engagement party

laxchick20183

My FI and I got engaged in May of this year.  I wanted to have an engagement party either this year or next year in the summer to celebrate.  My soon to be mother in law told us that no one has those and that we shouldn't have one.  My mom told me to do whatever makes me happy.  I feel like this is a happy time for us and that we should celebrate it.  I was thinking having one just in the backyard with just close family and friends, nothing to big.  I'm just very confused and not sure what to do.  Also since we havent really set a date is mother said we shouldnt have one.In need of help.

jordanamn

I think it is totally fine to have an engagement party. We got engaged this past February and are geting married this coming March, and we had our engagement dinner in May. It was close family and friends, and it was very lovely - I am happy we did it. I think you should do what makes you happy and have the party.

lbsmiles30

Congrats!! We got engaged in March then found our reception site in July and had our engagement party in January. It worked out perfect! Our wedding is 8/1/10! So I had plenty of time to plan. I think you should do what makes you happy. Good luck!

jilliibabii

Plenty of people have engagement parties. If it's something you want to do, then go for it!

alithebride

firstly: i tend to find it a bit cheesy when couples throw their own engagement party for themselves.secondly: you've been engaged for months already-personally i feel that within 3 months is appropriate-anything after that is gift-grubby.i dont mean this to be harsh in any way, but you asked for opinions. i got invited to an EP a year after someone got engaged. it was old news by then and only a few months (like 4) before the shower and 6 before the wedding. to me that was just silly. if you feel that you'd like to throw yourselves a party then do it-but soon-and tastefully-sans gifts since you're throwing it for yourselves. if your  mom or his throws it for you then gifts are ok-but throwing yourselves a party and acceptiing gifts is 2 thumbs down.i hope it works out for you.

Bridgeboysbride

I agree with the above post... Especially about throwing soon after in engagement.. It sounds a little tacky for it to be a year after... Just my opinion also.

saisongbird

We had our engagement party 3.5 months after we got engaged, but we postponed it for awhile because we wanted to do it when my grandmother was going to be in town. If you want to celebrate, I don't see anything wrong with going ahead and celebrating!

lm3898

I got engaged back in March 2009 (about 5 months ago).  We decided not to have an engagement party.  We just felt that w/ the shower, bachelore (ette) parties, wedding it was too much.  Our wedding is a little more than a year away (Sept. 2010).  Last week my mom decided that we really should have an engagement party even though we've been engaged for a bit.  Our wedding is still a year away, we're actually having it on the one year mark.  I'm really excited.  We're not doing anything fancy, just our wedding party & close friends at my aunts (catered party) and I'm not registering.  That way we feel nobody will feel obligated to give a gift because we don't want it to be about that.  I think if it means a lot to you, do so, just do it for the right reasons (wanting to celebrate with those you love) rather than for gifts etc.