Formal Engagement

Jeff and Deepthi

Oh my gosh!! I really thought this was suppose to be something little and would take all of a couple weeks to get together. Since I've only been to a few I didn't really know, but now I do!

I found out this will be like a mini wedding!! I have to order food, get decorations, get the church, hall, favors, cake, and dress!!! It's only for immediate family on both our sides which comes to 75-100 people only, but it's still another huge thing. How would you guys get this together?? With the wedding planning. We are having it done Oct 16th.  Advice please!

SonaliPop

If you are going to do a cake, I would do cake and venue first. Book those as soon as possible. I wouldn't do a cake if you are doing a cake at your wedding. Why not some Indian sweets or cupcakes, instead? That cuts down your worries and you can pick a few assorted flavors without having to do two cakes, you know?

Do you have any family members to help you? If they are free and can help, why not split it up between them if they would be willing to? I know on the other boards they'd say it is rude, but if your family is willing and wants to help, why not ask?

Hinaj

Sorry for my stupidity, but are we talking like an engagement party? 

SonaliPop

Yeah, that's a good thing to ask, becuase we have a religious engagement as Hindus, so, for us it's a different set up.

Hinaj

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_south-asian-weddings_formal-engagement?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:430Discussion:2db282a0-0e41-4c1a-81d7-22efe581da48Post:9d3ca39c-c9c5-4714-91f0-d10f78a9dc26">Re: Formal Engagement</a>:
[QUOTE]Yeah, that's a good thing to ask, becuase we have a religious engagement as Hindus, so, for us it's a different set up.
Posted by SonaliPop[/QUOTE]

Ditto, I was wondering about that, because as a Muslim I don't think there is like a big blow out like a mini wedding, but sometime they do have E-party and some traditional stuff or nothing at all meaning they just have close family members present during the engagement, but no "party" per se. 

Hinaj

If there is much to do, I would start planning it out from now:

If it will be an all out event, have a photographer.  Personally, pictures are important for me, and I would want pictures of all my events.  Since there is only about a year left to your wedding, you can hire the same guy as the wedding, so the style of your pics will stay consistant. 

If you are doing a cake at the wedding, I wouldn't do a cake now, but rather you can do a mixed dessert table with cookies, Indian sweets, cheesecakes, etc. 

For favors, you can do a candy buffet, which can also do two jobs of being the dessert as well, if not doin't put much money into this one, but rather edibles are the easiest and most likely the cheapest.  Find a favor box you like and fill it with candies of your choice. 

If you need a church, then you should call them ASAP, since October is a popular wedding month, and you don't want to find out that they are booked on your date.  Same applies for a hall. 

If you are booking a hall, then some of them have their own caterers you can use, or research caterers. 

Dress shopping would probably the easiest and hardest at the same time, easy being that you have plenty of time to find the dress, hard because it will take forever to find that one dress you love. 

Hope it helps!!!  You can do this!!

If nothing else, hire a planner and just relaxe.

Jeff and Deepthi

Our formal engagement isn't the same as ya'll. I've been to a Hindu one and that's really different. Ours is just something that the families get to together and agree on it. It's done in a church and then afterwards you have to feed everyone. I calmed down and I think I have somethings figured out.

It's too late to go through the headache of finding a church and hall so I think I'll use the one I go to now. I couldn't use it for the wedding cause it was too small but it's an ok size for the engagement.
I don't think Cake is necessary now.
I'll just have to decorate the hall and get one of Indian caters here.

SonaliPop

Yeah, I don't think all those things were necessary, anyway. Just a few decorations, some table set ups, some things to munch on, and you're all set.

Hinaj

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_south-asian-weddings_formal-engagement?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:430Discussion:2db282a0-0e41-4c1a-81d7-22efe581da48Post:6cf3dac3-0c27-4f44-b7b3-511591d72c63">Re: Formal Engagement</a>:
[QUOTE]Our formal engagement isn't the same as ya'll. I've been to a Hindu one and that's really different. Ours is just something that the families get to together and agree on it. It's done in a church and then afterwards you have to feed everyone. I calmed down and I think I have somethings figured out. It's too late to go through the headache of finding a church and hall so I think I'll use the one I go to now. I couldn't use it for the wedding cause it was too small but it's an ok size for the engagement. I don't think Cake is necessary now. I'll just have to decorate the hall and get one of Indian caters here.
Posted by Jeff and Deepthi[/QUOTE]

This seems much better and very cost effective.  For the decoration, get help from family and friends and it will be a piece of cake. 

Bhanu&Anuj

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_south-asian-weddings_formal-engagement?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:430Discussion:2db282a0-0e41-4c1a-81d7-22efe581da48Post:6cf3dac3-0c27-4f44-b7b3-511591d72c63">Re: Formal Engagement</a>:
[QUOTE] I don't think Cake is necessary now.

Posted by Jeff and Deepthi[/QUOTE]


Good call