You’re engaged – congratulations! Now is the time to celebrate, and if you want to plan an engagement party, we’ve rounded up the very best engagement party dresses to buy now – plus, how to plan the perfect party.
They’ve popped the question – now what?! Well, for most, planning an engagement party is where the fun starts as it’s the beginning of your wedding journey – scroll down to see how to host your own party.
But first, what you’re going to wear is the big question. From classic white dresses to something more daring, we’ve rounded up 12 fabulous options to ensure you are the star of the show.
The Best Engagement Party Dresses To Buy Now
Club L Risk it All Off White Cami Cowl Neck Dress, £65
Steal the show in this stunning satin off-white engagement party dress – we love the asymmetric style, lustrous satin and cross-over back which really amps up the look.
Reformation Nikita Dress, £285
We love this pretty Reformation number for its subtle bridal vibes and endless rewear potential post-engagement party. Hen do in Ibiza, anyone?
Missguided White Crinkle Cami Ruffled Maxi Dress, £21
If you’re having a garden party for your engagement celebration, this great-value Missguided number comes up trumps with its pretty ruffle detailing and summer vibes.
Nadine Merabi Celina Gold Dress, £295
Who says engagement party dresses have to be white? If you’re having an all-out club night for your engagement party or just want to go the whole hog (it is a once-in-a-lifetime event, after all) this gold glitzy Nadine Merabi number is just the ticket with its structured one-shoulder design and asymmetric floor-sweeping drape for a truly show-stopping silhouette.
All Saints Hadley Midi Dress, £119
If you’re more of a laid-back bride but still want to ensure everyone knows you’re the star of the show with an ivory dress, this All Saints option strikes the perfect balance.
Club L Goddess White Halterneck Jumpsuit, £45
A white jumpsuit screams engagement party and this Club L version is the perfect fit as a glamorous alternative to a dress, with its figure-sculpting stretch jersey and elongating wide-leg design.
Nasty Gal Sequin Detail Wrap Mini Dress, £45
If you’re more of a pink kinda gal, this super-cute Nasty Gal number will have you looking a million dollars and the long sleeves will keep you warm if you’re having a party in the not-so-reliable British summer. Bonus points if you make everyone else wear white or black to really stand out!
ASOS DESIGN Melange Wide Leg Jumpsuit in Navy, £55
We love this ASOS jumpsuit; it’s classy, understated and stylish, whether you’re holding your engagement party at a London rooftop or in your parents’ garden.
Missguided Cream Satin Drape Asymmetric Dress, £16.80
Super stylish and affordable, this silky Missguided asymmetric drape midi dress is a winner for any type of engagement party.
Pretty Little Thing Emerald Green Strappy Satin Cowl Midi Dress, £25
This pretty option in the colour-of-the-moment emerald green hugs you in all the right places for a sexy engagement party look and also comes in champagne if that’s more your vibe.
Buy Now from Pretty Little Thing
Y.A.S Bridal Blazer and Wide Leg Trouser Suit Co-ord, from £85
For the ultimate in bridal cool, a suit makes a true statement. We love this chic Y.A.S bridal co-ord. Or, if you don’t want to go all out, just opt for the trousers or blazer with a different item.
Rented Engagement Dresses
Rental companies like HURR and ByRotation are an excellent option if you want a glam new look but want to save the pennies – and the planet to boot. With brands like Rixo and Ganni on offer for well over half the retail price it’s an option that’s well worth looking into, like this gorgeous Rat & Boat Antonia dress on HURR from just £32 for rental.
Some of these products are part of an affiliate network and we may receive a small commission from any purchases made.
How To Host Your Own Engagement Party
Discover the top engagement party ideas and the engagement party etiquette you need to follow below.
Engagement Party Etiquette: Everything you Need to Know
An engagement party is the perfect chance to share and celebrate your good news with your loved ones, not to mention practise your event-planning skills before the big day!
Not sure where to start, or who to invite? Whether you want to stick to tradition or throw out the rulebook, here’s a few tips and ideas to get your engagement party-planning started…
Who should host an engagement party?
It’s traditional for the bride’s family to host an engagement party for the bride-and-groom-to-be, which means they should have an input on the date of the party and location – be it your hometown or current home. It’s also a good move for the host to make a speech at the event.
Of course, if you’d rather have control of your engagement party, there’s nothing wrong with hosting it yourselves.
Who should you invite to an engagement party?
Think carefully about who you want to include, as anyone invited to the engagement party will expect an invite to the wedding.
If someone besides you is hosting, you should also expect them to have a say in who to include. There’s also no harm in inviting friends or colleagues who may not make the ‘cut’ for your wedding day to celebrate you separately on a more informal scale.
Work out your engagement party budget
The budget is a key factor in determining the type of party you can have, as well as where you can host it. So, it’s best to establish how much you have to spend early on – you’ll need to cover catering, invitations and possibly venue hire.
Just because you have a smaller budget, that doesn’t mean you have to have a budget engagement party. Simply craft your guest list and catering requirements around your event, for example, switch a formal sit-down meal with canapés and champagne cocktails.
Set a date
Choose a time and date that works best for you and your closest friends and family, and decide how long you’d like to wait between the engagement and the celebration.
Wait a few weeks before announcing a date to give you a chance to reveal the engagement first and let everyone know the great news. You want everyone to know you are planning on tying the knot, then give them something else to get excited about!
Pick your party style
Would you prefer a low-key and laidback barbecue in the garden, or a house party at a country manor? When it comes to engagement party ideas, the choice is entirely yours.
Prioritise choosing a venue to suit the style of your celebration. You could even consider a venue totally off the scale, like an art gallery or the top of the Shard. Think about where you’d like your wedding to take place, too and keep your engagement party distinctively different. As much as you want this party to be the party of the year, you don’t want to upstage the main event!
Send out the invitations – don’t forget to clarify the dress code!
Give your guests plenty of time to reply, as this may be a determining factor for your entertainment and food. You may even want to wait until you know the numbers to reveal the location, so you can plan the venue more appropriately.
If you’re having a luxury engagement party, ensure your guests know it and don’t be afraid to tell them. You don’t want them to turn up casual when you have put so much effort into planning such a lavish event!
This can be obvious by your invitations, but it’s worth stating. And don’t you forget to dress to impress – select something that will wow, but won’t upstage your wedding gown. Equally, let them know what to expect food wise. If you’re having drinks and canapés, tell them, or if it’s a luxury afternoon tea and cake in the garden make that clear too.
Designate roles and responsibilities
Assign roles and responsibilities ahead of the event. Who will make formal introductions between guests that don’t know each other? Who will make the first (and subsequent) toast?
Guests may bring you engagement gifts, so ask someone to take responsibility for them. If you’re not having a formal photographer, think about asking a couple of trusted guests to capture the evening on film for you.
Decide on entertainment
Nothing says ‘party’ like good music! Choose the entertainment to match the theme – if you’re after elegance, perhaps choose classic, acoustic sounds, but if it’s dancing you want, opt for a band to get everyone on the dancefloor.
Engagement party time!
Finally, it’s party time. The venue is decorated, your guests have arrived and the Prosecco corks have been popped. It’s time to toast to your engagement and have the best night ever with your nearest and dearest – what better way to get everyone excited for your big day than by partying the night away?
Of course, a celebration is just one way to enjoy being engaged. Try these seven ways to make the most of your engagement for a super fun time, too.
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