20 Fun Engagement Party Games That You’ll Actually Want to Play

While traditionally hosted by the groom’s parents, the engagement party—the first chance to celebrate the happy couple—is now often thrown by friends, family, or even the happy couple themselves. Once you’ve successfully navigated engagement party etiquette (who to invite, who pays), it’s time to plan the party. You may be busy dreaming up an unforgettable backyard barbecue or photo-worthy seasonal centerpiece, but anyone who has attended their fair share of wedding-related events—be it an engagement party, bridal shower, or bachelorette bash—knows that while the food and decor are nice and all, it’s really the games that can take these sorts of occasions from meh to memorable. (Raise your hand if you’ve ever sat through a slightly painful or cringe-worthy party game while half-heartedly nibbling at your yellow cake.)

And while there’s no shortage of fun bridal shower games or other bridal shower ideas, an engagement party calls for activities that cater to both sexes, appeal (ideally) to all ages, and—yes—won’t leave your stickler-for-social-decorum grandma blushing. In other words, this is not the place for “Never Have I Ever.” Here are 20 consistently crowd-pleasing pastimes for truly memorable merriment.