You've popped the big question and thankfully she said yes; now it's time to celebrate! Find all the engagement party ideas you'll ever need here at Alive Network.
Your engagement is a promise to marriage as well as the period of time between the proposal and your marriage. During your engagement you are said to be affianced, betrothed, engaged to be married, or simply engaged. Future brides and bridegrooms are often referred to as fiancées or fiancés respectively (from the French word fiancé).
Long engagements were once common in formal arranged marriages and it was not uncommon for parents betrothing children to arrange such many years before the engaged couple were old enough to marry.
Origins of engagement
The concept of an official engagement period in Western culture may have begun in 1215 at the Fourth Lateran Council, headed by Pope Innocent III, which decreed that "marriages are to be ... announced publicly in the churches by the priests during a suitable and fixed time, so that if legitimate impediments exist, they may be made known."
Such a formal church announcement of the intent to marry is known as banns. In some jurisdictions, reading the banns may be part of one type of legal marriage.
Engagement rings
A woman displays her engagement ring. The modern Western form of the practice of giving or exchanging engagement rings is traditionally thought to have begun in 1477 when Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring as an engagement present.
In the United Kingdom and many other countries, an engagement ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. The tradition of wearing a ring for engagement originated from the Egyptians, who believed the circle was a bond between the two people who were to be married, but was initially first practiced on the fourth finger/ring finger by the Romans, who believed this finger to be the beginning of the vena amoris ("vein of love"), the vein that leads to the heart.
In the modern era, some women's wedding rings are made into two separate pieces. One part is given to her to wear as an engagement ring when she accepts the marriage proposal, and the other during the wedding ceremony. When worn together, the two rings look like one piece of jewellery.
Engagement parties
Some engagements are announced at an engagement party, traditionally hosted by the bride's parents. These parties are given in the family's usual style of entertainment. Traditionally, engagement parties were normal parties at which a surprise announcement of the engagement was made by the father of the bride to his guests. Therefore, it is not a traditional gift-giving occasion, as none of the guests were supposed to be aware of the engagement until after their arrival.
In modern times, engagement parties often celebrate a previously publicized engagement.
(Rat Pack) The Rat Pack Is Back Tribute bands
Based in Essex From £1320 +
Live Party Band. THE RAT PACK IS BACK - THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY RAT PACK. The hit show perfectly captures not only the wonderful music and comedy of the original legends, but also the remarkable personalities.Video Online!
Blue Note Mitch and The Red Hot Jacks Swing and Jive
Based in North Yorkshire From £1020 +
Live Party Band. If it's a party you want, Blue Note Mitch & The Red Hot Jacks will be in their element! This quality act perform Jazz, Swing & Jive hits of the 1930s to the 1960s plus Rock ’N’ Roll, Indie, Funky Disco & Soul hits of the 1960s to the present day!
Hipster Rock and Pop
Based in Shropshire From £1439 +
Live Party Band. Young, energetic, super-professional and one of the most exciting and
experienced party bands to work exclusively with Alive Network!
Hipster are an all male 4-piece band, and cover a huge range of music
from The Beatles to The Kings of Leon!
Soul Education Soul RnB
Based in North London From £2100 + (Compact 9 piece Band)
Live Party Band. An outstanding 8-12 piece Funk, Soul and Pop band featuring male & female session singers and exceptional horn section. Extensive repertoire including hits from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Mark Ronson. Book early to avoid disappointment!
(Blues Brothers)Chicago Blues Brothers Tribute bands
Based in Essex From £793 +
Live Party Band. Pete and Ed are back, and they intend to rock the joint again with the hit duo ‘Chicago Blues Brothers’. The two renowned soul singers will once again recapture the lunacy, music and the essence that is The Blues Brothers.
Live Wires Rock and Pop
Based in Staffordshire From £1199+
Live Party Band. Highly experienced, highly professional & experts at making your night one to remember, Live Wires are a 4 piece rock and pop band with a cool, energetic sound. Their repertoire includes The Beatles, The Stones, Kings Of Leon, Killers and much more!
Motown Vogue Soul RnB
Based in Surrey From £2526 +
Live Party Band. Take you & your guests back to the 60s and 70s with the truly authentic & charismatic Motown Vogue. This 7 piece band perform classics from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 & more! Available UK wide & Internationally.
The Swing Cats Swing and Jive
Based in Kent From £1200 +
Live Party Band. Performing western swing jive and jump blues music, The Swing Cats have performed their musical mix to weddings, festivals & corporate events & have been featured in live session on BBC radio. Repertoire includes Louis Jordan, Beatles & Frank Sinatra
(Michael Buble) The Songs of Michael Buble Tribute bands
Based in Worcestershire From £420 +
Live Party Band. Performing all the hits from his No. 1 selling album “Call Me Irresponsible”, The Songs of Michael Buble provides an uncanny tribute to the man who introduced swing to a new generation. Fully self-contained with a Blues Brothers Tribute also available!
