Engagement parties are a joyous celebration of the impending union between you and your partner, and however you decide to mark the occasion (and however large the invite list), you want to create amazing memories for both the two of you and your friends and family.

These days, engagement parties can often take as much planning and expense as the wedding day itself, but unless you are blessed with a never-ending wallet, money most definitely is an object.

With that being said, here is how to plan a spectacular engagement party without breaking the bank.

Book the Venue!

Even though your own engagement party will undoubtedly be the party of the year, the fact is that venues across the country become booked well in advance, and of course, the more desirable and impressive the venue, the quicker it will become unavailable.

So, whether you are planning on a smaller, more intimate gathering with close family members and friends or a much larger celebration, make sure you get those invites out as soon as possible and ensure the venue is booked and paid for.

Think outside the box when searching for the right venue; perhaps you could host an autumnal outdoor engagement party with fireworks in the evening, or maybe you could take your nearest and dearest on an adventure day at a theme park.

Select an Exciting Theme!

The core theme of your evening is fun, fun, fun, and no engagement party is complete without an engaging theme to tie everything together.

The right theme will help you choose the decorations, the style of invitations, and the food and drink to be served, and on a broader level, will set the mood for the entire event.

Just a selection of interesting themes to consider include the following:

• The Golden Age of Hollywood
• Movie Night
• Carnival
• Murder Mystery Night
• Silent Disco

Consider Professional Caterers!

For those who are looking to book a room, or even a section, of a restaurant, the food and drinks will obviously be taken care of for you.

Alternatively, unless you have a parent or other close family member who is willing to spend time and money preparing the food for your party, if you are hiring a room, it is strongly advisable to source the help of professional catering services instead.

There are a host of benefits in hiring caterers over attempting to feed the guests yourself, not least the simple fact that the stress is completely taken away from you, and you are then able to concentrate your time on attention on other aspects of the planning process.

Paint Your Personality Throughout the Party!

From customized cocktails you and your fiancé have spent time creating and perfecting to hilarious photographs arranged in the entryway, the more personality you inject into the night, the more memorable your engagement party will be.

Another great way to make the details of your party reflect who you are as people is to stick to a color scheme relating to the striking aspects of your character. Should you and your partner be somewhat sophisticated, then charcoal grey and navy blue decor (perhaps with a splash of metallic) will convey a timeless feel.

If you are both obsessed with the outdoors and love all things adventurous in your daily lives, then emerald green with natural foliage on the tables will bring out your personalities.