Since it's a hot topic...

ssc27

My Fiance' had one planned the whole time he was planning the proposal.  He proposed on a Thursday and surprised me with an engagement party that Saturday with all of our family and friends.  It was a casual backyard barbeque sort of thing...nothing fancy and no gifts at all, which was fine with us!

scgirl76

We got engaged during a vacation seeing my FI's parents in Cabo San Lucas.  Had dinner with them to celebrate then had a family get together with my family when we got back home.  No presents or big ta-ta.  Just a nice get together with family and a couple friends. 

bf43005

We had one.  His mom threw it for us.  She was very set on throwing one for us.  I didn't care either way but figured if it made her happy I would go along with it. 

mec986

My FI proposed at our graduation ceremony which a party was waiting for us right afterwards anyways.  It was a graduation/engagment party and it was absoutley wonderful to tell all my family and friends in person and get a double congradulations for the day!  And we only got graduation presents, but I honestly wouldn't have wanted other presents even if there was a party thrown later.  It was fun just to see everyone's reaction in person...we had crying, jumping, and screaming for joy...it was so much fun!!!

Laceyrc06

My fiance's parents, grandmother, sister-in-law, and broter threw it for us at his grandmother's house.

We got a few gifts off our registry, picture frames, a wedding scrapbook, toasting flutes with our names and wedding date etched into them, a book of quotes about love, cash, and a small porcelin "Christmas box."

kindge_03

We didn't have a formal engagement party -
But the weekend we got engaged, my parents thought it'd be neat to get some of the family together for a brunch to celebrate. So some of our family on both sides came to a really relaxed brunch.

Sparkles1985

We didn't have one.  His mom brought it up to him, and the way he brought it up to me was "She wants to have one for you..."  I was like, for me?  Umm... I politely declined for a couple of reasons.  First off, we had not even set a date yet, so I didn't really want to deal with all that.  And second, I think of e-parties as a way to meet each others' family etc... and with us having been together for 5 1/2 years, we had already met everyone in each other's family.  Also, I knew that they didn't have the money to throw a party, even if it was just a very small thing, I just didn't want to burden his parents with that.

Basicall, I just didn't feel the need to have one.  Thankfully, after we declined, she didn't press the issue.   I know it was just out of the goodness of her heart, and I'm thankful that she offered!