Engagement Party Etiquette
Tips On Engagement Party Etiquette
Proper engagement party etiquette can prevent you from being worried about what will occur at your event. There are several tips that can make it a successful event for you. One of the questions that often arises is when the engagement party should be held. There is really no time line, but it is best to do it after the couple has been formally engaged. It is an event for both people so pick a date when both are available.
You can choose to invite lots of guests or keep it very small and intimate. There aren’t any etiquette rules when it comes to what type of party you should have to announce your engagement to everyone. Most people agree though that it is best to have family, a few close friends, and to invite those that you would like to have in the wedding.
One of the engagement party etiquette tips that many people break has to do with who will host the party. Traditionally, this was done by the bride’s parents. Today though many couples choose to host it on their own. They want to be in charge of the affair and in many instances what they will announce is a surprise to the guests. They will all hear the good news at once.
A close friend or family member may approach the couple to ask if they can host an engagement party. Regardless of who is the host though one thing is clear – the wishes of the couple to be married should included as to how the celebration will play out. However, the father of the bride should be willing to offer a toast during the evening as part of the engagement party celebration. It is also tradition for the groom to be to give a toast and say a few things about his soon to be bride.
Another of the areas with engagement party etiquette tips that can be broken is how people are invited. In the past it always included sending out nice invitations. Today, people often do it over the phone or even in an e-mail. If you want to stick with proper traditions though you should mail out invitations.
It is nice to tell people on the invitations what the event will entail. For example if you are going to offer a sit down dinner versus cocktails and appetizers. Otherwise the guests will be wondering if they should eat before hand or not. Also, many couples prefer not to have any types of gifts at the engagement party. If that is the case, simply add it at the bottom of the invitation information.
It is customary for the bride to be though to offer her soon to be groom a nice gift at the wedding. This engagement party etiquette stems from the fact that the bride to be will have a nice engagement ring to show the guests. A common gift for this occasion is a watch that he can also show off.
If you feel that it is going to be too complicated though or the families of the couple live far away, an engagement party may not be a good idea. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to have one. There are going to be plenty of other times along the way before the wedding for parties to occur.
If you do wish to have an engagement party, try to keep it a simple and fun affair. This isn’t the time to start making wedding plans or to stress over small details. It is an occasion to celebrate an exciting future as husband and wife.