Munch Rock and Pop
Based in Merseyside From £1261 +
Live Party Band. One of our most frequently recommended bands! A lively, hugely entertaining 4 piece rock & pop band covering hits from The Beatles & Kinks through to Killers & Kings of Leon! MUNCH can turn themselves on and tune in to any event that wants to party!
The New Breed Soul RnB
Based in Northamptonshire From £1200+
Live Party Band. Fronted by virtuoso award winning vocalist Sophie Garner The New Breed is one of the most versatile bands in the UK. Their repertoire spans from 1920's Jazz & Swing to present day pop through Soul, Motown & Rock so there really is something for everyone!
Wild Swing and Jive
Based in Warwickshire From £900 to £1440 +
Live Party Band. The band Bryan Adams chose to play at his birthday party, WILD are the ultimate Rock n' Roll party band. Ideal for youngsters & oldies alike, they play great tunes for dancing, from Elvis & Buddy Holly to Beach Boys & Jerry Lee Lewis
Happy Hour Rock and Pop
Based in Kent from £1284+
Live Party Band. Young, energetic four piece party band from Essex, covering the Beatles to the present day greats such as The Killers & Oasis. Their tight harmonies and professional sound come with years of experience in the live music industry. A great party band.
Stray Horns Swing and Jive
Based in Bedfordshire From £1440 +
Live Party Band. Fantastic big band sound at a great price! 6-piece, all male brass band with top quality self recorded backing tracks. Trumpets, sax & vocals all performed fully live. A great choice for all events especially where space is short but you need a big sound
The Kicks Rock and Pop
Based in Hampshire From £1284+
Live Party Band. A modern, high energy 4 piece all male band performing rock and pop classics from The Beatles to The Killers. The Kicks go that extra mile to give you a performance like you've never seen before!
Because it's often the case that many guests don't know each other very well, it's important to ensure you have plenty of 'ice breakers'. When two families are coming together for the first time it can be a nerve racking experience and so the more you can put guests at ease the better.
If you have space then try a jazz band who could play up tempo lively music to keep spirits high and feet tapping whilst you great guests and show off your engagement ring!
Ensure the drinks are flowing throughout the party and in no time the two families will be getting to know each other and soaking up the party atmosphere.
Party themes
If you got engaged in an interesting location, you might like to theme your engagement party to suit. Hawaiian or beach themes are relatively easy to put together, as are New York, Las Vegas, Mexican, Australian themes etc. View more party themes in our section below.
Live Music
No party is complete without live music so if your budget can stretch to hire a live band it will be a sound investment towards ensuring the success of your big night.
It's important to consider the age range of the guests who will be attending your party as grandparents, although actually some of the 'most-likely-to-dance' members of the party, might not be quite so keen on
hard rock or gangsta rap.
Safe bets are: Tribute bands (because of the interesting costumes, the stage performances & novelty aspect) Rock and pop covers bands (as long as they cover music from 50s/60's alongside contemporary tunes) Rock and roll/swing bands (great to get the 2 families dancing together) Soul bands (everyone knows Mustang Sally!).
One of the simplest and easiest types of party to organise is a venue or marquee with a live band. Nothing gets guests excited like a live music performance as it's far more interesting & engaging than a DJ or background music. You'll need to chose a band to suit to the occasion, your guests and the type of atmosphere you're looking for.
Any private hire venue with a cool bar and space to dance would be suitable, but bear in mind parking and accommodation for those guests traveling beyond a taxi ride. For something a bit different try the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool, complete with a live Beatles Tribute band like The Blue Meanies.
Parties based around a live band, especially a lively band, are likely to be quite loud so consider how many elderly guests you might have. Venues with sound limiters can be a real pain so before you hand over any money, make sure the venue you choose doesn't have a limiter fitted (or if it does, that the threshold is set higher than 95dB). Also, make sure there is a dance floor and if at all possible, try to avoid venues where the bar is in a different room to the dancing as this can split guests and leave you with a less party atmosphere.
Good quality function bands will provide all of the
equipment you'll need, so all you need to do is ensure they have enough space and some light refreshments. Expect to pay upwards of £1000/£1400 for a really good 4-5 piece band. To save money check the listings here on AliveNetwork.com and choose a band located close to your event. You can also ask the band to DJ in between sets rather than hiring a separate disco.
For most private parties a really early arrival is not necessary so if you ask the band to arrive around 6pm they should be set up, sound checked & ready for guests to arrive by 7.30pm - 8pm. Most function bands will play 2 x 60 minute performances, and we'd suggest the first to start no earlier than 9pm so guests have time to get a drink and have a chat before the music starts.
Venue + fancy dress + look alike's + casino tables + live band or DJ
For a different take on the traditional fancy dress party, try a celebrity or film theme to suit the mood you want to create. Fancy dress can be completely optional and example contemporary themes could include Lady Gaga, Footballers Wives, Sex and The City, Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean. For tried and tested favourites go with James Bond, Phantom of the Opera, The Godfather, Alice in Wonderland or Hollywood Oscars Night.
