So my fiance and I told my sister in September that we were engaged, but only on Christmas told my parents. My sister, however, has been bugging my fiance and I about throwing an engagement party since we first told her. We aren't really sure we want one. My sister is 33, very sucessful and would have no financial difficutly throwing one. We, however, are 99% sure that the only reason she wants to throw one is to create a more "casual" environment for our parents to meet my fiances parents/brother.
The thing with this is that there would really be nobody to invite. Yes we'll have to people to invite to the wedding but the problem is that his family/friends are from Central PA or farther west in PA while mine are situated in the North Jersey region. This of course doesn't take into account our college friends whom we would invite and would have to come from as far as minnesota if invited. They'd certainly spring to come to a wedding, but a just an engagement party. Plus it would only be severely awkward having only my parents, his parents, a few college friends his brother and my sister.
Timing is another thing. This year, 2012, would be the year to have said party since 2013 will the year planning gets serious since we're married in 2014. I just don't know when it would happen. Spring Break is in March but most everybody will already have plans. This summer Clay and I are going to Northern Ireland for study abroad. Maybe in the fall? But that might work either for various reasons.
Basically it would be slightly illogical in a way to have one. Clay and I are okay with just having a group dinner at Friendlys with said familys. but my sister has just been on us about having it. we'd rather not have a party, and have her give us money for the wedding or something. but she seems to have her heart set on this.
Ideas, comments, opinions please
