Questions, questions, questions...

CALEO

1.  My mom is hosting an engagement party but asked me how to word the invite.  It will be like a cocktail party (except there won't be any cocktails - just wine and beer!) and lots of heavy apps (we don't have the menu set in stone yet but it will be things like sliders, quesadillas, crab cakes, cheese platter, nuts, dried fruit, antipasta platter, vegetable platter etc) with tables/couches to sit down and eat) but no sit down meal.

She thinks calling it a cocktail party will signal to the guests that it will be hors d'oeurves  and not a meal - we are thinking that it will be 6-10 pm. 

I think its weird to call it a cocktail party and not have cocktails - but I couldn't come up with something better.  The best I could do was "Wine Reception"?

The other option is just to call it an engagement party but I don't want people to be disappointed with no sit down meal.

Any ideas?

2.  This is less time sensitive but we want his two nephews to be part of the wedding.  They will be 11 and 12 next summer.  He said they could be ring bearers but I'm not sure how old ring bearers are supposed to be?  Would you side eye 11-12 year olds?  My thought is that they will walk down the aisle after the flower girls but then go sit with his parents in the first seating row.  I'm fine if they want to hold the ring and stand up to present it when the officiant asks, but is that weird?  We could also have them be jr. groomsmen and just not do the ring deal (their dad, best man, could hold it).  I'm just curious.

3.  I got a presentation ring so I get to go pick out my setting on Friday.  I have no idea what I want.  It's so pretty how it is, I'm scared I'm going to screw it up.  It's currently a solitare with a nice big stone.  He said something about a 3 stone setting, but I'm not sure if that will detract from center stone?  Help?  Any gorgeous settings for me to see?

Thank you in advance!

JaxInBlue

I can only help with one and two, but if you like your ring how it is, why not just leave it that way?  You can always add bling with your wedding band. Or, go into the appointment with an open mind, see if anything catches your eye and go from there.

1.  I'd call it an engagement party.  Your mom can word the invitation to indicate its hors d'oeuvres. BUT you and she should be sure you have a meal equivalent amount of appetizers/ hors d'oeuvres for each person since the party does straddle prime meal hours.  This means more servings per person than if you were just hosting a cocktail hour.  If your budget (her budget) does not allow for that, I'd move the start time back to at least 8 PM or push it earlier so it wraps up around 5 PM.

2.  I think an 11 and a 12 year old could be groomsmen or ringbearers depending on what they want to be called.  DH's godson was 9 at our wedding and was one of his groomsmen.  He carried our rings in his tux pocket.  We did not have ring bearers and we didn't call him a jr. groomsman.  He did the same job everyone else did (wear suit, stand up front, take pictures), and also helped escort his sister and cousin (the flower girls) down the aisle. Ask what role they would prefer to play; you don't need to have ringbearers if that's not what they want to be called.

ETA: spelling/grammar

CALEO

We'd definitely have enough apps to make it a meal.  I've used this caterer before for work events and there is always TONS of food.

Thanks!

KatWAG

1. Just call it an engagement party

2. they can be what ever you want them to be. A RB is fine.

3. Do you like colored stones?  I have pear shaped sapphires as my side stones. You dont have to decide what you before you get to the jeweler. Go and play around and see what you like.

CALEO

Ok -so is it okay to call them Jr groomsmen and have them walk down the isle and then sit with their grandparents (ie not stand up?)

CALEO

Ok!