Don't forget professional look alike's who will add a real wow factor to your party. To really get your guests talking why not arrange a red carpet entrance to your venue & have them arrive in a hired limousine! Alive Network has look alike's to match many tv shows & films as well as musicians, footballers & royalty. Also consider hiring a photographer or comedy paparazzi photographers to take snaps as the look alike's arrive, and then later on guests can have their photos taken with them & take the pics home as a party souvenir.
It's good to ensure there are plenty of attractions to keep guests talking & mingling so you could also consider casino tables which can tie in nicely with the celebrity theme and create a space for guests to meet, mix and break the ice. Also check out our mix and mingle acts who will work the floor & get people talking.
As always live music makes a great feature and
you can choose an act to suit the celebrity theme. Tribute Bands often fit the bill perfectly for themed events or for something more background, try a jazz band or string quartet. If you have a small number of guests or a limited budget, also take a look at our solo/duo acts who offer excellent value for money and won't take up much room.
With any themed event it's also important to get the staging and venue right. If your budget allows, try www.smyle.co.uk or www.themetraders.com who offer top class event production services. For a more DIY approach, try www.partybox.co.uk or for a huge range of backdrops & scene setters, visit www.amazingpartythemes.com
Venue + prop hire + fancy dress + live music + mix & mingle
It you're prepared to do a bit of decorative work (or have the budget to hire a party organiser like Theme Traders) then you can theme your venue or marquee to look like a beach bar, a scene from the arabian nights or even the Wild West! Fancy dress is optional though it does help bring the whole thing together. For fancy dress costumes try www.escapade.co.uk or www.fancydress.com. For childrens fancy dress costumes try www.charliecrow.com
Possible theme locations include The Wild West, Beach/Tropical/Hawian, New York, Las Vegas, African/Safari, Ancient Egypt, Atlantis, Ancient Rome, Mardi Gras/New Orleans, the list goes on. For more party theme ideas try www.partydelights.co.uk and www.amazingpartythemes.com.
In terms of making your venue look the part, you can chose from a wide range of props and accessories. For example, for a Hawain themed party you can hire a bamboo beach bar, free standing & table top palm trees, hoola hoops, flower garlands, surf boards, fishing nets and sand pits! Just visit some of the links on this page to find suppliers once you know the theme you want to run with.
Remember to ensure you have plenty of ice breakers to keep guests chatting and mixing. Close up Magicians, Caricaturists, Meet & Greet all work well, as do Chocolate Fountians! For something a bit different, try Singing Waiters who will really bring the house down!
Moving away from the traditional concept of a party, many people now celebrate a significant occassion with a day out at an activity and adventure centre, moving on to a bar or restaurant in the evening. There are hundreds of such activity locations around the UK so we'll focus here on popular activity types.
For the guys: Paintball, Go Karting, Quad Biking, Golf, Wine Tours, Clay Pigeon Shooting & Football
For the Girls: Day at the Races, Pampering, Salsa Dancing, Pole Dancing, Wine tasting & Nude Life Drawing
To arrange an activity day we can highly recommend our friends at www.freedomltd.com who arrange stag & hen parties, plus corporate and birthday party outings across the UK.
Essential Party Planning Supplies
Click the links below to view suppliers for all your essential party requirements.
Why hire entertainment for your party from Alive Network?
Alive Network is the UK's premier live music entertainment agency and the largest online entertainment booking service in the world. Established in 1999, we provide high quality live entertainment for over 7500 events per year. We represent hundreds of the UK's very best live bands, DJs & entertainers who are available to hire for weddings, corporate events & private parties. A few of the benefits of booking through Alive Network Entertainment Agency
Instant online quotes and availability confirmation
100's of professional quality, reliable artists
Fast, friendly, personalised advice from expert staff
The easiest way to hire amazing entertainment
A small selection of our previous clients:
24 hour emergency cover, 365 days of the year.
Safe & secure bookings with comprehensive contracts
Registered offices: Ground Floor Suite, Silk Mill Studios, Princess Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DD, United Kingdom
All content (c) Copyright Alive Network 1999-04/02/2012. All rights reserved.
Registered Company Number: 04084200
Some artists may appear with the kind co-operation and consent of their respective management companies.
This service is intended for personal use only and no part of the service may be displayed in public, broadcast or used for any business purpose without the consent of Alive Network. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our services and web content, we accept no responsibility for any use made of the information provided and we shall not be liable for any loss suffered thereby.
About your engagement 
Reviews for Engagement Party Live Entertainment
Venue + Live Band
Venue + prop hire + fancy dress + live music + mix & mingle
Moving away from the traditional concept of a party, many people now celebrate a significant occassion with a day out at an activity and adventure centre, moving on to a bar or restaurant in the evening. There are hundreds of such activity locations around the UK so we'll focus here on popular activity types.
Instant online quotes and availability confirmation