Engagement Party: Basic Rules And Expert Tips On Planning (2024)

  • HOME
  • Wedding Planning

5+ PHOTOS

7 PRO TIPS

Author: by Kate Motina Updated:

Kate Motina

Kate is the leader of the Wedding Forward content department. She sees hundreds of wedding photos and receives thousands of texts daily! Wedding news, trends, and tendencies. Shock content, real weddings, wedding preparation, and everything about it. Wedding looks, engagement, and honeymoon… She has it all in her head every day! Also, Kate has her own articles on our site. They are very different and awesome, as their author is! Kate is obsessed with sport and healthy nutrition. Her main activities are the gym, CrossFit, trx training and stretching. Besides sport, she goes in for healthy cooking. Each day she starts with healthy dishes. As much as sport and healthy nutrition she also goes crazy for photography.

Engagement Party: Basic Rules And Expert Tips On Planning (2)

Photo by

Via Unsplash

An engagement party flags off your pre-wedding festivities and is a time to share your news. One of the many pre-wedding parties to come, it can be casual, formal, a little get-together, or a fully sophisticated affair. And we know you’ve got lots of nagging questions like, who throws the engagement party? Any idea of what to expect at an engagement party, and what rules guide a modern engagement party?

ADVERTISEMENT

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s An Engagement Party?

This is an occasion thrown in honor of a newly engaged couple within two or three months of their engagement. In traditional times, the bride’s parents hosted it. But these days, the couple, friends, family, or even colleagues do the honor. The party is what it is, a celebration that brings all the potential wedding guests together.

They meet, have fun, get acquainted, and hope to see more of each other. The couple, on the other hand, gets to hang out with people who be key elements of the big day. The party doesn’t have to be anything over the top. Go for simple engagement party ideas that will help guests unwind.

Who Throws The Engagement Party?

Bear in mind that there’s no rule which says that there must be only one party to celebrate an engagement. There can be as many parties by whoever wants to throw one. Again, whoever hosts the party, foots the bill.

That said, the persons with the first hosting honor are the bride’s parents. And then the groom’s parents can decide to host one. It can also be a case of joint hosting by the parents. Surprise parties could be organized by friends too. Or the couple could decide to host their party. Only remember that, at the end of the day, it’s all about the couple.

Quick Navigation

  • Engagement Party Rules
  • When Do You Have An Engagement Party?
  • Where To Have An Engagement Party?
  • What To Expect At An Engagement Party?

ADVERTISEMENT

Engagement Party Rules

Hosting the party or attending as a guest, there are engagement party rules to observe.

You can also check thisFREE Download: Engagement Party Checklist

  1. Invite your guests through email or formal wedding invite. Do not use social media, except you create a closed group. This is to avoid hurting people’s feelings.
  2. Invite only people who you’ll invite to your wedding.
  3. Keep it small, and make it an affair of close family, and best friends.
  4. Unlike previously when engagement party gifts were not given at parties, today, couples now embrace it.
  5. Make the playlist of engagement party songs versatile. Ones that everyone’s age group at your party can relate to. You don’t want anyone missing out on the fun.
  6. Be sure to personalize your menu. Make it an affair of your favorite foods.
  7. Limit consumption of alcohol.
  8. Maintain lighthearted conversations focused on the event. This is because it’s a gathering of different people who may have never met. You don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.
  9. Whatever style of party you throw, keep the party simple.
  10. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself.

ADVERTISEMENT

When Do You Have An Engagement Party?

First feeling, excitement! You can’t believe you’re engaged. Bask at the moment. Then, you’ve settled into reality, and plans for the wedding are about to roll out. Between the last two scenarios is the perfect time for an engagement party.

We’ll put it between two to three months after the proposal, and at most, six months before the wedding. This ensures that it’s not too early into the proposal and not too close to the wedding. It gives ample time to invite guests and also meet your squad for wedding planning.


ADVERTISEMENT

Where To Have An Engagement Party?

It depends on four factors.

  1. The location of the hosts: A party will hold wherever the hosts reside. Unless there are a discussion and agreement for a change of venue, the couple will go to them. This also opens the couple to the possibility of more than one party.
  2. The location of the bulk of guests: This is another important factor, as it will be best to hold the party where most of the guests are residents. This is better than pulling them out of one location to another, for a party.
  3. The intended location for the wedding: In the reverse of asking all your guests to move from a particularly concentrated area, you can host your wedding at theirs. This rules out the stress of guests having to travel twice.
  4. The type of engagement you plan to have: If you want casual, then a home, backyard, or park is it. For a casual or semi-casual, a garden, restaurant, country club, or private hall suits.

ADVERTISEMENT

What To Expect At An Engagement Party?

There’s no setup rule of what to expect at an engagement party. The day and night’s aim is to have all the fun. But a few things could happen. The parents may be meeting for the first time, so an introduction is imminent. Guests will come bearing hearty engagement wishes to the couple. Families and friends from both sides will meet, have fun, and mingle. Icebreaker engagement party games are also a must feature for a fun engagement dinner party and engagement gifts giving. Also, the couple will begin brainstorming ideas with their teams for the wedding.

