The Engagement, Begins an Everlasting Love Story
There is a domino effect of events that occur when two people meet, fall in love, and decide to spend the rest of their lives together. The tradition of having an engagement party after the proposal is not mandatory, however it is becoming increasingly common as it is seen as necessary to kick off the wedding planning process.
The families of the bride and groom can meet each other and become better acquainted at the engagement party. It’s a dress rehearsal for the real deal, and a chance to rejoice in your engagement with those closest to you. An engagement party is a great opportunity to observe the dynamics of your extended families outside of the strict confines of the wedding day.
An engagement party, whether it be a lavish gala or a small family gathering, calls for meticulous planning and execution. Sirwiss work with seasoned event planners who can help you with the finer points and give you an idea of what it’s like to organize an engagement party. The information in this article can serve as a springboard for the execution of a fantastic engagement bash.
Planning an Engagement Party 101
While the wedding itself should be the main focus, the engagement party is a fantastic chance to hone your event management skills. Locating a venue, selecting a date, compiling a guest list, sending invitations, settling on a menu, and sticking to a budget are all similar tasks to those associated with the main event.
Simply follow the steps and you will be well on your way to celebrating the big news with your closest friends and family.
1. Who Will Be the Party Host?
It’s customary for the bride’s family to host the party, but it’s ultimately up to you. The engagement party can be hosted by more than one person. Don’t worry if your parents want to throw a formal event for just the family and you want to throw a more casual one for your friends. Having two separate parties for each set of parents too is a great idea if they live far apart. If you and your partner are from different cities, it may make sense to have separate joint celebrations. Whoever volunteers to host should be aware that this usually entails sending out invitations, giving a toast, and footing the bill.
Since an engagement party is typically much smaller than a wedding, invite only the closest friends and family members. Create an invite list and gather rough headcount information. The guests at your engagement party should also be invited to your wedding, however not all of your wedding guests need to attend the engagement party.
2. What Would Be Your Budget?
Keep in mind that this is a pre-wedding event, and you shouldn’t spend the entire wedding budget on it. If someone else is hosting, you may have more leeway in terms of budget, but you still need to be mindful of their hospitality and have a serious conversation about finances right away.
Creating a detailed budget isn’t something you should only do for your wedding; here’s your chance to get some exercise in the process. A budget is recommended even for the most low-key of events because the host will want to know how much money can be expected to be spent. Knowing how much money you have to spend on an engagement party will help you decide on a location and how many guests you can invite.
3. Choosing a Date and Venue
Whether you or someone else ends up playing host, you’re probably already thinking about the best possible date for the engagement party. If you are not providing the hosting services yourself, you will need to think about your host’s availability. Guests’ schedules should be taken into account as well, especially those of very close friends and family who may be coming in from afar. Probably the most important piece of advice we can give is to pick a date when you’ll be the most excited to be there.
From a few weeks after the proposal to six months into wedding planning, you could celebrate your engagement. You needn’t plan a lavish celebration, but rather an intimate and impromptu family gathering the weekend after the proposal is a great way to break the ice. Aim for a look that is elegant but unfussy. Remember that you have your big day to go all out. Having a low-key and relaxed engagement party is entirely fine.
The location of the engagement party is a major consideration when making preparations. Traditional venues for engagement parties are restaurants or people’s residences, but you can hold your event pretty much anywhere, from galleries to beaches. If you want a low-key celebration, a backyard or park would be perfect, while a more elaborate affair would benefit from a more elaborate venue. Another option is to have a party at the home of a friend or relative. The rooftop of a country club or a fine hotel could be a good option for a more formal occasion.
When choosing the location and level of formality for the engagement party, keep in mind that the event should never steal the spotlight from the wedding itself. For example, you could contrast a formal black-tie ballroom wedding with an informal sit-on-the-floor buffet-style engagement party. This is just the beginning of an incredible and unforgettable time in your life.
