When Should You Have Your Engagement Party?

An engagement party is a celebration of a recently engaged couple that brings together friends and family to toast their happiness, likely months before they walk down the aisle. It is often thrown as a kick-off to the wedding season, giving loved ones the opportunity to mix and mingle. The sweet spot for when to have an engagement party is between two and three months after the engagement.

To plan your engagement party, start by choosing a host, such as the bride’s parents or a relative or friend planning for the newly-engaged duo. Consider the guest list, invitations, and guest list, and have a notepad on hand to write down who brought what. Rehearse your engagement party toast, which involves spending time with loved ones, meeting the friends and family of your spouse, making appropriate introductions, and basking in the love of your favorite people.

For longer engagements, the sweet spot for having an engagement party is between two and three months after the proposal. For shorter engagements, it can be held any time more than six months before the wedding. There is no hard and fast rule about when to throw an engagement party, but they are typically held within a few months of the proposal.

An engagement party should come soon after the engagement, while the news is still fresh. The timing of an engagement party depends on the couple’s preferences and the needs of their guests. By following these guidelines, you can create a memorable and enjoyable engagement party that sets the tone for all the celebrations to come.

Do you congratulate a woman on her engagement?

When to Congratulate Someone on Their Engagement. The timing of when to congratulate someone on their engagement is often put into question, as some couples prefer to enjoy the initial period of the engagement on their own without all of the attention that comes with so many people knowing their big news. Thats why Maryanne Parker, etiquette expert and founder of Manor of Manners, recommends only extending best wishes if the engagement was officially revealed to you or publicly announced. If you were expecting that the couple might be getting engaged or if there is a rumor going around, congratulating them is not appropriate, she says. However, if this is confirmed officially, or if we are very close to the to-be weds and they share the happy news with us, we should congratulate them immediately.

Ways to Congratulate a Newly Engaged Couple. Once youre ready to give congratulations, follow these expert-tips for how to do so with etiquette top of mind.

Give them a call.. One of the most basic and straight-forward ways of congratulating a newly engaged couple is by calling them via audio or Facetime. This is especially ideal for couples who might live far away. Even if they dont answer, leaving a congratulatory voicemail is sure to be very much appreciated.

What are the 5 rules of engagement?

Rule 1: Avoid the fight at all costs. Rule 2: If physically attacked, defend yourself. Rule 3: If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle). Rule 4: Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.

Rule 3:If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle).

Rule 4:Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.

Rule 5:When applying submissions use minimal force and negotiate.

Is it worth having an engagement party?

3. Its An Opportunity To Bring Family Together – Likely for the First Time!. If youre like the majority of couples, your families probably havent met each other yet. An engagement party is a great way to break the ice and help your loved ones get to know each other before the craziness of your wedding planning begins! After all, they are gaining another side of the family as well.

4. To Fill the Waiting Period Between Engagement and Your Wedding Day. If you are having a particularly long engagement, throwing a party is a fun way to help fill the time youll spend waiting to tie the knot! If you can, try planning it towards the middle of your engagement period. It will also keep the excitement going for your friends and family and give you all something to look forward to.

5. A Chance to Invite Your Friends to Be a Part of Your Wedding Day. If youre brainstorming ideas on how to creatively ask your friends to be bridesmaids and groomsmen, you could ask them in a really fun, memorable way at your engagement party! You can even announce their names at the party and honor their place in your life in a special and intimate way.

What are the rules for an engagement party?

How big does my engagement party have to be?Theres no set engagement party etiquette on this, but here is our advice: Keep it small- to medium-sized. You dont need to include everyone who will be on your wedding guest list. Keep the party intimate and special by inviting your closest friends and family members to raise a glass to your impending nuptials.

Whats the deal with plus-ones?This isnt a wedding. If a guest is hoping to bring their current significant other, use your discretion. You dont want to have people youll never see again show up to this intimate celebration. If you get push back from one of your guests, simply explain that you are hoping to keep the party small.

Hannah Huber. Hannah is an adventure obsessed writer living in Brooklyn, New York. In her spare time, you will likely find her planning her next trip, scouring design websites for her next project, or working on her next novel. She has written for Vogue.com, ArchitecturalDigest.com, W Magazine, and Glamour.com, among other publications, specializing in fashion, design, travel, and event planning. You can follow her on Instagram @hannahchuber.

What percentage of couples have an engagement party?

Engagement party. An engagement party is typically one of the first pre-wedding parties that takes place. This is an event that many couples dont have. In fact, according to WeddingWire, only 26 percent of couples have an engagement party!

However, engagement parties can be great for couples who are planning to have a long engagement or if you just want some extra time to officially celebrate the engagement with your loved ones.

Engagement parties typically take place about three months after you get engaged. Dont forget to give guests about a month beforehand to send out invitations!

Is 20 months too long for an engagement?

Is There a Normal Length of Engagement?. The 15-month average length of an engagement is just that, an average based on data collected from thousands of couples. But, in our expert opinion, how long should an engagement last? Heres the TLDR: Theres no such thing as a normal engagement length, and theres no too long or too short length of time to be engaged—every relationship is different, and you and your partner should decide whats best for you. If youre debating whether a long or short engagement is right for you, ​​here are a few things to consider when it comes to your time frame.

Pros of a Long Engagement. While the current average length of an engagement is 15 months, there are some benefits of having a longer engagement. If you and your partner are long distance, busy with work or school, or would like more time to plan your celebration, a long engagement might be the best choice for your love story, according to experts.

