A Picture Perfect Engagement Party

The long list of pre-wedding celebrations and get together probably begins with the bridal couple’s engagement party. Then it will be followed by many other events like Meet the Parents, Bridal Shower, Bridesmaids’ luncheon, Bachelor and Bachelorette Party, Get-to-know the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, Rehearsal Dinner and perhaps informal gatherings with out-of-town guests before the wedding. A bride may be given more than one bridal shower so there are busy and fun times ahead leading up to the most anticipated wedding day.

Traditionally, the Engagement Party is given by the bride’s parents. Although the ‘rules of engagement’ or Engagement Party etiquette have significantly changed over the years so that if the bridal couple feel the need to have an engagement party to introduce the members of the family, they can decide whether to make it a formal soiree in a nice restaurant or a very informal fete such as a backyard BBQ, afternoon cocktails, tea or dinner at a home or a picnic in the park. Following the norms of Engagement Party etiquette, the guest list is comprised of the immediate family of the bride and groom. The couple may also invite their Maid of Honor and Best Man – if they are not part of the immediate family since they will be playing major roles during the wedding. A simple engagement party will have as much positive impact as an elaborate engagement party if it allows guests to start building rapport and sense of family at this early stage of the couple’s lifetime journey.

If you and your fiance are hosting dinner or one or both your parents’ jointly, you may offer to make the engagement party invitations yourself. Keep it simple since you have many other opportunities to send out more formal invitations for the other pre-wedding events. You can even send the engagement party invitations via email or a very personal phone invitation since the engagement party will be relatively small.

The Engagement Party is usually held a few months after the proposal and before you’re full speed ahead in your wedding planning. Understandably, you have not firmed up your choice of colors or theme so keeping it simple is just the right approach when extending the engagement party invitation.

You can purchase inexpensive blank cards and print the engagement party invitation on your home computer or you can even use evite and customize the online invitation with fun “engagement photos.” If you are planning on using your very own Wedding website, try to set it up early and use it to share information on the Engagement Party. Your Evite can direct guests to your wedding website to let them know to refer to this site for future wedding related updates and events.

To wrap up this post, remember that there are celebratory toasts that go along in honoring you, the bridal couple, and the hosts for this occasion. Everyone at the engagement party will want to speak to the engaged couple, so make sure guests are given this opportunity as well. At a party given by the bride’s parents, the engagement party etiquette regarding toasts is quite clear: First, the bride’s father proposes a toast to the bride and her fiance. Then, the fiance rises and toasts his bride-to-be and her parents, and then his own parents. At informal events hosted by friends, of course, anyone can make a toast at any time. Certainly, the engaged couple will want to toast the host. Be sure to have a special gift for the hosts to thank them for their generosity.

Following are examples of Engagement Party themes and engagement party food that go with the formality or informality of the event. Whatever the tone of the event, it is the camaraderie and welcoming of each other to the family that is most important.