Don't Sweat Your Engagement Party—These 26 Ideas Make It a Snap (2024)

FAQs

Don't Sweat Your Engagement Party—These 26 Ideas Make It a Snap? ›

Traditionally, the engagement party is hosted by the bride's parents, but friends of the bride and groom and other relatives may want to organize the gathering as well. The couple may opt to have two or more parties: one for relatives and family friends, for instance, and another for their own friends.

Traditionally, the engagement party is hosted by the bride's parents, but friends of the bride and groom and other relatives may want to organize the gathering as well. The couple may opt to have two or more parties: one for relatives and family friends, for instance, and another for their own friends.

Don't feel pressured to have an engagement party if it doesn't fit your vision. However, if you do choose to host one, that's great too! They can be a wonderful and meaningful way to introduce friends and family, celebrate the big news, and kick off the wedding planning process.

Couples planning a destination wedding, or planning an engagement longer than 18 months typically throw a more formal party. If it's going to be a while until you start celebrating the wedding, by all means, don't hesitate to celebrate your engagement.

Here are some common elements and things that often happen at an engagement party: Toasts and speeches: Seeing as you just decided to spend your lives together, you might want to commemorate the occasion with some toasts and speeches. Typically, you and your partner might say a few words, as well as your parents.

It's an old tradition that the bride's parents host (and pay for) the engagement party, but just like the tradition of the bride's parents paying for the entire wedding, this rule is fading away these days. Every family is different, and every couple is different.

The bride's parents have traditionally been the ones to host the engagement party. That being said, anyone close to the couple can throw the event—even the couple themselves.

In terms of the length of the engagement party, couples typically choose a two to four-hour window. If you do not plan to serve a full meal, it's best to choose a time frame in between typical mealtimes, such as 2-5 p.m.

If you plan to have an engagement party ahead of your wedding, you're in good company. According to The Knot Real Wedding Study, a quarter of soon-to-be-married couples have an engagement party, which is an event often held in addition to the more traditional bridal shower.

Guests are not required to bring gifts to an engagement party, but it is a nice gesture to bring a gift when attending this type of celebration. There are no formal guidelines that dictate how much a guest should spend on an engagement party gift. The amount solely depends on an individual's budget.

Do you have a cake at an engagement party? ›

It's my firm belief that it's not a party without a cake, so even if you decide to forgo a full buffet or sit-down meal, you should, at the very least invest in an engagement cake, which can feed the party goers. Popular are also afternoon tea celebrations.

Believe it or not, but old-school etiquette long held that congratulating a woman on her engagement is insulting, according to Farley. "It was as if you were somehow implying that she has finally found someone who deems her worth marrying," he says.

The tradition of giving wedding favors is well-established, but you might not have thought to offer a keepsake from this pre-wedding party. Engagement party favors are not only fun for all ages, they're also a great way to create an extra splash of goodwill among your future wedding guests.

ENGAGEMENT PARTY

The groom's father will give a toast following the father of the bride. After these first two toasts, the floor is open to anyone, but usually the best man and maid (or matron) of honor, if already chosen, are next. Then, other family members and friends can follow.

Wedmatch collated information to uncover the average cost of an engagement in the US and found the following: Average cost of an engagement ring: $5,500. Average cost of an engagement party: $967.50. Average cost of a bridal shower: $1,025.

Generally speaking, both sets of parents of the engaged couple should be invited, as well as step-parents and grandparents, siblings, close aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as members of your bridal party (if you're organized and know who they are), and of course, close friends, coworkers, and acquaintances.

While the maid of honor doesn't usually plan the engagement party, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner, she is usually in attendance at these events.

"The cost for these varies in region, but in general, you will expect to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 plus." It's also worth pointing out that some venues will have a booking fee in addition to a minimum that you need to spend on food and beverage. Make sure you read the contract carefully before you sign.