How to rock your Engagement Party
There are some special dates around the year when couples get engaged, like New Year’s Party, Saint Valentine’s Day, and summer holidays are also part of the high season.
So, here we are, slowly wrapping up our summer and you are staring at that incredibly beautiful ring on your finger. What next? Before diving into wedding planning, it is time to celebrate this special moment with your loved ones.
Engagement celebrations aren’t very popular in Europe, but if you get the chance to hold a festivity, go for it. Whether you would like a casual gathering or a more formal party, I am sharing with you some ideas you should consider when organizing your engagement party.
When should I schedule it?
The etiquette says that you should do it within a month after getting engaged. However, nowadays, not everyone lives in the same city as their family and our agendas may not be in sync. Therefore, if you are thinking of a formal and substantial engagement party, you could wait a bit longer.
Also, tradition says that the parents of the bride are the ones who should throw the party. Nevertheless, nowadays we see more and more couples taking financial care of their wedding, thus your wedding, your rules.
The key to a successful engagement is to not lose enthusiasm for it and to organize it as soon as possible. There is a long journey towards your wedding day after that.
Who’s on the guests’ list?
If you want to host an intimate engagement party, the easiest guests to invite will be your closest family, maid of honor, bridesmaids, and best man.
As long as your budget allows it, your guests list could grow. Just remember one basic point: everyone coming to your engagement party must be invited to the wedding.
Warning: in the case where you go full conventional here, and your parents (or your couple’s parents) are hosting the party, try to have some kind of control regarding the guest list.
Do I have to send invitations?
Formal invitations are not really required for a small engagement party. You can use a digital one or nothing at all if you are planning a casual celebration, just mouth to mouth.
On the other hand, in the case you are taking the big party option, I would suggest thinking of the invitation as the starting point of your wedding aesthetic. This means that your engagement party, save the date and wedding invitation should be in the same style (theme, color, font, etc.).
Venues
As it should be on your wedding day, the whole atmosphere must be set in crescendo.
I would advise throwing a different type of celebration than the one you would like to have for your wedding. For instance, if you would like to have a destination wedding, this could be an opportunity to use a local venue. The beginning of this wonderful journey will take place in the city where you both live.
If you desire a traditional wedding style, with a reception followed by a seated dinner; then, for your engagement party, you could have a rich cocktail reception.
Depending on the number of guests, it could be a restaurant, a rooftop bar, a country clubhouse or you could even do it at home (wedding celebrations at home are very trendy right now).
Shall the bride-to-be wear white?
YES! This is a great opportunity to try out a different style: short dresses or jumpsuits.
Of course, it is not mandatory to wear white but it is a good time to start. Other alternatives could be beige, or a tailor-made outfit if it is a themed party.
How much of the budget should I allocate to the engagement party?
A wedding may require a lot of money. If you are taking care of the whole wedding, I advise you to work out a tentative budget before throwing an engagement party. Remember, it is not mandatory and it does not necessarily have to be a big deal. The aim here is to mark the milestone.
Work on your wedding budget first and, if you see you could allocate a percentage to the party, then call me 😉
