Wedding Engagement Party Planning

Having a party to celebrate your engagement is a tradition in many societal groups. But, it is not considered an essential element in planning a wedding in many other groups. Should the happy couple wish to share their news with their friends in a social environment, you might like to read on for some engagement party tips.

Is a Party Your Scene?

If you are planning to have an elaborate wedding, an exotic honeymoon, or ensure that sufficient money is retained for a down payment on a property, the cost of a wedding engagement party needs to be part of the total equation. If cost is not a consideration, arrange the party to suit all your circumstances. But, if you want to keep costs to a minimum, this can be achieved with a little thought. Who will be paying for this party? If your parents are the movers and shakers for the event, they may wish to cover all the costs. Once again a little reminder - the cost of the wedding engagement party leave less money available for your wedding budget.

Invitations

According to etiquette, you should only invite individuals to your engagement party that you intend to invite to your wedding. It is a bit different, however, if you’re having a very small, intimate wedding, with just a few family members in attendance. In this case, it’s acceptable to invite as many people as you want to the engagement party. As with other social interactions in life, it is difficult to keep from hurting people’s feelings when you decide who to invite and who not to invite. Keep this in mind when preparing your engagement party guest list.

Don't forget that nowadays it is very easy to tie-in the wedding colors and theme to the invitations, for example:

Seasonal:

• winter wedding invitations
• spring wedding invitations
• summer wedding invitations
• fall wedding invitations
• budget wedding invitations
• cheap wedding invitations

Beach and Tropical:

• beach wedding invitations
• nautical wedding invitations
• seashells wedding invitations
• tropical wedding invitations

Colorful:

• Black and White
• Blue
• Navy Blue
• Brown
• Mocha
• Gold
• Green
• Lavender
• Pink
• Purple
• Red
• Rose
• Sage
• Silver

A Surprise Announcement?

The reason for the engagement party could be kept a surprise or you could include the reason for the event on the invitation. Whether you want to wait until the night of the wedding engagement party to share your good news, or announce it earlier is entirely up to you.

Gifts

Societal etiquette is makes it clear that guests are not expected to bring a gift to an engagement party. Nonetheless, most guests will probably bring one. If your party is to share your news with friends and family and you feel gifts are not necessary, you can either mark “no gifts required” on the invitation or maintain secrecy on the reason for the party.

Venue for the Party

The choice of venue is wide open when it comes to engagement parties. Professionally catered at a function venue, or moonlit dinner in a relative’s patio with private catering - it all depends on who is hosting the party and the extent of the budget. A formal black-tie affair or a low-key barbecue with male guests wearing shorts and sandals are other options. The party can be as formal or casual as you want.

Sharing the announcement of your wedding engagement with your loved ones is one of the many joyful occasions you and your fiancé will have in your life together. This being the first of those occasions, the engagement party can essentially be the forerunner to the good times leading up to the actual wedding date, whenever that might be.