Engagement Party thoughts please!

[Ember]

I'd like to hold a fomal engagement party (together with my mom) and was just curious as to what people thought. I'd like it to be a really nice event as we're not planning on getting married until 2008 (we're both in school, he's doing a masters and I'm do an after degree and we want to be able to afford to do it right! :)

So I was thinking a nice hotel, doing just drinks and desserts... I'm not sure about dancing as that might be too much...

But a lot of people have told me this is going over board. But I don't see why. I'd like to celebrate my engagement and to plan a nice event seeing as the wedding won't be for three years. We both have family that will be flying in, and it seems a shame to have them fly in and then have a BBQ in someone's back yard.

Any thoughts would be great!

[sstark1218]

I think it sounds great! You can do whatever you and your fiance want! I couldn't see waiting 3 years to celebrate either, so if I could afford it, I would probably do the same thing!! Good Luck!

[LaceyinPgh]

There is nothing wrong with a formal engagement party. Traditionally your parents are supposed to hold one so that families can met. Just don't expect your guests to bring you a gift especially since many of them seem to be traveling in for it. I know for my engagement party at the bottom of the invites I put, "No gifts please. Your presence is your present" People already are going to have to give you a shower and wedding gift. Why burden them more? But, maybe you might want to consider doing something a little smaller and rolling the money over into a savings account for the wedding. That way, when the time comes you have a nice little nest egg for all those deposits that you need to put down. Trust me, weddings have a way of doubling and tripling budgets in mere seconds. :wink:

[As You Wish]

Etiquette allows anyone to host an engagement party - most often it is the bride's parents but there is no rule dictating who should, or should not host.

Etiquette allows any type of party; dinner or cocktail parties are very common and appropriate.

You may invite anyone you wish to your engagement party, however, etiquette dictates that those who are invited to the engagement party should also be invited to the wedding.

If you choose not to have an engagement party, please make every effort for the parents to meet prior to the wedding.

[As You Wish]

Oh! And gifts are never required for any engagement party.