Engagement Party in Southern Highlands

How to Plan a Southern Highlands Engagement Party

A Highlands engagement party is often a test run for the wedding: the families meet, the friends travel down for the weekend and someone always asks about venues. Keep it simpler than the big day, with one room, good food and music that suits both sides of the family.

Bowral and Burradoo offer restaurants and a golf clubhouse, while Berrima and Robertson bring historic rooms with gardens.

What an engagement party here usually looks like:

Exclusive use of a farmhouse restaurant in Burradoo for up to 52, on a set menu at $175 per person
A manor hotel in Robertson with a ballroom and gardens, from $39 per person
A sandstone inn in Berrima with a beer garden, from $40 per person
A Bowral golf clubhouse dining room for a standing party
An acoustic guitarist from $700, or a DJ from $220 per hour for later in the night
A string trio for arrival drinks, or a live band that moves from jazz to dance sets

If the engagement is a surprise, a photographer from $4,200 can capture the moment, and vintage cars from $715 make a grand arrival.

Pick a venue that seats both families comfortably, with space for speeches
Keep the menu relaxed, with grazing or canapés suiting a standing crowd
A drag host from $650 or hosted karaoke lightens the mood once dinner is done
Florals and styling from $1,000 add colour without the full wedding spend

Thinking ahead to the wedding

Use the party to visit a venue you're considering for the wedding
Note which suppliers families enjoy, from the DJ to the caterer
Book rooms nearby so guests can stay, especially on spring weekends

Frequently Asked Questions About Engagement Parties

Which Southern Highlands venues suit a seated engagement dinner?

A Burradoo farmhouse restaurant takes up to 52 for exclusive use, and the Robertson manor hotel seats much larger groups.

What does an engagement party cost per head in the Highlands?

Menus start at $39 per person at the Robertson manor hotel and $40 per person at the Berrima inn, up to $175 per person for an exclusive farmhouse dinner.

Can live music play at a Highlands engagement party?

Yes. Acoustic guitarists start at $700, string players suit arrival drinks, and DJs start at $220 per hour.

Should a Highlands engagement party double as a wedding venue visit?

It can. Holding the party at a hotel or restaurant that also hosts weddings lets families see the space.

Do I need a photographer for a Highlands engagement party?

For a surprise proposal or a large party it is worth it; packages start at $4,200 with wedding-day coverage options.

Engagement Party Southern Highlands

Who to Book for an Engagement Party