Engagement parties, though somewhat more rare then they used to, are still often thrown by the bride (or her maid of honor) in order to properly announce and celebrate her new engagement.  There are some good things about throwing an engagement party, such as:

• An engagement party is a fun way to tell everyone, “Hey!  I’m getting married!”
• It’s an excellent way to have your friends and family meet for the first time, so that they will be familiar with one another during the ceremony and reception
• It’s an excuse to throw a big bash and have a good time with your nearest and dearest loved ones

Engagement parties can be a difficult thing to plan, however, since you do have to throw it relatively soon after you do first become engaged.  This means that you will have to have a good sense of just who you are inviting your wedding quite early as anyone you invite should be included in your wedding, even if they are just a guest.

Another drawback to the engagement party is that it is just another added expense on top of al of the other wedding expenses you will be incurring.  If you are planning on getting married quite soon after your engagement (let’s say within 6 months) then it may be hard to have two big parties so close to one another.

Who do you Invite?

You can invite almost anyone to your engagement party who you would like to be a part of your wedding in some way.  Most of the time, the parents of the bride host the engagement party, though it is becoming all the more common for her closest friends to set it up and arrange it for her.  In some cases, the bride herself will arrange and host her own engagement party.

You will want to invite people from both the bride’s family and the groom’s family.  This allows both sides of the family to become acquainted with one another, and they may even start putting their heads together when it comes to planning (and possibly paying for) your wedding.

When do I Throw an Engagement Party?

Most engagement parties are thrown within a month or two of the engagement, or within a year of the wedding date.  This allows you time to somewhat get an appropriate guest list together, as well as think about what kind of engagement party you would like it to be.  You can make it a rather formal affair, or you can make it a brunch, or you can even have it be an all out bash and dance the night away.  It’s really the bride’s personal taste and style that dictates the kind of engagement party that is thrown.

What about Gifts?

It is considered rude to ask for presents for your engagement party, and you should also not expect guests to bring them along.  Chances are that a few guests may bring a gift or two, but do not expect anything besides appetizers, desserts and wine being brought.

TIP:  If anyone does bring a gift, make sure you send them a “thank you” card.