An engagement party is often the first time both families and both friend groups share a room, so the setting matters. These engagement party rentals cover the pieces that change how a space feels, from colored light on the walls to a photo booth guests run themselves. Everything ships to your door, so you can set it up at home, in a restaurant’s private room or in a rented hall.

Start with the room

Before you choose anything, look at where the party will happen. A living room, a restaurant’s private room and a hall each need something different. Traditions vary, and an engagement party can be anything from a family dinner to a dressy evening with a DJ, so plan for the party you actually want.

A few notes make the rest of the planning easier:

• The guest count. The uplighting cheat sheet suggests 10 uplights for up to 75 guests and 16 for 76 to 150.
• The outlets. Standard uplights come with 10-foot power cords, and up to 40 of them can be linked together on a single outlet.
• The first wall guests see. That is usually the best place for a backdrop, a monogram or the photo booth.
• The venue’s rules. If you are not hosting at home, ask the venue what you can bring in and when you can set up.

Engagement party rentals that set the mood

Color on the walls. Uplights are small lights that sit on the floor and shine up the wall. You can set them to any color with the push of a button, and the uplighting page suggests placing them about 10 feet apart for a soft wash or 5 feet apart for a more dramatic look. Our guide to wedding uplighting colors has palettes that work just as well for a party.

Your names in light. A monogram light uses a gobo projector to shine a design onto a wall, floor, ceiling or backdrop. Pick a design from the catalog or ask for a custom one with your names or initials, and the team emails you a preview before shipping. The light arrives pre-loaded with your design, so you just plug it in. It works in a fully lit room, but a dim room gives the best result. Our post on wedding monogram ideas has more ways to use one.

A photo booth. The self-serve booth needs no attendant. The Standard booth captures a strip of 3 photos, and the Animated booth creates a short looping GIF. Guests choose email or text to get their photos, and every picture also goes into an online gallery that can be private or shared. Our step-by-step guide on how to set up a photo booth covers placement and power.

A backdrop for the toast. The backdrops page lists backdrops 8 or 10 feet tall in any width, in solid and sequin fabrics shown as swatches. A swag or valance adds a second layer in a different color or style. The tripod backdrops are designed for indoor use only.

At home or at a venue

At home. Clear one wall for the backdrop or the monogram, and keep the rest of the room simple. If you are borrowing folding chairs, spandex chair covers make them match. The linens page says the covers fit most banquet and folding chairs, come in white or black and need no ironing. You just stretch them over the chairs.

At a restaurant or hall. Ask about outlets and setup time before you order. Because rentals arrive at least two days before the event, you can unpack everything at home and test the colors first. Each rental includes setup instructions, and 24/7 support is available if you get stuck.

Light the details

Small touches make a room feel finished. A pin spot from the spotlights page highlights a cake, a dessert table, a guest book or a sign. Set it on the table, aim it and it is ready in under a minute.

If the evening turns into dancing, moving spotlights add energy. They arrive preset to a light show, their beams move to the beat of the music and they offer 8 color options and 7 patterns.

Order and return

There is no minimum order, so you can rent a single monogram light or dress a whole room. Our guide to how online wedding rentals work walks through ordering step by step.

Rentals ship free both ways within the continental U.S., arrive at least two days before the event and stay with you for a 5-day rental period. After the party, repack everything in the boxes it came in, attach the prepaid return labels and take them to a physical FedEx location within two days. Never leave them in a FedEx drop box.

Choose two or three engagement party rentals that suit the room, set them up the day before and spend the party itself with the people who came to celebrate you.

FAQ

Can I test the uplight colors before the party?

Yes. Your rental package will arrive at least two days before your event, so you can unpack everything and try the colors at home first. Standard uplights change color with a button on the light, and wireless uplights with a remote.

Does the monogram light need a dark room?

No. The monogram light works in a fully lit room, but a dim room gives the best result.

Do the chair covers fit folding chairs?

Yes. The spandex chair covers are a universal size that fits most banquet and folding chairs, and you choose the chair type at checkout. They come in white or black and need no ironing.

People Also Ask

What decorations do you need for an engagement party?

Start with a focal wall for the toast and photos, such as a backdrop or a monogram with your initials. Then add color with uplights and a little light on the cake or dessert table. Chair covers and a photo booth round out the room.

How do you decorate for an engagement party at home?

Choose one wall as the focal point and keep the rest simple. A backdrop or a projected monogram on that wall, a few uplights in your colors and spandex covers on folding chairs can make a living room feel ready for a party.