Your Engagement Party
Your engagement party versus no engagement party at all … that is the situation up for debate. Some people say that you shouldn’t have engagement parties if you are planning to have bridal showers and such. Other people say that your engagement party could just be a thinly veiled way to ask for gifts.
Based on tradition, engagement party etiquette states that the party should be a way for both sides of the family to get acquainted with each other and even talk about details of the upcoming wedding. Being thoughtful, some effort should be made by the bride to incorporate some of the things that her future in-laws like. If you do plan for your engagement party, go for it! After all, it is your celebration and a way to shout out that you are in love and can’t wait to get married.
Engagement parties can be laid back or formal. It is totally up to you to set the mood for your engagement party. There are no tried and true, set in stone engagement party protocol you should follow; just do everything with class and good taste.
Planning an engagement party can be fun but detail-oriented. First of all, wait a few months after your announcement to family and friends before having your engagement party. This allows you to plan at a leisurely rate and enjoy your newly engaged status. Here are a few other things to ponder as well:
1. Engagement party ideas – Do you want something formal or casual? Your overall engagement party theme will dictate all of the activities from invitations to food and entertainment.
2. Engagement party place – Where are you going to have your engagement party? Are you planning a simple backyard barbecue or a sit down dinner that probably requires a banquet room for the engagement party? The place you have it will likely dictate the necessity of banquet and catering services for engagement parties.
3. Engagement party invitations – These should include all the information of the bride and groom as well as the place you are registered, if any. And if you do not want anyone to bring gifts, please indicate that on the invitation. However, if you wouldn’t mind receiving them, the store registry listing will help with an engagement party gift idea for anyone coming.
4. Engagement party decorations – You should get very elaborate on this. Spend your money on the food instead. However, simple green plants and flower in vases that match your theme are often attractive.
There are a few minor details to think about for your engagement party. The engagement party games are one of them. Do you really need them? You don’t; however, having them will help break the ice, especially if each set of in-law families are meeting for the first time. Also, you might want to consider little tokens of engagement part gifts for your guests.
All in all, the items above are some of the core things to consider for your engagement party. While it may not be on par with the Princess Grace Kelley’s engagement party, way back when, it will be in a style all your own. And that is all that matters.
