Planning an Engagement Party

Engagement Invitations
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Planning an Engagement Party

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Having an engagement party is a good way to introduce your fiance or fiancee to your family and friends. Today, in our mobile society, the bride and groom may not live near family or old friends. Therefore, having an engagement party is a quick way to introduce a future spouse to a group of people at one time.  The following tips will help you have a successful engagement party:

DO WE SEND OUT INVITATIONS
Yes, it is etiquette to invite guests to an engagement party with an invitation.  Make them yourself or purchase them the choice is yours.

WHO HOSTS AND ENGAGEMENT PARTY?
The parents of the either the bride or groom usually host the party, though grandparents, an aunt and uncle, a close friend of the parents, or a godparent may choose to host it instead. If both sets of parents live in the same community and are acquainted, they might co-host the party.

CAN I HAVE MULTIPLE ENGAGEMENT PARTIES?
It is okay to have two engagement parties, each hosted by one set of parents, if the parents of the bride and groom live in different communities and have different friends. If both families live in the same community, only one party is held and both sets of parents are invited. However, only the friends of the hosting parents are invited unless both sets of parents co-host the party.

WHEN DO I HAVE THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY?
The purpose of the party is to celebrate the engagement. Therefore, the party should be held shortly after the engagement occurs and several months before the wedding. If most of the guests don't yet know about the engagement, the hosting parents might announce the engagement at the party.

WHO DO I INVITE TO THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY?
Invite only close friends and family who are also friends of the bride or groom, not just the parent's friends. Don't invite people that you don't expect to invite to the wedding.

SHOULD AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY BE FORMAL OR CASUAL?
You may keep the party simple and relaxed or have a black tie affair, the choice is yours. You might have a barbeque or a cocktail party without a pre-planned program and at which guests can mingle and visit or a formal dinner event.  Remember it is your engagement party not your wedding, keep that in mind when planning.

SHOULD WE EXPECT GIFTS?
Gifts aren't usually given at engagement parties. If they are, it is most often a bottle of wine or a wedding planning book for the bride. The couple might accept any gifts that they receive, then put them aside to be opened at a later time so that guests who didn't bring anything don't feel awkward. Gifts of wine or food do not need to be served at the party.

ENGAGEMENT PARTY ETIQUETTE

Engagement Etiquette Rule 1: 
When to contact the brides father about the engagement.
After you are engaged, the first engagement etiquette is for the groom to contact the brides father (step father, mother or whom ever has that role in the brides life) and schedule a meeting with him. The bride can attend this meeting. The groom lets the father know about his intention to marry the bride.

Engagement Etiquette Rule 2:
When to notify the children of your engagement
If their are children involved from prier marriages or relationships.  They should be the next ones to be told about your plans.

Engagement Etiquette Rule 3:
When to notify former husbands/wives about your engagement?
Any former marriage partners should be next to know about your wedding plans. This is really important if you have children with that person.

Engagement Etiquette Rule 4:
Engagement party planning and gifts?
This is the point at which you should start planning your engagement party.

If your guest bring you gifts at your engagement party, you should take them. You should not ask for gifts from your party guest.  Etiquette rules dictates that gifts should not be expected.

Make a guest list...  And set a budget... Get started...

Engagement Etiquette Rule 5:
When do you announce your engagement in the newspaper
Only announce your engagement in the newspaper after your engagement party has takem place.