My FH and I got engaged in January and our wedding is planned for next March. He is from New Jersey but moved up here in October 2010 and we since bought a house. His parents want to throw us an engagement party though they have not really come out and asked and/or told us this. I heard it through my future sister in-law and they have told my FH. My future FIL asked my FH if my parents would pay for half of the party. We are footing the bulk of the wedding as this is my second and my parents paid for my first. My parents are contributing about $5k and my mom wants to buy my dress.
All of that being said, I really don't want an engagement party. I honestly did not want a big wedding and would have been extremely happy and content going to city hall to be married or eloping. But my FH wants his family there and I cannot blame him for that or take that away from him. Anyway, I don't feel right registering or having a shower, forget an engagement party due to the fact that this is my second wedding. From what my future sister in-law told me (who happens to have turned out to be one of my closest friends - she is married to my FH's bro), there was discussion between my FMIL, sisters and aunts on Saturday while they were all gathered for a birthday discussing it. I guess the bottom line is that if they want to throw one, I can't really say no (right?) but my parents will not be contributing to it.
Anyway, I just needed to vent to people who get this whole thing. I don't want to seem ungrateful and I'm not sure how to handle this especially since his parents never came out and said "we want to do this." Thanks.