Guest Post: Engagement Party 101

I’m so excited to have Stephanie here today from the Wedding Party Blog to talk to you about a few of the many details that go into throwing the perfect engagement party! Since I didn’t have one myself, it’s awesome to have an expert in the house to give us all a little lesson… so take it away, Stephanie, I can’t wait!

So you just got the ring – congratulations! Now comes the first big event (of many!) you’ll be planning in preparation for your wedding: your engagement party! But you may be asking yourself – what the heck do I need to do to plan my engagement party, who do I invite, and what do I wear?! (Among other questions of course…) Here’s an overview of engagement parties, and everything you need to know to make yours amazing!

Engagement parties are traditionally the first big get-together that celebrates you and your new fiance’s status as an engaged couple. You should invite your friends and family across every generation! Usually, it’s acceptable to invite people you may not actually end up inviting to the wedding, as it’s assumed you may not have a guest list finalized by then. However, it’s important to note that you should do what makes you feel comfortable – if there are certain people you know you’re not inviting to your wedding, it may be prudent to just let them know of your engagement via Facebook.

engagement party inspiration
Traditionally, the parents of the bride and groom foots the bill for the engagement party, but it’s become more common for the couple to throw the party. There are a couple benefits to either – if your parents are footing the bill, you of course get the free engagement party! However, if you’re throwing the party, you may have more power over details like the guest list, venue, etc.

engagement party inspiration
As for the smaller details like venue, food, and theme – that’s up to you! It really depends on the type of party that fits you as a couple. It’s common to throw an engagement party in a rented out room of a restaurant or bar – however, for lower key events, you could even have your party in a backyard or friends house. Since it’s more of a casual event you won’t be expected to fork out for a five-course meal – heavy hors d’oeuvres and a couple types of drinks (beer, wine, or a signature cocktail) works just fine. Oh, and for your invitations – don’t worry about doing anything too fancy! It’s perfectly acceptable to send out something simple that doesn’t match your stationery, as you probably haven’t chosen it yet. Emails are starting to become more common for invites too (we promise they’re not tacky!).

engagement party inspiration
Wondering what to wear? It really depends on your venue and the mood you’re trying to set with your party. Just remember all eyes will be on you, and you’ll most likely be mingling all night with guests, so wear something comfortable! If you need ideas, we’ve got a guide to putting together your engagement party outfit, which you can find here.

Lastly, you should definitely be expecting small gifts from your friends and family, unless you stipulate that they should leave the gifts at home. Be prepared to keep track of who gives you what so you can write thank you notes!

engagement party inspiration
I hope that gives you a better overview of what to expect with your engagement party. One key thing to remember in all this is to relax, and try not to stress too much! This is the first big event you’re throwing together as a couple, and above all, it should be an amazing celebration with your friends and family.

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4.

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