Help me with engagement party!!

[Cinta]

Ok well DF and I have never had an official engagement party and I really want to after this bubba is born...

I'm due in August and was thinking of waiting until Oct or Nov so that the weather is a bit nicer.

I need some help planning it. Maybe you could tell me everything about your engagement party...For example, how many people went, if they were just close friends or others as well. If you invite extended family like cousins etc even if you don't see them often. If you invite someone and they have a partner do you invite them as well?

What sorta food did you have? Did you get it catered for or just do it all yourself or with some help? We were thinking maybe a BBQ with salad and stuff with just some other nibblies.

Drinks: Did you provide alcohol? If so, what and how much of it?

How much did you party end up costing all up?

What time did it start?

Did you get many pressies? Is it rude to ask for money or vouchers etc...

Any info you have would be GREAT!! Sorry for all the questions but would just LOVE some help!!

Thanks heaps in advance, you're all angels xoxo :hugs:

[Cinta]

ANYONE??!! :confused: :(

[Niki]

i didnt have one but i recently went to my cousins

they had it at a hall with a band, they served finger foods thatheir parents made. there was about 100 guests

i dont think its rude to ask for money or vouchers, i prefer to give this as its easier and i know they can get what they want.

if you are going to provide alcohol then you should probably just get the cheap stuff hehe

[sexy_minx]

hi :wave:

i just got engaged on 18th march and planed my engagment party for the 31st march!!! (13days)

we invited all of DF's family only a few from my side and mostly friends there were around 45 ppl only 3 couldnt make it

we just did our own invited and printed them from the comp i edited them to put a photo of df and myself

the party started at 12pm saturday lunch time till late and once it got late music went on and had a fire going so the rest of us just sat around that the food was just a bbq from home with a roast beef on a spit with pasta salads chips dip lollies nuts foe snacks with BYO grog we went and got 2 bottles of wines and 4 slabs of beer friends came with more beers and wines.

we just did it nice and low key ill show some photos of our party
Table1 (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/mum2boo_photos/table1.jpg)
Setup1 (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/mum2boo_photos/undercover1.jpg)
Setup2 (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/mum2boo_photos/uncercoverr1.jpg)
bloonchain (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/mum2boo_photos/balloons1.jpg)
Cake (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/mum2boo_photos/Ckae1.jpg)

[sexy_minx]

oh btw we said no gifts on the invites, as we didnt really want/need anything, but when ppl asked what to get us we said vouchers for kmart we ended up with like $350 cash and $480 in vouchers

[sexy_minx]

the cost was around
$100 on meats a bbq pack
$60 on bits and pieces chips dips salads
$120 on grog
$60 on decos balloons engagment signs ( thanks to my sister)
$30 on cups plates forks knives
so around $370

[dreamer80]

DH and I had an engagement dinner. Just family (no second cousins etc) and bridal party – 36 people all up. We didn’t have in a ‘function room’ as such just took up all of their deck, which looked over the vineyard. The main purpose of the dinner was give everyone the oppurtunity meet each other and to officially announce the bridal party and date.

We had it from 6.30pm on a Friday evening in August 2005 at a local winery/vineyard.

It cost approx:
$2000 for entrée dinner
$450 desert, tea/coffee
$400 on wine, beer & sprits
$150 Invites, thank you cards, balloons, place cards and postage All up it costs us approx $3000.

It was a lovely, enjoyable evening all round and very much worth the effort and cost!:D

Gifts are not required for engagement parties, only for weddings, so personally I would consider it very poor etiquette to ask for vouchers or money. We did receive a nice card saying congratulations from the most people (which the majority sent with the RSVP), and some lovely but unnecessary gifts such as nice bottles of wine, large bouquet of flowers and gourmet chocolate hampers from about 12 guests.

Oh and in regards to inviting partners, you have to invite peoples partner, even if you don’t know them well, it just good manners!!

These link is a great guide and overall of engagements celebrations

http://weddings.about.com/od/bridesandgrooms/a/engagementparty.htm

http://www.bwedd.com/CEBride/CEBNewsletter_63.asp

[PunkyDiva]

I didn't have an engagement party but if I were too... think I would have a low key huge party inviting everyone and anyone so I could keep my wedding to an intimate number, as I was just overwhelmed a bit and didn't enjoy as much as I beleive I should have. Depends what you want though.

Friends had a wishing well that we placed envelopes with money towards a o/s holiday for them. If it is towards something nice to get a card with piccy on it afterwards.
You can do a gift registry thingy to ensure you get items you would like and need (I like these as you know then it will be appreciated and makes it a little less time consuming although some may say impersonal)

[dreamer80]

From a Wedding etiqutte site:
Etiquette dictates that gifts should not be expected at engagement parties. This rule may vary, however, depending on your culture. You may want to explicitly state- 'best wishes only' in your invitations, or by word of mouth, if you do not expect gifts. Some guests will want to bring a gift even if they are not expected to. In these instances, you may want to wait until after the party to open them so as to not make your other guests feel guilty. You will also want to send a thank-you note to those guests who do give you a gift.

You will get pleanty of gift at/for the wedding:D, sorry to say but it look kinda gready and also like your only having the party for gifts to ask for anything expecially money would be rude!! I have been to many engagement parties over the years, and never have I see anyone registried or with a wishing well..but then I also have never been to a casual BBQ in the backyard engagement party...so what is okay may be diffrent...

Check out the web, for what goes on, what is expected etc, and for some great ideas:thumbsup:

[sexy_minx]

I dont think its rude to ask for money or gift cards for a engagment if ppl ask what you'd like
every engagment we have been to we always by something or give money or gift card with out even asking the ppl what thay'd like

[iluvmeboyz]

we had ours at home i got all decos a special table for the cake we had grog and a bbq and a marque(sp?) at the back it was quiet good i got my invites made its quiet fun doing paries like these

[StrawberryTheMilkshake]

We just went out and had dinner with our friends. We said no gifts, but just buy your own meal, and celebrate with us.
That way we werent asking for gifts we dont need, but having fun with our family and friends.

[mykidzmylife]

I have always taken a gift to an engagement party,and i would prefer to know what was needed or wanted.


but then I also have never been to a casual BBQ in the backyard engagement party...so what is okay may be diffrent...


I have found the CASUAL BBQ engagement party to be the most fun.

Do what you are happy with.
This is 2007.

XOXOXOX

Jody