Engagement party

We had an engagement party two months after we got engaged ( mostly because my parents insisted on it ).
it was supposed to be small and informal ( about 20 people for a BBQ) but ended up being 80 people in a hotel . We enjoyed it a lot and I’m happy we did it.
Normally , the couple would pay for it and both sets of parents contribute to it to make it easier , but in our case it was a split between my parents and I .

We skipped the engagement party, but my mom is SUPER adamant about doing a shower now...

We originally didn't want an engagement but now all the friends and family keep bugging us for one so we might do a small one at a building party room or something

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Yes! It was just a party where we had games and food and our friends and family would come and pay to play the games and such and the money all goes towards our wedding!!

We had it around Halloween so we had it costume themed and just pinterest-ed some different games to play!

View quoted message Can you explain what you mean by a stag and doe. It sounds interesting

First, congrats! We did not do an engagement party but we did do a Stag n Doe to get some money towards our wedding! My mom and I mainly planned it and asked previous employers to donate prizes and such!

We skipped the engagement party as it was something we would have done and having my parents take some time to take the news of me coming out as well as to hearing that a wedding topic came up.

In the Indian culture, the parents from both sides can throw a party if they feel to do so. Sometimes, its not needed at all.

Having a large family does have its cost to consider the amount for a regular wedding. My side at least and hubby's side is small.

We voted to not have an engagement party. We'd been dating for almost 6 years, everybody on both sides knows us and each other well so there was no need. Also we had dinner with both our parents and siblings right after the proposal.

No engagement party for us!
We’ve both for large families but neith of us wanted one so that was that.

We hosted our own engagement party! we rented out a private room and a pub, provided an appetizer buffet and everyone just paid for their own drinks, and any other food they wanted! it worked great

My parents hosted an engagement party. But you could certainly host your own. They are not required though!

We didn't do an engagement party. FH's family wanted to do a dinner with his immediate family and mine but the logistics of it didn't work out. Honestly, I think engagement parties are nice if the couple hasn't been dating for too long/the families don't know each other, but for us, we've been together nearly 8 years at the time of engagement so... not necessary.

Yes exactly!! We had only been dating a year when he proposed short and sweet.

View quoted message Janaya that is partially my problem with planning this. Some people from my side of life tend to be judgy. My family haven't met him yet so that probably also makes things a bit awkward. But I'm hoping that if I throw the engagement party then my family will be more open to the idea of us being a forever together.

We've also only been together for a short period of time so my mother thinks I'm rushing things.... But when u know, u know right lol

We aren’t having an engagement party. It would be too much for us.

We’re just doing a bridal shower and the wedding. Typically, in my FH’s Polish culture, they also have a gathering the day after the wedding with family and close friends. However, I feel this is too much - especially after seeing everyone the night before. So we’re opting out of that too. Lots of my family and friends probably wouldn’t attend anyway even if we had it.

We didn't have an engagement party - partly because I felt awkward telling my family since they are all a little bit reserved with my relationship (just assuming it was a fling and didn't take me seriously when I said he would be the one) they are all quite judgy

Sometimes the parents will throw an engagement party for their kids... sometimes the couple throw their own.

We didn't have an engagement party. I think nowadays it's a little outdated... more so either an excuse for an extra party, or an added expense (or both).

I think it's easier just to call the close family and friends, and then make some sort of engagement announcement.

We did not do an engagement party, all our family lives in Manitoba and Ontario and we are living in Ontario. When we got engaged we hadn't lived her too long so it really wasn't worth it.

No engagement party here! Heck, I still have cousins that have never even met my Fiancé!!

We just kept prolonging it until we thought it was too late and kind of pointless seeing as how our families have already met when we go out for birthdays because we invite both my parents and his.

If we were to have had the engagement party it would have just been a supper at Olive Garden or somewhere like that. (Then everybody would pay for their own meals.) We would be the ones that ask people to come though as our families wouldn't have each others contact info to begin with and if you give to my side then his Mom would want to know why she wasn't planning it and if I gave it to her then my parents would want to know why they weren't planning it....

We did something similar to Becky, but we also mixed in my parent's 30 anniversary so it was more of a general summer celebration. It was more of my family for that reason, and also my FH's dad had a mild heart attack the night before and kept his side of the family busy. We rushed our hungover selves to the hospital the next day (in another town). Since then he's had a bypass surgery and is doing better than ever.

Anyways, we had a pretty low key affair (nothing like the engagement party in Bridesmaids) and it was super us! It was a shame that both families didn't get more time to mingle amongst themselves, but that's what the wedding is for lol

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Yes! It really helped our families to get comfortable with each other and mingle. It will make the wedding day go more smoothly in my opinion because of this. Its all up to you on how much you spend making the engagement party happen.

Vistaprint for invites- didn't pay much because did it during sale and delivered most in person

Potluck- cut costs down on food and parents supply the beef/cooked it

Games- borrowed from people we new

I hired a photographer for photos and she was new at it so got it cheap

bought letters like my profile pic for photo's staple

View quoted message So reading your reply I'm thinking engagement party is a must lol. I don't have a big family or guest list but he's closer with his family with lots of siblings.

I had an engagement party- we got engaged in February but had it in August because it was nice out and had decided to late May. Reason we had it was for the family and wedding party to get to know each other. Our family's are very different in many ways. I don't want my family to feel out of place at the wedding because there is literally less than 10 family members. I don't have relatives at all just few family friends I consider family, mean while his family is 70 people.

My parents had it at their place and there was outdoor washroom supplied, my parents supplied the meat and we did potluck- we didn't want gifts. we had an outdoor even, set up a bunch of outdoor games and had some booze supplied. I told people byob as his family drinks a lot. But i had a few different coolers full of booze. had a chunk left over like a lot lol should have bought half. It was a great way for everyone to get to know each other and everyone had fun.

Don't stress over small details- my anxiety was through roof and I was sick the whole time from it. It was nice for me as I don't do crowds to kinda have a test trial for big day.