Who normally plans the engagement party?

Doing it yourself is totally normal! The way I see it, it goes like this, the people organizing are the people who get to set the guest list. So if parents throw it, they usually invite their friends and family. But if you throw it, you invite yours. And it can be as casual or as fancy as you want! I think BBQs are popular. They're not exactly my style so I'd probably hire a bouncy castle and make a cookie dough bar, but that's just me.

Typically it's the bride's family who plans it but these days it doesn't really matter who plans what anymore. I planned my engagement party with my parents and sister. We went to a fancy Italian buffet restaurant that gave us a private area to have our party. We only invited close family and friends. Keeping it more intimate is a great way to make sure that everyone gets to mingle, relax, have fun, and eat lots of food! The restaurant had soft drinks, water, and wine going around. We bought a small cake because we knew most people would be totally full afterwards. It's also a great time to give out save the dates.

Thanks Chelsey! I like the idea of having it above a restaurant. We were thinking something very simple-- dinner at the restaurant and drinks then have some people over at our place afterwards to continue celebrating if they would like. We aren't big drinkers and don't go out often so we were thinking this is the easiest and most simplistic way for us to celebrate our engagement.

I'm aware of this. We haven't been including anybody in the planning process except for when needed (i.e. Picking the attire for the wedding party, hair and makeup options, etc.). It's been just the two of us all along.

We are planning the engagement party, the groom and I. We are doing it above a restaurant its a loft space you can rent out. We are inviting close friends and family. Don't need to invite distant cousins or grandparents. Our engagement party is going to be around 70 people and the wedding is about 160, so a little less than half.

It can be as fancy or as minimal as you want. Were doing buffet style with dancing on the other half of the room.

Just have fun with it, and hopefully your thoughts are considered because its yours and the grooms magical day

It's tradition that the brides parents pay and plan for it, but who sticks to those old traditions these days We planned and paid for our own engagement party and it was awesome! Such a great way to celebrate and let loose with everyone.

Typically, the bride's family plans the engagement party, especially in my cultural background.

I made mine fancy. I chose a restaurant and did lunch on a Sunday for a better price. Had a sweets table and mini favours. Got a cake professionally made. I've seen people do backyard picnics. It's whatever you like.

As a side note -- yes, wedding planning sucks. Everyone has an opinion. My suggestion is for certain things, like decor for e.g., I only went with my fiance. You risk offending people sometimes with your choices, but there are certain wedding decisions that don't require a lot of people.