Before the wedding plans get serious, celebrate your newly engaged status by throwing a fun engagement party. While sharing the news on social media may do the trick, connecting with your loved ones in-person to celebrate the news never gets old. Find out the purpose of hosting an engagement party below.
What is an Engagement Party?
An engagement party is a celebration for the newly engaged couple within 2-3 months of their engagement. Families on both sides, close friends, and wedding party members gather to formally congratulate the couple on their news. Traditionally, the bride’s parents host the engagement party but it has become normal in modern times for the engaged couple, a relative, or a close friend to host the engagement party.
Before wedding planning fully kicks in, an engagement party allows loved ones to celebrate the moment and share their excitement. The point of an engagement party is also for future wedding guests to get acquainted. You’ll want to send out engagement party invitations 2-3 weeks in advance and keep your guest list count below 50 so your network doesn’t get too tired of wedding related invites. Keep in mind that engagement parties shouldn’t outshine your bridal shower or wedding day. Not everyone on your wedding list should receive an invite to your engagement party.
Your engagement party should be true to you but also casual. Thus, keep your decor, food options, and party ideas simple. You can try a backyard BBQ, head to your favorite restaurant, or host a dinner party for close family and friends. You can also consider hosting a cocktail party or reserving a private area at a lounge.
What Do You Do at an Engagement Party?
Engagement parties typically consist of socializing, enjoying food and drinks, and a game or two. The goal of an engagement party is primarily for loved ones to say congratulations and give a personalized gift or engagement card. You’ll want to make sure there’s music, appetizers, and casual seating. After most of the attendees have mingled and ate food, you can play a guessing game that quizzes attendees on how well they know the couple. This is a simple and fun game that can be played without much work. Lastly, you’ll want to make sure the host and/or hostess of the party gives a toast to the engaged couple.
Don’t forget that engagement parties are all about fun. Simplify your party plans and remember that this is just the beginning of your wedding journey. If you’re attending an engagement party, visit our simple guide on what to write in an engagement card to make sure your card is well-written.
