First comes the ring. Then comes the engagement party! It’s likely the first planned celebration for you and your new fiancé. So, how do you make this celebration happen? We’ll walk you through some basics on how to plan (or assist in the planning of) this party.
Planning Your Engagement Party 101: Who, What, When, Where, How, & Why
Who
Engagement parties are a kind of trial run for your future wedding’s invited guests. Whether you keep the crew smaller, focusing on immediate family and best friends, or branch out to a larger group, there is really only one rule when it comes to these parties. That rule is if someone is invited to your engagement party, then they should also be invited to your wedding. The exception to that rule is, of course, if you have a major Bride Wars-level falling out between the two events.
What
From small casual gatherings to renting an event space, engagement parties are whatever you want them to be. Whether it is located in a bar, someone’s backyard, a venue, or your mom’s living room, think about how you want to keep your guests entertained (as the couple, the host, or both). Pinterest has plenty of Newlywed games to choose from, and yard games like cornhole, giant jenga, ladder toss, and bocce are sure to be a hit. For this event, think about your guests and ways they can have fun while mingling. And, as always, think about how you and your fiancé want to celebrate!
Ice breakers aren’t a must either, but if “get to know you” is part of the purpose, a little game or two, like a scavenger hunt or bride and groom trivia, can be fun, particularly if the group is smallish and teams can bring together family members from opposite sides.
Tova Syrowicz, “Your Engagement Party Checklist,” Martha Stewart Weddings
Beyond celebrating the proposal, impending wedding, and lifetime of happiness, this party can also serve as a casual, low-pressure meeting for both families. Some parents may prefer to meet one-on-one without the commotion of your college besties; consider whether a private lunch with you, your fiancé, and both of your parents beforehand would be more appropriate.
An official engagement party is also the perfect time to introduce key loved ones for the first time (like your parents) who are about to be seeing a lot of each other—and possibly helping plan your wedding together—over the next few months (and years!).
The Knot, “The Complete Guide to Engagement Parties”
When
Spread out your celebrations! By distancing them, we mean that when your party happens it should fall toward the beginning of your ring-to-wedding timeline. So if three months after the proposal falls reasonably onto that timeline, go for it! Make the timing work for you.
Where
If you and your fiancé plan your own engagement party, you are both likely considering your future wedding budget as well. A backyard party is perfect for this celebration! The best thing about this party is that there really are not a lot of requirements, which means you are free to do what you want, how you want. If your guest list is already too big for your backyard to accommodate, a venue like Daisy Hill–check out “Colorful Southern Boho Wedding Styled Shoot” for some inspiration–can offer you the space and environment you need.
If you like the idea of a more elegant affair, consider renting out an actual event space like a private room at a restaurant, urban loft, garden, country club or wine bar. For something more casual, someone’s home, backyard or a favorite local bar are all great choices.
The Knot, “The Complete Guide to Engagement Parties”
How
For this initial celebration, word of mouth invitations might be all you need. The ‘seriousness’ or level of formal you go with is up to you, but remember invitations can make plans easier on you. E-vites are obviously a step up from Facebook Messenger, and your selection should be based on who you are inviting and how much they need to know beforehand.
Why
This question is the easiest. Because you and your fiancé’s love is something to celebrate again and again!
Some Sites We Browsed
- https://www.brides.com/story/engagement-party-etiquette-guide
- https://www.theknot.com/content/engagement-parties-411
- https://www.theknot.com/content/engagement-party-planning-101
- https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/406674/steps-to-amazing-engagement-party
- https://www.minted.com/wedding-ideas/engagement-party-planning