The Engagement Party

Your friends and family may ask if you are planning an engagement party, this can be a lovely way to celebrate. While it is not required to celebrate your engagement, it could be a fun way for friends and both families to get to know each other before the wedding.

By tradition the party is usually hosted by the bride’s parents, but anyone can host the affair, and it is quite common these days for the happy couple to host it themselves.

Most families are enthusiastic at the prospect of a wedding, and may wish to make it official by holding an engagement party. You can do this at a luncheon, tea, cocktail, buffet, sit-down dinner or family gathering. 

An engagement party is usually an informal occasion and can take any form, so do whatever suits your situation.

If you are to host the affair, you may like to have it take place at home or a private club or restaurant. The engagement can be a surprise to the invited guests, but trying to do this will need some advanced planning, and the ability to keep it a secret may be difficult. 

There is no specific or best time to hold the engagement party, but it does work well as an evening event. If there will be a lot of children, you may feel that an afternoon celebration would be more suitable.

If you will be hosting it at your home, it may a good idea to have it catered for. This will leave you and your family and friends free to enjoy the day. Book your caterer at least two months in advance. Also consider the type of entertainment you want to have, will it be music from your own CD collection or will you hire a DJ?

Traditionally after all the guests are assembled, the bride’s father or a close relative makes the announcement of the engagement, by standing and proposing a toast to the future bride and groom. 

The groom then thanks the party’s hosts and proposes a toast to both set of parents. Today many couples choose to make the announcement together at the party. If someone else has organized the party for you, be sure that you don't forget to thank them. 

A Thank You Note and perhaps a small gift will show them that their efforts have been appreciated. Whether you are to having a small or large party, try to consider some party ideas that everyone can enjoy-young and old alike. You might even like to give your engagement ring its first showing at your party. 

Whether or not, you have a party you and your fiancé are likely to receive lots of congratulations, cards and some engagement presents. Now is the time to get into the good habit of sending a thank-you for receiving the gifts. 

The thank-you note should be sent within a day or at least two days of receiving the gifts. Remember that every engagement or wedding gift should be acknowledged with a thank-you note.

It’s Party Time!

Here are a few tips that will make your party a success.

• Let the engagement party date well ahead of any other pre-wedding events, such as the bridal showers, and rehearsal dinner.

• Invite family members from both sides. This is a great way for everyone to get to know each other better before the wedding.

• Accept help from anyone who offers to help with the planning of the party.

• Hire a caterer if you can afford one. This will take the pressure of you and your family, so that you can enjoy the party.

Etiquette states that anyone who is invited to the engagement party must also be invited to the wedding. So think very carefully of who you want to invite.