Engagement Party

staceymutrup

My parents are future in laws both agree that we should have an engagement party. They have both agreed they would host it. My FI and I do not really see the point in an engagement party. I have had a few friends get married and none of them have had one. Our parents believe that it is a nice way of getting all of our close family together to let everyone know the date and small details? What is everyones take on engagement parties?

nikole712

I got engaged in April and I am not having a true engagement party, I feel it is not necessary. However, my parents are planning to organize a small dinner including my siblings, FI's parents and sibling to celebrate and also start getting to know one another before the wedding.

[Deleted User]

It is a nice way for your family and his family to meet,as well as introduce the bridal party to all.  You can always say on invite NO gifts.  And if anyone asks where you are registered you can remind them no gifts

firsttimersluck

I think it's a sweet excuse to get the family (or both families) together, but not necessary. 

I don't think it's really appropriate to invite anyone non-family.. ONLY BECAUSE, most people don't know what their guest list looks like right when they get engaged.. And I find it rude to invite someone to a pre-wedding related party and not to the actual wedding. 

staceymutrup

I believe it would just be parents siblings, and the rest of our wedding party which is my 2 friends and his 2 friends, along with my cousin. But then more that they talk about this party the more people they want to invite which i believe just immediate family would be alright. How far is to far?

EC88

My future MIL is hosting one but is is just for me and my fiance's family's. I think it will be nice to get our family's together but I don't think that it needs to be about the wedding as much as the families. I think engagement parties are a nice idea but not necessary at all.

julib33

We aren't having one.
BUT, we went to his grandfether's 80th birthday party the weekend after we got engaged and they sort of turned it into a half surprise birthday party for him, half surprise engagement party for us. I felt really terrible about it all. It seemed really rude to me to be "stealing" part of his grandfather's party.

Although, this weekend is my graduation party and I'm sure some of my family that we haven't seen since being engaged will be trying to turn it into a sort of engagement party. Plus, it will be nice for both of our families to meet each other (more of them anyway). Mostly, I'm just excited to see everyone!

chelseak27

I just got engaged three weeks ago and our parents insist on having an engagement party. Our party is going to be family, family friends, and friends. It's going to be sort of big. We don't plan on getting married for two-three years and we haven't even set a date. Do you think it's still ok if we invite people now who we are friendly with and then in two years if we haven't kept in touch not invite them to the wedding?

sofifi684

I don't think an engagement party is necessary especially if both families have already met. We didn't have one and I couldn't imagine having one because so much changes as you start planning the wedding, including your guest list! I can't tell you how many times we have had to cut down our list, or add people, etc. It would be a bummer to have to cut down on the list but still have to invite everyone at the party since it's "proper etiquette."

tophexie

We aren't having one either instead our families will either be having a family only BBQ or going out to dinner. After we return from our wedding we want to do a large party for those we don't get to invite to the wedding since it is super small.

Psych819

My mother and FMIL are throwing a small bbq E-party for us. It is a way to celebrate our engagement and for our families to meet.