressure off you to plan dozens of additional activities to keep guests entertained.

If you or your guests aren’t big drinkers, you could replace the cocktails with one of many other engagement dinner ideas — such as a bonfire or a barbecue.

What’s really important is that you give the caterers sufficient time to prepare a feast and remind everyone to dress to the nines.

A Murder Mystery

Okay now we’re getting into experimental territory — but there’s no specific list of engagement party themes that everyone must follow. If you, for example, love Agatha Christie stories, and enjoy solving cases, there’s nothing stopping you from hosting a murder mystery party. You could choose to base it on a movie, write your own story, or delegate the task to a friend. Whichever way you go, this is one of those creative engagement party ideas that no one will expect, but everyone will enjoy.

A Picnic in the Park

Many young L.A. couples choose to celebrate their engagement at a small or medium-sized venue in Glendale. But if that doesn’t sound like your vibe, take things outside by hosting a picnic in a park. Be warned though — this is one of those ideas for an engagement party that could very easily go wrong. Don’t forget to check the weather updates, and make sure you’ve found the perfect spot to set up.

A Wine Tasting

No matter whether you host one at a winery, a backyard, or a small venue in Glendale, a wine party is guaranteed to add a touch of sophistication to your engagement party.

You could choose to personalize the party by only curating wines from a region that’s meaningful to you. Or, you could hire a professional sommelier to guide your guests through the tasting. The wines can be paired with cheeses, charcuterie boards, and various other small bites — giving guests the chance to indulge, and you an engagement party to remember for life.

Travel-Inspired Soiree

Couples who love to travel could also consider a wanderlust-themed engagement party. And despite how obvious it sounds, this is one of those engagement party ideas that allow you to be exceptionally creative. You could decorate the space with world maps, and photos from your travels, and even hand out passport-themed invitations.

Guests could be asked to dress as if they were visiting their favorite holiday destination, meals can be themed — the options are endless. For an extra touch, you could even have a photo booth with props like suitcases or sunglasses to take all your guests on an impromptu “vacation”.

Five Steps to Plan an Engagement Party

Now that all the fun stuff is out of the way, it’s time to talk business. Planning an engagement party is no cakewalk. Instead, it’s a task that requires great organization skills, time management, and a detailed roadmap of what lies ahead.

Here are five steps to remember any time you’re planning a party.

• Start budgeting early: One major factor that’ll help you choose from the ideas listed above is costs. It goes without saying that couples who are smarter with their budgets end up planning better events.
• Guest Preferences: Failing to account for allergies or food preferences doesn’t just ruin the mood — it could be dangerous. On a related note, remember the venue must be accessible to all guests — including those who need wheelchairs.
• Send out invites early: Nothing is worse than sending out your wedding invites and realizing you’ve forgotten to invite a close friend. Planning ahead helps you stay on top of things — and ensures there are no sudden tragedies later.
• Make Lists: Between planning decor, choosing a theme, and being excited about being engaged, the list of tasks can seem like it never ends. Don’t forget to write everything down, so you don’t accidentally miss something.
• Pick the right venue: No matter which of these engagement celebration ideas appeal to you the most, the choice of venue remains the most crucial. Make sure you go through each space carefully before you make a decision.

Once you’ve decided on the theme and selected a date, we recommend reaching out to the experts for assistance. A professional party planner can help you stay on track — taking over time-consuming tasks and even helping you plan appropriate meals.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an event venue, don’t hesitate to reach out to Vivaldi Venues. Our premium Glendale banquet halls are ideal for hosting anywhere between 50 and 500 guests — and come with several additional perks. Wondering what kind of events to celebrate at our banquet hall? Get in touch with us today.