Don’t sweat the details. Do put a strict time limit on speeches.
Good food, good drink, good friends – at its essence, a party is a timeless combination of elements brought to life by the individual touch that hosts and guests contribute to the occasion. To help you pull off your best and most fun-filled gathering yet, our Dan’s Daily Blueprints tell you everything you need to host whatever event is next on your hit list.
Well, turns out someone liked it and did put a ring on it. Congrats! Cue the blubbering FaceTime calls to all your friends, the only selfie you’ll ever take with your hand in it, and questions – lots of questions! How’d it happen? Were there pyrotechnics involved? Did someone record the moment from a nearby bush? WHEN IS THE WEDDING?! Woah. People love love. Let’s be honest, the way you choose to celebrate the moment is entirely up to you. By all means, skip straight to the main event (tying the knot), but if an engagement party is on the agenda – and you’re thinking about hosting it at home – then we’ve got you covered with this Blueprint. Let’s get party planning, love birds!
1. Beers that your mates AND your Uncle Mark will love
The thing about engagement parties is they’re a melting pot of everyone you love, all there to celebrate your love. Your guestlist will consist of people in their 20s all the way up to their 90s if Grandpa copped an invite, so you need a beer that’s not only tasty but a total crowd-pleaser – with a great carton price point to boot. Nam Nam Alley Lager Can is a classic choice: crisp, refreshing and easy to sip between bites of a chicken sandwich. This lager has moreish pastry malt aromas with a medium-bodied palate – it’s easy drinking for every (adult) generation celebrating your engagement. Brick Lane’s Natural Draught is another solid choice. Made with Aussie hops and malt, it ticks all the boxes. Opting for cans at your engagement party is a good idea as it saves space in your recycling bin. And unless you plan on 'borrowing' your neighbours’, we suggest making sure at least some of your booze is canned.
2. Party-ready premixes
Hosting on a budget and don’t want to splash out on hiring a bartender to shake cocktails? Fair enough. Choose a canned variety that tastes just as good. Brookvale Union does a moreish Vodka Peach Iced Tea that can be easily decanted into a glass with some ice and perhaps even some fruit or other garnishes if you’re feeling fancy.
3. Wines worthy of a toast to the happy couple
The name of the game when it comes to choosing a sparkling wine for your event is balancing good quality with low cost. When it’s a special occasion like an engagement party, you know the bubbles will be flowing, so you want plenty of bottles on offer without burning a hole in your pocket. Our pick is Rewild Prosecco: it’s clean, affordable and expertly produced. In other words, it tastes better than it has any right to and won’t blow out your party budget.
For those who want to enjoy a glass of white sans bubbles, we love Oakridge Over The Shoulder Chardonnay: another drop that’s kind on your budget and would never dream of coming across as daggy. It’s a total crowd-pleaser. Not too big or buttery – just a chardonnay with a well-balanced acidity to keep your mum/sister-in-law/boss happy. Oakridge knows a thing or two about winning awards for quality and affordability, so it’s a no-brainer to fill your ice buckets with one of their wines.
