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posted Jan 16, 2012 1:31 PM by Avant Couture
Recently, many people have been asking me about the etiquette of hosting an engagement party.
"Do I have to have one?"
"Should an engagement party be formal or casual?"
"Do I only invite guests who I intend to invite to my wedding?"
Here is my etiquette guidelines for engagement parties.
Remember these tips are merely guidelines, not set in stone. Every couple is different. Their wedding and approach to planning should be reflective of their individual preferences, style, and budget.
Do I have to have an engagement party?
No, but here are some pros and cons listed below if you're undecided.
Pros:
Engagement parties allow you to announce your engagement to your nearest and dearest friends and family in a fun way.
They're a great way for your families and friends to get to know each other
Hey, any excuse to have a party with people you love, right?
Cons:
Having an engagement party forces you to have a sense of your wedding guest list early, as you shouldn't invite anyone who won't be invited to the wedding.
It is an extra event to plan for and PAY for, or to have someone else plan and pay for
If you don't have a particularly long engagement (6 months or less) it may seem awkward to have another party so close to your wedding.
When should I have my engagement party? About four to eight months before your wedding date.
Should an engagement party be formal or casual?
An engagement party can be formal or casual. From hosting a lavish affair at a high end venue to a casual backyard barbecue. This decision is dependant upon the couple's budget and personal style.
Do I only invite guests who I intend to invite to my wedding?
I recently read an article in a bridal magazine that it is becoming more common for couples to invite guests to their engagement party with no intention of inviting them to the wedding. This article was an exception to all other books, print, and online articles I have read, which have pose contradicting views on the subject.
From your guest's perspective, an invitation to your engagement party implies that they will be invited to your wedding. If they are not invited to your wedding due to capacity constraints of the venue or small budget, you should apologise. To avoid this, create your guest list early (about nine to twelve months prior) and do not invite anyone who will not be invited to your wedding.
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posted Jan 4, 2012 6:45 PM by Avant Couture
[
updated Jan 4, 2012 6:50 PM
]
Cassie, recently married in Sydney, described
her wedding day in an online article on Find
It For Weddings disclosing her regret about not hiring a wedding planner.
“I was so concerned about
making sure everything was unfolding correctly, checking on this, and checking
on that. I didn't realize how much there would be for me to do on the actual
wedding day, until there I was and different vendors were coming up to me
constantly with different issues that were arising. It was kind of alarming...
it didn't fit the picture I had of being this relaxed bride, just enjoying her
wedding.” She continued by saying, "I thought I could manage easily
without a wedding coordinator, but by the time my wedding was over with, I felt
like a wanted to hit the 'rewind' button and go back and hire one". She
then reflected on her reason as to why she had not hired a planner, "I
didn't want to spend the extra money. Where did that get me? I would have been
much better off having a professional there to do the work, so I could have the
memory of being a bride”.
Unfortunately, many couples
don’t realise or acknowledge they need help until it is too late. Eighty five
percent of couples choose not to hire a wedding planner; seventy two percent of
those couples say they wish they had (Find It For Weddings, 2011).
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