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Celebrate Your Love. Your Way!
An engagement party isn’t just a prelude to the wedding — it’s your first official celebration as an engaged couple. For LGBTQ+ partners, it can also be a moment of affirmation, chosen family, visibility, and joy after a journey that may not always have felt simple or straightforward. Whether you’re planning something intimate or over-the-top fabulous, here are engagement party ideas that honor your love story and your community.
1. Pride-Inspired Celebration
Lean into color and symbolism with a Pride-inspired party! You don’t have to go full parade — even subtle nods to Pride can feel celebratory and affirming... and FUN!
- Signature cocktails inspired by Pride flags (trans pride spritz, bi berry fizz, etc.)
- A rainbow dessert bar
- Custom napkins or signage with your pronouns
- A photo backdrop with “Love Wins” or “Engaged & Proud”
2. “Chosen Family” Dinner Party, BBQ or Picnic
For many LGBTQ+ couples, chosen family is everything. Host an intimate seated dinner, cozy outdoor bbq, or relaxing picnic with the people who have shown up for you through every chapter. Keep it warm and intentional:
- Handwritten notes at each place setting
- A gratitude toast honoring mentors, friends, and community
- A short “how we met” story shared by each of you
- This format feels deeply personal — and meaningful.
3. Queer Club Night or Dance Party
This is especially fun for couples who want their engagement party to feel less formal and more electric, or for those who envision an opportunity to cut loose with friends and take a break from the wedding planning process!
- Rent out your favorite LGBTQ+ bar for a private party
- Hire a local drag performer to host
- Create a playlist of “your songs”
- Add a disco ball and neon signage
4. Backyard Garden Brunch
Soft, romantic, and relaxed. Think:
- Mimosa or mocktail bar
- Seasonal florals
- Grazing tables
- Lawn games
A brunch format works beautifully for couples who prefer something light, welcoming, and intergenerational.
5. Themed “Our Story” Party
Build the theme around your own unique story! Did you meet:
- While traveling? → Passport-themed party
- At a bookstore? → Literary cocktail evening
- Through activism? → Community fundraiser celebration
- In college? → Nostalgic campus party
You can even create a “relationship timeline” display showing milestones from first date to proposal. And be sure to incorporate all the fun activities into your party: personalized trivia or bingo games, themed venue and decor, and invite guests to dress accordingly and help layer the theme to its fullest!
6. Elevated Cocktail Soirée
For couples who love a polished vibe! Allow yourselves to get sophisticated without committing to full wedding-formality.
- Champagne tower
- Passed hors d’oeuvres
- Live jazz trio
- Black-and-gold or monochrome color palette
IMPORTANT: Make It Authentically Yours
Above all, your engagement party doesn’t have to follow tradition — especially traditions that may not have historically applied to our commitments, or traditions that just don't feel right for you and your fiancee. Consider:
- Inviting extended family as a bridge-building moment
- Keeping it intimate if family dynamics are complicated
- Use the party as your “formal engagement announcement”
- Incorporate pronoun introductions, inclusive language or announce the name/s you'll be choosing after marriage
- For those who want to keep it simple - remember that's an option too!
- Separate bachelor/bachelor or bachelorette/bachelorette parties more your thing? Absolutely enjoy crafting individualized celebrations for each of you, that best suit your own styles!
- There’s no single right way to do this!
A Final Thought
Whether you celebrate together, host separate gatherings, keep things beautifully low-key or vibrantly wild, your engagement party should reflect who you are — individually and as partners. This is your moment to mark a new chapter in whatever way feels most affirming, joyful, and true. There’s no single script to follow — what matters most is that the celebration feels authentic — a reflection of your identities, your communities, and the path you’re building forward.
