Engagement parties are highly anticipated events, and these gatherings of friends and family often have varying dress codes based on a number of different factors. If you’ve recently been invited to an engagement party but aren’t sure what to wear, our style guide is here to help you out.
Below, we give you items to consider as you choose your outfit for the engagement party and some essential etiquette tips. We’ll keep you looking your best and help you avoid any accidental fashion faux pas.
What Is an Engagement Party?
An engagement party is a party that a newly engaged couple throws to celebrate their engagement with their friends and family. They can be used as a way to announce an engagement to several people and extended friends and family members. Alternatively, one partner may even throw a party with friends and family with plans to propose during the party.
Engagement parties range in formality depending on the preferences of the newly engaged couple. You may be invited to a casual outdoor BBQ to celebrate an engagement, or a formal dinner with black-tie dress required.
Because of the many different engagement party options, it’s essential to know which factors to consider as you start to decide on an outfit for an engagement party.
Deciding What to Wear to an Engagement Party
Deciding what to wear to an engagement party can be stressful, as you want to make sure that your outfit fits the event and doesn’t draw attention away from the engaged couple. Make sure to consider the following items as you set about choosing what to wear to an engagement party.
Pay Attention to Dress Code
When you’re invited to an engagement party, the expected dress code will typically be listed on the invitation. In general, dress codes that the engagement party might require include:
- Formal/black-tie
- Semi-formal
- Casual
- Cocktail attire
Depending on things like the venue, time of day, and preferences of the individuals throwing the party, you may be expected to dress according to one of these dress codes. It’s a good idea to double-check what the expected dress code is before trying to figure out an outfit to wear, as you will want to make sure your options align with the formality of the event.
In the case that the dress code isn’t listed on the invitation, you may need to contact the organizers of the engagement party and verify if there is an expected dress code.
If the organizers have no preference, consider what you know about the season, venue, time of day, and party type (such as a formal dinner or an outdoor garden party). This will help you gain a general sense of the expected dress code.
Consider the Season
Taking into account the season and weather is an important part of picking your outfit for an engagement part. For example, you wouldn’t want to show up for a winter engagement party in a light, brightly colored blouse.
Dress for the weather appropriately and include brighter colors and lighter fabrics for engagement parties during the spring and summer. For fall and winter engagement parties, heavier fabrics and neutral or subdued colors are perfect.
Check the Venue
Verifying the venue is another essential step in choosing what to wear to an engagement party.
If the party is taking place at a more upscale venue, such as a country club or a nice restaurant, you will need to dress in more formal attire or cocktail attire. If the couple is hosting the engagement party somewhere outdoors or in a more relaxed venue, semi-formal or casual attire is likely appropriate.
When considering the venue, also consider which shoes best work with the outfit. High heels and formal dress shoes for men are likely not the best choice for parties that are completely outdoors due to the risk of heels sinking into grass and shoes getting muddy.
Consider the Time of Day
The time of day is another important factor to think about when dressing for an engagement party. Daytime events tend to be more casual unless otherwise noted, and there is a higher chance that these events will take place outdoors. In these cases, lighter fabrics, brighter colors, and more casual clothing options might be appropriate.
For engagement party events that take place in the evening, semi-formal, cocktail, or formal attire is typically the most fitting choice.
Engagement Party Etiquette to Keep In Mind
While dressing for an engagement party, you should keep these etiquette tips in mind so you don’t risk showing up with an inappropriate, attention-drawing outfit.
Don’t Wear White
As with all weddings, white is not a good color choice for your outfit. Men may be able to get away with wearing a white dress shirt when more formal or cocktail attire is required, but selecting a shirt with a tasteful pattern or partnering it with a suit jacket in a matching color other than white is essential.
Women should never wear white dresses to anything wedding related, including the engagement party. Gowns that could resemble wedding dresses in more formal spaces should also be avoided.
Dress in Layers
If you aren’t sure what to expect from an engagement party, you should take care to dress in layers. Start with clothing that can be considered more casual as your base layer, and dress it up for a more formal vibe. This gives you the chance to adjust your outfit based on what others are wearing once you reach the party.
In general, it’s better to be a little bit overdressed than underdressed at an engagement party. However, if you show up wearing a formal gown to a backyard BBQ, then you are far too overdressed and likely to cause problems Use common sense when layering your outfit and dressing up more casual items to make them formal.
Avoid Bold Colors
While bright colors are recommended for many spring and summertime engagement parties, especially events that are more casual, you should stay away from very bold colors.
Bright yellows, pinks, greens, and neon colors will all attract attention away from the newly engaged couple, and you should be avoiding this.
The goal of dressing appropriately for an engagement party is to show your support for the couple and somewhat fade into the background with your outfit. Pastel colors and light color choices are the best way to do this.
Bring Back-Up Shoes
When you aren’t too sure what a venue will be like or if there is a chance of inclement weather at a venue, it always helps to have a backup pair of shoes. Bringing a more casual pair of dress shoes for men or a pair of flats for women allow you to switch between formal and semi-formal or casual options as needed.
Avoid Jeans and Denim
Even if an engagement party is a more casual affair, avoiding jeans and other denim items is seen as good etiquette.
If you are absolutely positive that a party is casual and the couple hosting the party has no problem with individuals wearing jeans to their party, choose a pair in a darker color. Stay away from ripped or distressed styles – these are too casual for even a casual engagement party and might leave you looking out of place.
Celebrating Engagement the Right Way
Engagement parties are a wonderful way for the newly engaged couple to mingle with their friends and family, celebrate their engagement, and announce an engagement to their loved ones. It might also be a way for one partner to pop the question to the other, surrounded by their friends and family.
Whatever the specifics of the engagement party you’ve been invited to, it’s essential to dress appropriately when attending this event. Use our style guide to determine which outfit is the best choice for you as you attend an engagement party and celebrate the happy couple.
