I have participated in a paid partnership with Santa Rita 120. Opinions in this post are my own.

Congrats! You recently got engaged and now it’s time to celebrate! Throwing an engagement party is such a fun endeavour, but it can be a little stressful too. With the right tips and guidance, you can pull off an incredible engagement party all your guests (and of course, you and your fiancé) will love!

When you hear the word party, don’t get overwhelmed. A small gathering with your nearest and dearest is a great way to celebrate your engagement. Engagement parties can be as big or small, or as casual or formal as you like. It’s your celebration, so it’s up to you to choose what will make you the happiest! For those of you who like the idea of a more intimate bash, I’m letting you on 7 steps for how to plan a simple summer engagement party!

1. Create Your Guest List

First things first, you’ll want to create your guest list. For a small engagement party, keep your list to around 20 people. This will likely be your and your partner’s closest friends and maybe a few family members. Create a list and try not to stray from it- you want to keep it as intimate as possible so you can enjoy a celebration where you can mix and mingle with everyone! The invites are up to you! You can go more formal with real paper invites, invite people over email, or even create a Facebook event!

2. Stock Up On Good Wine

Having good wine ensures you take your engagement party to the next level. I always like to have a nice red and a white option for guests to choose from. I was recently introduced to Chilean wine brand, Santa Rita 120 and I’ve been hooked ever since. The Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are both amazing, flavourful wines your guests are sure to love.

Make sure that whatever food you put out pairs well with the wines. For a small engagement party, laying out finger foods is the ideal accompaniment for a glass of vino. The Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with charcuterie meats, aged cheese, chocolate and dark berries, and the Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with lighter cheeses, fruits and berries, salads and sweets like macarons.

3. Set Up A Serve-Yourself Bar

The last thing you want to be doing at your engagement party is pouring people drinks all night. Set up a serve-yourself bar so people can help themselves to wine and cocktails. This will take pressure off you so you can enjoy your party and celebrate with your closest friends. Have the red and white wine laid out with glasses, and if you want to allow your guests to get crafty with cocktails, have a shaker and other alcohol and mixers available for them.

4. Don’t Forget Snacks

It’s also important to have some sort of food at your engagement party. It likely won’t be a whole meal (unless you decide to host a dinner party), but some light snacks are always good! Some of my favourite options for an engagement party would be berries and macarons, a cheese plate or a charcuterie board. Depending on the size and time of your party, you may consider other food or snacks. For example, if you do decide to have a sit down meal during dinner or lunch, you will need more substantial options for your guests.

5. Make a Playlist

It’s not a party without music! Before the day of your engagement party either put together a playlist or enlist one of your friends to make a playlist for the party. It should include all your and your partner’s favourite songs, and some classic fun ones the whole group will enjoy. If you really want it to make a party your friends will remember, ask everyone to let you know their favourite song so you can make sure it’s on the playlist!

6. Think About Decor

Your engagement party doesn’t have to be extravagant in terms of decor. Simple touches such as a bouquet of flowers, a homemade welcome sign and perhaps some string lighting will do the trick! Especially if you’re only doing a small gathering, a few extra touches of decor will be just perfect!

7. Decide What to Wear

Depending on how formal your engagement party is, you can wear anything from a dress or jumpsuit to jeans with a nice top. I love the idea of a pretty white dress like the one I’m wearing in these shots. It’s feminine and cute, and just perfect for an engagement party. Just like whenever you’re wearing white, you have to be VERY cautious of spilling anything on it, but nothing says bridal like a white dress!

There you have it- 7 steps to throwing a simple summer engagement party! I hope you enjoyed these tips and use them to create a wonderful celebration you, your fiancé and guests will cherish forever! And make sure to check out www.120daysofsummer.ca to learn more about Santa Rita’s summer wine campaign!