Everything You Need on Your Engagement Party Checklist (2024)

An engagement party is the perfect opportunity for the bride and groom’s families to get to know each other better before the wedding. It is your chance to celebrate your engagement with your family and friends — and it’s a good practice run for the big day. You’ll get to see how your extended families interact with each other in a relaxed, less formal setting than the actual wedding. But before all that can happen, you need an engagement party checklist that helps you pull it all off with ease.

First things first, you need a killer engagement party venue! Because let’s face it: not everyone’s apartment is large and stylish enough to fit you and your betrothed’s entire crew. Make the event even more special by booking a one-of-a-kind Peerspace venue. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace connects you to thousands of incredible venues in cities and towns across North America and beyond. Peerspaces are hosted by locals who strive to make your engagement party perfect. If you need any extras, be sure to ask your host for help and they’ll be happy to oblige!

Next, we’ve put together an engagement party checklist to make sure you don’t miss any steps while planning the occasion. Feel free to customize it to make the event uniquely your own.

1. Decide if you or one of your families will play host

First, decide who will be responsible for hosting the party. Although it’s customary for the bride’s family to host the event, it’s really up to you: if both families live in the same city, they can throw it together. Alternatively, you and your partner can throw it yourself if you want to make sure everything is just right. If your families live far apart, consider hosting two separate parties for each set of parents.

2. Make your guest list keeping a few considerations in mind

Now that you know who’s hosting your engagement party, it’s time to put together a guest list. This is crucial as you’ll need to get an estimated headcount for the occasion before you book a venue, order catering, and more.

An engagement party is usually smaller than a wedding, so keep it restricted to your close friends and immediate family members. Everyone who comes to your engagement party should be invited to come to the wedding, but not everyone you plan to invite to the wedding has to be invited to the party.

If you love unique, unexpected venues, you may wonder: can you get married at an Airbnb? Check out our guide to learn what you need to know!

3. Pick a date and book the perfect engagement party venue

Once you’ve decided who’s throwing the party and how many people are likely to attend, settle on a date that works for all of your immediate family members. This should be no more than a few months after your engagement. And it should be nine months to a year before your wedding — soon enough that the excitement hasn’t faded, but with enough time for your guests to RSVP to the event.

Next, start looking for a venue that’s suitable for the season and size of your crowd. You can host it at your own home or backyard, a bar or restaurant, or an unconventional Peerspace venue. As we mentioned in the introduction, Peerspace can introduce you to amazingly stylish and well-equipped spaces in cities across the globe. All venues are hosted by locals who offer special services or can help you find vendors ideal for your engagement party.

As a venue example, if you’re throwing an engagement party in LA, you could host it at this secret garden loft with a balcony. The venue has space for 80 guests throughout its two stories and provides you with a sound system, seating, a kitchen, and an outdoor space. The host also provides an extensive list of optional features to make your engagement party amazing, meaning you can get everything you need all in one spot!

4. Create a gift registry to make shopping easier on your guests

The next step on your engagement party checklist is to create an online gift registry. While this step isn’t strictly necessary, you should let your guests know if you prefer not to receive gifts at your party. If you are accepting gifts, a registry makes it easy for your guests to pick out small to mid-range items for you to open after the event.

According to Brides.com, it isn’t proper etiquette to mention the registry on your party invitation, but you can make it available for guests who ask. Another option is to create a registry for your wedding, and guests can choose whether or not to bring gifts to your party. Regardless, take note of who brings what so you can thank them later!

5. Send out invitations well enough in advance

Now that you’ve worked through the first few items on your engagement party checklist, it’s time to send out your party invitations. Decide whether you want to send out formal invitations or just keep it casual with an e-mail or online invite. If you’d like, use the opportunity to try out the text and colors you plan to use on your wedding invites, but don’t stress out about getting it perfect.

6. Find a caterer and photographer…or a book a venue that offers it all

After you’ve chosen a date and venue, it’s time to start hiring some professionals. Unless you plan to have a low-key BBQ or backyard gathering, consider hiring a caterer. That way, your guests’ food, and drink needs will be taken care of and you can focus on socializing.

If you’ll be hosting the event at a Peerspace venue, ask your local host for a recommendation. You might also want to hire a photographer for the occasion. Some couples may have already had their engagement photos taken, but having a photographer at the party means you can get the whole family involved. Alternatively, you could book a photo booth so your guests can take candid pictures without the pressure of a formal photography session.

If this sounds like a lot to deal with, especially before starting to plan your wedding, fear not. There are Peerspace venues across the globe helmed by event planners who can take care of all the details for you! That way, all you and your partner have to do is invite your guests and show up ready to party.

One amazing example of an all-inclusive Peerspace engagement party venue is this private event space in Murrieta, CA. This 2,000-square-foot all-white venue provides tables and chairs, A/V equipment, parking, and amazing services including catering, a photo booth, a photographer, throne chairs, a bar helmed by a licensed bartender, and more! Imagine all the time you can save by booking this venue and enjoying an amazing engagement party tailored to your needs.

7. Choose your outfits and decorate the venue

Now, decide on a theme and outfits. While you don’t need to dress up as formally as you would for a wedding, you should let your guests know how casual or formal to dress. Will you be having a relaxed backyard BBQ or a classy soiree at a nightclub? If you’d like, you can give your party a theme and ask your guests to come dressed in a particular style.

You can hire a florist or professional decorator if it needs some extra flair. Make sure you have enough seating for all of your guests, as well as protection from the rain or sun depending on the season.

Whichever theme you choose, make sure it’s reflected in the venue. Check out Peerspace for one-of-a-kind event venues to suit your theme to a T. Start your initial search on our homepage and then use keywords like “vintage,” “tropical,” “80s,” “western,” or whatever your chosen theme is to discover venues that come dressed to impress.

8. Come up with a playlist and party games

Consider hiring a DJ or creating your own Spotify playlist. This is your chance to try out a few songs that may end up on the soundtrack at your wedding. If there’s a dance floor at the venue, choose music that speaks to you as a couple and will set the tone of your engagement.

If you plan to have games at your engagement party, choose activities that will help your guests get to know each other, such as a scavenger hunt or Newlywed-style trivia game. 

Check out our engagement party games to keep your guests

Peerspace helps you wrap up that engagement party checklist

Engagement parties are less work to plan than weddings, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to put some effort into the occasion. Use this engagement party checklist to make sure you’ve taken care of the basics — and then do whatever you’d like to make the event your own!

Once you book the perfect venue, everything else falls into place. This is especially true if you choose a engagement party venue through Peerspace. There are venue styles and types that can suit whatever you like. And since you book by the hour, it’s often a lot cheaper than renting a venue for the day elsewhere. And remember, your venue’s dedicated host can help arrange all the extras you need to complete the celebration.

Once it’s over, be sure to send thank-you notes to your guests. Also, show appreciation to your parents or in-laws if they’ve helped you plan the event. After all, this is just step one — now that it’s over, you’ll have to work together to plan the entire wedding!

Find unique engagement party venues on Peerspace