Lifestyle

How To Host A Surprise Engagement Party For Your Bestie

Published

4 years ago

February 28, 2021

Your best friend is about to take an essential step in their relationship, and they’ve asked you to participate in the moment. Being the excellent hostess and best friend you are, you were thrilled to take on the challenge. You want the event to showcase their special bond while also accommodating the needs of the other guests. With such a huge responsibility on your plate, you’re probably wondering how you can pull it off. Here are a few suggestions.

Ask About A Budget

Whether you’re throwing the party as a gift or your friend plans to pay, determine your budget in advance. While you may have a ton of ideas rolling around in your head, you don’t want to let your imagination break the bank.

Get Input

Before you start planning the engagement party, find out what your friend wants. Though you’re hosting the event, you must remember the day is all about them and their love. Ask them for ideas. If they don’t have any, jot down some of their common interests, favorite foods, and other things that you can use to come up with a theme.

Decide On a Venue

The next significant factor to consider is the venue. If the event is going to be small and intimate, you may be able to host it at your house. However, if you’re expecting many people, it may be best to look for a restaurant in Austin where you can reserve space for the occasion.

Food And Drinks

Whether you’re having the engagement party at your house or a local restaurant, you’ll need to decide on a menu. Remember to keep your friend’s food interests in mind as you make selections. You should also ensure you have a list of guests with special dietary needs so everyone can partake in a decent meal. As for drinks, it’s often best to select a few signature drinks and then have a few primary selections for guests to choose from.

Popping The Question

When planning an engagement party, don’t forget about the main event – popping the question. Perhaps they need your input selecting the ring. You can help them browse diamond rings or chose something more affordable, like moissanite rings or another diamond alternative. If they already have the ring, maybe they need help to decide how and when to ask the question. You might place the ring in a dessert or set up an area with the perfect romantic backdrop for your friend to ask one of the most important questions in their lifetime.

Decor

Speaking of a romantic backdrop, don’t forget to consider decor for the engagement party. Flowers and candles are always ideal decorations to help set the mood. You can drape the tables in white linens and create colorful centerpieces. Photographs are also excellent. Placing photos of the couple around the room gives guests an insight into their love story. Be sure to include elements like their favorite colors to personalize the space.

Activities

The engagement might be the main event, but you’ll need to keep your guests entertained until that moment arrives. Besides enjoying a good meal and conversation, think of cool games and activities for guests to enjoy. They can answer questions about the couple for prizes, play charades, or test their knowledge of romantic movies. If you have the space for it, you can even set up a mini photo booth for guests to capture this special moment.

Love is such a beautiful thing. Especially when it happens for someone you care about deeply. If you’ve been dubbed with the task of hosting an engagement party for your bestie, do the best you can to make them proud. By remembering the factors listed above, you’re sure to do a good job setting the scene for your friends to take a new step in their relationship. It will be an event that everyone enjoys and remembers for years to come.

Lifestyle

Why Classical Dance Is Thriving on Instagram

Published

1 hour ago

April 28, 2025

Michelle Langton

For centuries, classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak have been treasured for their elegance, complexity, and storytelling prowess. But in recent years, these age-old traditions have found an unlikely stage: Instagram. From intricate mudras to rhythmic footwork, young dancers are captivating audiences worldwide, all in the span of a 60-second reel.

So, what’s fueling this revival of classical dance on a platform known for trends, filters, and viral challenges?

Instagram, with its visual-first format, has become an ideal space for artists to share their craft. Classical dance, rich in visual storytelling, translates beautifully into bite-sized performances that are accessible and engaging for modern audiences.

“Reels are short enough to grab attention but long enough to convey the essence of a classical piece,” says one of Spardha’s dance teachers, actively creating dance videos for the Instagram page of Spardha School of Music and Dance, an online platform for performing arts education. “You don’t need an elaborate stage or hours of performance; a simple backdrop and good lighting can bring your art to life.”

On Instagram, young dancers bring a fresh approach to traditional art. They skillfully blend classical compositions with trending audio tracks, often choreographing pieces that resonate with younger audiences.

These videos show how classical dance can be relevant in today’s world as young artists reinterpret popular songs in classical style. Such performances respect the tradition, make it accessible to a larger audience by making classical dance relatable.

Social media has also given classical dancers something they’ve never had before: a global audience. Platforms like Instagram allow Indian artists to reach audiences in the U.S., Europe, and beyond, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation.

And the feedback loop is immediate. Unlike traditional performances, which are confined to auditoriums and limited audiences, Instagram reels receive likes, comments, and shares in real time, creating a sense of community and encouraging more engagement.

The rise of online platforms for learning music and dance like Spardha School of Music and Dance has further fueled this trend. Spardha provides structured lessons in classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam and Kathak, and even Bollywood, making them accessible to young learners regardless of their location.

“Many of our students have taken what they’ve learned and showcased it online,” says a representative from Spardha. “It’s incredible to see them not just learn the art but also innovate and present it in ways that inspire others.”

By offering online classes, Spardha ensures that classical dance is no longer restricted to physical studios, enabling dancers to connect with their culture through dance no matter where they are in the world.

The success of classical dance on Instagram lies in its ability to blend heritage with modernity. The younger generation, armed with smartphones and a passion for preserving their roots, is making classical dance both aspirational and accessible.

Dance has always been about expression, and Instagram is just a new way of reaching people.