Getting engaged is the beginning of a brand new chapter in your life and it deserves a celebration! Take a time to celebrate this special occasion with your family and friends before the wedding planning starts.
Other wedding-related celebrations come with a lot of rules, but that is not the case with the engagement party; the engagement comes with a few very rules you are supposed to follow and a few variations. With that being said, there are still some things to keep in mind as you start planning your party. When it comes to the invitation list, it’s up to the hosts (often the bride’s parents), with the couple’s input.
If you’re wondering who do you invite to an engagement party, it depends greatly of the nature of the party. Are you making it big? Small? Is your budget big or small? That can be a bit complicated, but don’t worry: all the variations of the party are covered with some easy tips below.
Small party means narrowing down the guest list
Many grooms and brides to be want the engagement party that is intimate and private, so they don’t invite everyone they’ll be inviting to the wedding. They limit the guest list to their parents (and stepparents if there are any), their siblings, their grandparents, their closest aunts, uncles, and cousins, the bridesmaid and the best man and the maid of honor, and the closest friends. If you want a private and intimate party, restrict the quest list to the closest family members or their closest friends.
Big party means inviting everyone
This option is not so common, but it is still and option indeed. If you have some local custom or family obligations that you need to follow, you can invite the entire wedding guest list to your engagement party. If this is the case, make sure to make an engagement party a completely different from the wedding.
Two parties are also an option
If you prefer not to mix and match party guests and you have a big budget, it is a good choice to have separate parties. If you want to have more traditional and “calm” celebration with your close family and a real, fun party with your friends, consider having two parties-one. (But don’t invite any of the same people to both soirées.)
Extra tip: do not be fickle.
If you don’t want to invite someone to your wedding, do not invite them to your engagement party. It would be rude and awkward because it implies they’re only worthy of a pre-wedding party and not the main event.