Long engagements are helpful when individuals are at significantly different places in their lives, says Scott Haltzman, M.D. So if you or your partner are still finishing school or living abroad at the moment, it might be better to start thinking about the wedding once youve completed those chapters in your lives—then your marriage can signify the start of a brand new one. Haltzman also says that a prolonged engagement gives couples extra time to engage in premarital education, so that they can learn skills that help improve marriage.

How long after engagement should you have a party?

When should you throw the party?. Traditionally, you should plan your engagement party soon after the proposal while the news is still fresh. However, try not to schedule your party within the first month of your engagement. Take some time to enjoy this exhilarating new step youre taking with your partner. Planning your party two to four months after the proposal is standard. This is the sweet spot between relishing in your newly engaged life and getting serious about planning your big day.

Who should host the party?. The next step is determining who throws the engagement party. Traditionally, its hosted by the brides parents. Today, any friend or relative who expresses enthusiasm about throwing your engagement party is welcome to host. If you cant decide on one host, its okay to have more than one engagement party.

For example, you may have one with family and one with friends. Having multiple engagement parties may also be a great option if you live in a different city than your parents. If you want, you can even throw your own engagement party.

Can I have an engagement party a year later?

When Should You Hold The Engagement Party?. Picking the right date for your engagement party can be a tad complex, as you should give some thought into when exactly you want this shindig to take place. You dont want it to happen immediately after you get engaged, partly because you want time to bask in the excitement, but also because you want to ensure all of your closest family and friends have been personally informed of the pending nuptials. You also dont want it to be too close to the wedding because youll be way too busy with all the wedding-planning craziness that you wont have time to stop and spend an afternoon at your own engagement party. Ideally, if youre getting married in more than a year, holding your engagement party within six months should suffice. However, if youre getting married sooner rather than later and someone wants to throw you an engagement party, its best to have it as soon as possible.

Should You Send Engagement Party Invitations?. The short answer is “yes,” whoever is hosting the engagement party should send some kind of invitation to the guests. But dont feel like you have to send invitations that rival the ones youre mailing out for your wedding day. Engagement party invitations can be far less formal than wedding invitations and you can even opt to send digital invites should you choose. If youve already picked out your wedding invitation designer, ask them if they can also design your engagement party invitations—they might offer you a special rate. Along with typical information like party date, time, location, and RSVP instructions, remember to include a link to your wedding website, this is the easiest way to get the word out about your wedding registry.

What Happens At An Engagement Party?. Unlike bridal and baby showers, engagement parties arent typically the kind of party where everyone brings a gift and then watches you open them for what seems like an eternity. Instead, your engagement party should focus almost entirely on eating and drinking, with intermittent moments of love and affection, along with plenty of catching up with old friends while you introduce the different sides of the family to one another. At some point during the party, the host or the couple might be expected to say a few words. But dont stress about writing a long speech—keep it short and sweet by thanking everyone for attending and telling them you cant wait to see them at the wedding.

How soon is too soon for an engagement party?

“Arrow Heart” Flyer by Paperless Post.. When do you throw an engagement party?. There is no hard and fast rule about exactly when to throw an engagement party, but they are typically held within a few months of the proposal. Engagement party invitations should be sent around four to six weeks before the event to give guests proper notice. However, if you are sending online invitations, you can send them closer to the four-week mark since they arrive instantly, and you dont have to worry about them getting lost in the mail.

You can plan an engagement party completely separate from your upcoming wedding, so theres no need to have any wedding details nailed down before you host—not even your wedding date. Of course, it would be nice to share those details with guests when they ask. (And they will ask.) But its not necessary!

If youre getting together with friends and family for another holiday or your birthday, you can combine both celebrations while youre together. Doing this often works best for couples who dont live in the same city as most of their wedding guests, and will only be in town for a short time. However, if you are hosting around the winter holidays, avoid picking a date in the few days before and after the holiday to make sure no ones schedule will be double booked.

Is a 6 month engagement too soon?

Proposing at six months of dating doesnt necessarily mean its too soon to propose, but many relationship experts warn that getting engaged this early could mean youre getting engaged in the honeymoon phase of your relationship. Its important to wait to get engaged until youve reached a relationship stage in which you can see and understand all of your partners qualities, not just the positive ones.

• Youre still in the honeymoon stage
• Communication is a constant struggle
• You havent discussed your future goals
• Finances as a couple are a mystery
• You feel like you dont know each other very well
• Conflict is difficult to resolve
• You arent getting joy out of the relationship
• There isnt an understanding of your beliefs
• It is difficult to picture yourself marrying your partner
• Youre considering proposing simply because there is pressure to do so

Marriage is a major decision, so its important to feel ready to take the leap into this next stage of your relationship before you buy a wedding ring.

Who throws the engagement party?

Traditionally, the engagement party is hosted by the brides 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. If there will be multiple gatherings, a good rule of thumb is to let the brides parents have the opportunity to be the first to celebrate the engagement.

A cocktail party hosted by the brides parents at their home is the classic example, but it is by no means the only option. Part of the delight of an engagement party is that it allows the host room for improvisation and inventiveness. Some engagement parties are very formal (think country clubs!) and others, less so. A casual backyard party with homemade food and fairy lights will also do the trick.

The traditional rules of etiquette dictate that guests invited to the engagement party should also be invited to the wedding. However, the guest list will likely be shorter. Often the idea is to make this a more intimate event than the wedding itself. But this is no longer the only accepted approach—times have changed! Now, since many people throw small weddings or hold their destination ceremonies far from friends and even family, the engagement party often includes people who may not be invited to the eventual nuptials. Pro tip: For a traditional party (like one given by the brides parents), both families should definitely be invited, whether or not all members will be able to attend the event.