Save to Engagement Party: Basic Rules And Expert Tips On Planning (5)

Etiquette and rules guiding the party help put things in perspective. All the important rules to help you sail through planning, you’ll find in this post. We’ve also answered the toughest questions that often put newly engaged couples in a dilemma. Whether you’re attending the party as a host or guest, this is a relevant post. Follow through on it and you’ll learn a thing or two about engagement party rules.

ADVERTISEMENT

Engagement Party: Basic Rules And Expert Tips On Planning (2024)

FAQs

Engagement Party: Basic Rules And Expert Tips On Planning? ›

There's no set engagement party etiquette on this, but here is our advice: Keep it small- to medium-sized. You don't need to include everyone who will be on your wedding guest list. Keep the party intimate and special by inviting your closest friends and family members to raise a glass to your impending nuptials.

How to plan an engagement party? ›

Follow these simple steps in the lead-up to your special day to make sure your event is well in hand.
  1. Pick a host. ...
  2. Choose a date for your engagement party. ...
  3. Pick your venue. ...
  4. Decide if it's to be a formal or informal soiree. ...
  5. Create an engagement party guest list. ...
  6. Send out engagement party invites.

What is proper etiquette for an engagement party? ›

Engagement parties are typically smaller and are a more casual affair than weddings. You'll want to talk and mingle with all your loved ones, so don't invite so many guests that you feel overwhelmed or rushed to greet everyone. Keep it simple and invite close family and you and your partner's closest friends.

Who traditionally plans an engagement party? ›

Traditionally the engagement party is hosted by the bride's parents, but can also be given by friends of the bride and groom, or other relatives. Yes, you can have two or more parties; one for relatives and family friends, for instance, and another for your own friends.

What is the format for an engagement party? ›

There's no right or wrong way to celebrate your engagement. You can choose a venue and a theme that feels right for you as a couple and build from there. If you're a laid-back couple, you may wish to just have everyone over for yard games and a barbecue.

Who usually pays for an engagement party? ›

Whoever hosts the engagement party is usually responsible for covering the costs. Historically, it's been the bride's parents. However, as celebrations for engagements have evolved, Mae notes that she often sees both parents paying a portion of the total bill. Some couples even chip in.

Are gifts expected at an engagement party? ›

Guests are not required to bring gifts to an engagement party, but it is a nice gesture to bring a gift when attending this type of celebration. There are no formal guidelines that dictate how much a guest should spend on an engagement party gift. The amount solely depends on an individual's budget.

How many hours should an engagement party be? ›

In terms of the length of the engagement party, couples typically choose a two to four-hour window. If you do not plan to serve a full meal, it's best to choose a time frame in between typical mealtimes, such as 2-5 p.m.

How many people should attend an engagement party? ›

Everyone at the engagement party should be invited to the wedding, but not everyone invited to the wedding needs to be invited to the engagement party. Typically, engagement parties are more intimate than weddings, with a range of 10 to 75 people.

Who gives the toast at an engagement party? ›

ENGAGEMENT PARTY

The groom's father will give a toast following the father of the bride. After these first two toasts, the floor is open to anyone, but usually the best man and maid (or matron) of honor, if already chosen, are next. Then, other family members and friends can follow.

How much does the average engagement party cost? ›

"The cost for these varies in region, but in general, you will expect to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 plus." It's also worth pointing out that some venues will have a booking fee in addition to a minimum that you need to spend on food and beverage. Make sure you read the contract carefully before you sign.

Do you have a cake at an engagement party? ›

Cake cutting: Although this is quite similar to that at a wedding reception, cutting and sharing a cake can be a symbolic gesture during the engagement party. This is totally optional and can feel too formal for some people. Gift-giving: Guests may bring gifts or tokens to celebrate the engagement.

What are the rules for an engagement party? ›

There's no set engagement party etiquette on this, but here is our advice: Keep it small- to medium-sized. You don't need to include everyone who will be on your wedding guest list. Keep the party intimate and special by inviting your closest friends and family members to raise a glass to your impending nuptials.

Are there speeches at an engagement party? ›

Speeches, or toasts, are a heartfelt part of an engagement party. The best of them will be touching, funny, or a combination of the two, and they usually happen once the celebration is well underway.

How soon after getting engaged should you have an engagement party? ›

Planning your party two to four months after the proposal is standard. This is the sweet spot between relishing in your newly engaged life and getting serious about planning your big day.

Who pays for drinks at an engagement party? ›

An engagement party isn't something that every couple does. A betrothal party can be a fancy supper, a small gathering in the couple's house, or a rented ballroom. The bride's parents pay for the reception hall, entertainment, and cuisine. If there is a bar, guests are expected to cover the cost of their drinks.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 5781

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.