4. Make a Guest List and Invite People
In case you’re wondering who to invite to your engagement party, remember that the size of your wedding should be taken into consideration before finalizing the guest list for the engagement party; after all, you wouldn’t want to throw a huge party for a hundred people if you’re only inviting fifty people to the wedding.
If you haven’t given any thought to who you want to invite to your wedding just yet (which is fine), just keep it small with only your closest friends and family to make sure you avoid hurting anyone’s feelings later on.
Your engagement party guest list should also take into account the venue and the cost. In the case where your parents are organizing and footing the bill for the party, for instance, it would be appropriate to have them evaluate in on the guest list. It may be easier to narrow down the guest list if you already have a specific location in mind for the party. This could be a restaurant, a friend’s house, or even just your own backyard.
5. Send Out Engagement Invitations Well in Advance
Give your guests the date as soon as possible for the best engagement party attendance. Your invites, like the venue, should reflect the formality of the event. E-invites are fine for a backyard barbecue, but a paper invitation is preferable for a sit-down dinner at a chic restaurant. If you’ve already made the decision on a wedding invitation designer, see if they’ll offer you a discount on your engagement invitations.
Send out the invitations at least a month ahead of time (six weeks ahead if a lot of guests are coming from out of town). There’s no need for a formal save-the-date, but once you’ve decided on a date, it’s a good idea to let guests know before sending out formal invitations. Your stationery can also serve as engagement announcement cards.
6. A Gift Registry
If you are accepting gifts, a registry makes it simple for your guests to select inexpensive to moderately priced items for your event. Therefore, the next on your engagement party planning checklist should be creating an online gift registry. One such step is optional, however you ought to inform your guests if you prefer not to receive gifts at your party.
According to professional event planners, it is not proper etiquette to mention the registry on the party invitation, but you can make it available to guests who inquire about it. Alternatively, you can straight away create a registry for your wedding so that guests can choose whether or not to bring gifts. Regardless, keep track of who brought what so that you can thank them later!
7. Menu Selections and Catering
Of course, the food is an important consideration when planning an engagement party. You don’t have to serve a five-course sit-down dinner with an open bar (unless that’s what you want), but there should be something to eat and drink at your party. Consider hiring a caterer unless you’re just having a small gathering of people in your backyard for a BBQ. That way, you can relax and enjoy conversing with your guests while they take care of their own food and drink. Passed appetizers or tasting menu stations, as well as an eat-when-you-want cookout, will all work.
If you aren’t serving a full course, choose a time in between typical meals and specify it on the invitation so your guests know what to expect. Your guests will enjoy an afternoon affair with a chip-and-dip bar and margaritas or a brunch-time omelet station and mimosas. This is an excellent time to introduce your loved ones to some of your favorite foods.
8. Professional Photographer Desired
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to hire a photographer and/or videographer for an elaborate engagement party, so you ought to also consider hiring a photographer. While some couples may have already had engagement photos taken, having a photographer present at the party is a great way to include extended family members. Another option is to rent a photo booth where guests can take pictures without feeling like they’re being photographed.
9. Allocate Roles for the Event
Enlist the assistance of a few friends and family members for tasks such as setting up, collecting gifts, facilitating games, and to ensure your guests are well taken care of. Determine in advance who would be skilled at what and ask for assistance so that you can focus on mingling with guests.
10. Dress for the Event
As a couple who are engaged, you deserve special attire. As you shop for something new, consider the party’s location and setting. In addition to the obvious, a bride-to-be should select a dress that will not overshadow her wedding attire but will still make her stand out among her guests. A sundress will work for an outdoor event, while a cocktail dress is a safe bet for a fancier affair. Even though as a groom-to-be, you are not required to wear a suit and tie or tuxedo, you should match your partner’s level of formality unless the venue specifies otherwise. Also keep in mind the numerous other pre-wedding events for which you will need to prepare attire, including the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner.