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Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Baton Rouge | Eric Garcia
Getting engaged is a significant milestone. Now that you have the ring, you’re probably jumping at the chance to celebrate your upcoming wedding with close family and friends!
Don’t want to wait until the wedding day?
You don’t have to!
You can have an engagement party in a matter of weeks.
If you’re thinking about planning an engagement party, this guide has everything you need to know. We discuss if you should have one, who to invite, what to wear, and more!
Does Every Couple Have an Engagement Party?
An engagement party is a celebration of your engagement proposal and commitment to marry. Many newly engaged couples have one, but many don’t. In most cases, it depends on when and where you’ll get married.
Engagement parties are most common among couples planning a long engagement of 12-18+ months.
Engaged couples who plan to wed within the year typically skip the engagement party. Couples planning a destination wedding within the year often throw engagement parties, knowing that most guests won’t be able to travel to their destination.
Related: How Many Pre-Wedding Events Do You Need to Have?
What Happens at an Engagement Party?
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Greenville | Haley Jane
So, what exactly happens at an engagement party?
That’s entirely up to you!
Some couples host chic cocktail parties with drinks, dancing, and passed hors d’oeuvres.
Others plan backyard barbecues or activity-based events. During these events, guests play lawn games, solve a murder mystery, or play casino games.
It can be as formal or as casual as you’d like. From a Sunday brunch to a Saturday night soiree, your engagement celebration can be super chill or oh-so-fancy!
An engagement party is a celebration of your love. It’s a chance for everyone invited to toast to the happy couple in anticipation of the big day.
It’s also an opportunity for the bride’s family and friends to gather with the groom’s family and friends — in many cases, for the first time.
When to Have an Engagement Party
Engagement parties can happen a few weeks or several months after the proposal. The timing usually depends on the wedding date.
If you’re renting an engagement party venue and hiring a caterer, two to three months after the proposal is typical. If you’re hosting a party at home or a restaurant, you can throw one in a few short weeks!
Either way, an engagement party should occur several months before the wedding day to allow time for the two events to be spaced apart.
Some couples even choose to do a surprise engagement party. They invite close friends and family to a separate celebration, such as a holiday or a birthday, and then surprise them with the news!
Couples with families in different states or different countries often have two separate parties.
You can also have different parties for different people. For example, consider a formal celebration for your family hosted by your parents. You can then have a separate, more casual celebration just for friends.
Where to Have an Engagement Party
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids | Kendra Martin
You can literally have an engagement party anywhere.
Some couples have a laid-back bash in someone’s home, while others throw a super elegant affair in an upscale venue. We’ve seen some couples host engagement parties so formal they rival weddings.
For many couples, the perfect engagement party is a simple get-together. They invite their closest relatives and best friends who’ll become the bridesmaids and groomsmen in their wedding party.
When it comes to engagement party planning, anything goes.
Unlike wedding planning, which can take several months, you can plan an engagement party quickly. There’s no need to spend months deciding on an engagement party theme or to wait for a specific venue to become available.
Just pick a place, send your invites, and get to celebrating!
Who to Invite to Your Engagement Party
Everyone on your engagement party guest list should also be on the wedding guest list. Your engagement party guests will expect it.
As the happy couple, you should expect everyone in attendance to ask when your wedding will be. They’ll assume they’ll receive an invitation to the big day and likely want to mark their calendars ASAP.
If you haven’t set a date yet, just let them know you’ll be sending save-the-date cards soon!
Who Pays for the Engagement Party?
Traditionally, the bride’s parents host, plan, and pay for the engagement party, but that’s not always the case anymore.
Anyone can plan the party, and anyone can pay for it. Sometimes the groom’s parents pay, sometimes both sets of parents pay, and sometimes the couple pays.
Should You Register for Engagement Gifts?
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Houston | Melissa Tracewell
Gift-giving at an engagement party is usually optional. Some guests, such as your closest friends and family members, may bring you gifts.
If you include registry details on your engagement party invites, your loved ones will think you expect a gift. It’s best to exclude that detail from your invitation. Instead, include a link to your wedding website (if you’ve had a chance to make one), and add a link to your registry there.
What to Wear to an Engagement Party
Whether you decide on a casual or formal dress code, the groom and bride-to-be should show up looking their best for their engagement party. You’ll probably take many photos.
So you’ll want to wear a stylish, appropriate outfit.
Engagement Party Looks for Brides-to-Be
Many brides prefer to wear white to every pre-wedding event. This includes the rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, bachelorette party, and engagement party.
Here are some options that might be perfect for your celebration:
Jenny Yoo Ayla Dress
The Jenny Yoo Ayla dress is sexy, sophisticated, and oh-so-chic! Long sleeves and an off-the-shoulder neckline make this midi dress a gorgeous option for any pre-wedding celebration.
By Watters Pierre Dress
In baronette satin, the By Watters Pierre Dress features a tailored mini silhouette with a corset bodice and short puffed sleeves that can be worn on or off the shoulder. It’s a fun, flirty look that’s as feminine as can be!
Shop our entire collection of event dresses for guests and the bride!
Amsale P3934
With a one-shoulder bodice and a bow on the shoulder, the Amsale P3934 evening dress wows in an ultra-flattering midi silhouette. If you don’t want to wear white to your engagement party, this dress comes in 30+ colors.
Engagement Party Looks for Grooms-to-Be
Depending on the formality of the event, guys can wear a suit, dress pants with a vest, a blazer, or a nice pair of pants with a more casual shirt.
Accessorize with a colorful printed tie or bow tie to add some personal sense of style.
Read our post What Should I Wear to an Engagement Party? for even more outfit ideas!
Engagement party planning should be fun, memorable, and stress-free — like wedding planning.
Whether it's a casual party or an upscale event, your engagement party is the first occasion to celebrate your love story with your loved ones. Dress your best, invite the people you love most, and prepare to make memories that will last a lifetime.
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