Engagement Party Planning

While the bride's parents have traditionally hosted this event, now a days it's just as appropriate for any close friend, group of friends, or relatives to have the honor.

A few things to consider for engagement party planning are:

• Engagement party budget.
• Party venue (Will it be a home party, or at club or restaurant?)
• Guest list.
• Engagement party invitation wording.
• Engagement party themes.

Engagement Party Budget

Let's decide on the budget first. Whether you're plan involves a large formal affair or small intimate gathering, the budget will help you decide where you may be able to host the event and how many guests you may invite.

Engagement parties can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, determining these key elements helps in every other decision.

Party Planning Freebie: Excel Party Planning Budget Template

Before deciding on a location and guest list, write down your budget range, either on paper, or if you feel comfortable, using a spreadsheet program like Excel.

A free downloadable engagement party budget template is available here.

This is a zipped excel file you can add to or change to suit your needs.

Holding the engagement party at friends' or relatives' homes can allow you to stretch your budget and to have a more elaborate party. You might also find it's a more intimate setting.

If you decide to have the party at a home, consider hiring a server.

Money-Minded Tip

For a home party, hire that exceptional waitress you were impressed with the last time you dined out.

Make sure you let her know with plenty of anticipation; most waiters/waitresses can get a day off with plenty of notice.

Will you need to use the caterer provided at the club of your choice, or can you provide your own? Will you be able to provide you own champagne and wine for a corking fee? Your budget will determine which venue you choose.

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Engagement Party Planning: The Venue

The top venues for engagement parties are:

• Bride and groom's favorite restaurant, or the restaurant where they were
• engaged.
• The club where they or their family may belong.
• Private homes.
• Other venues: parks, botanical gardens, historic homes and museums, other public venues, or small wedding venues (in the case the couple already knows where they'll have the wedding).

When deciding on a venue, you should consider the ease of use for guests. Is there sufficient parking for guests? If not, you may plan on an alternative parking place close by, like a place of business that's not open during the event. If you have to shuttle guests, you might want to hire a chauffer for this purpose.

Money-Minded Tip

You might know a young adult who's up for the job of chauffer, who wouldn't charge much for this service.

All venues have pros and cons. Private homes offer flexibility in what you serve and how much you're willing to pay for particular items, while private venues may offer less flexibility.

However, private venues take care of details such as clean up, which might make them more desirable. The number of guests also plays into which venue you may choose. Guests must have enough room to move about with comfort.

If you are budget minded but want to have your engagement party at a particular venue other than a home, get creative. Perhaps instead of dinner, you can offer desserts and Champagne, or consider a brunch engagement party.

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Engagement Party Planning: The Guest List

While you don't have to invite everyone who will be at your wedding to your engagement party, it is proper etiquette to invite everyone from your engagement party to your wedding.

Therefore, have your wedding invitation list developed before sending out invites to the engagement party. It is perfectly okay to invite only family and close friends or everyone in your circle to your party. However, guests who would have to travel far distances should receive only wedding invitations.

Return from Engagement Party Planning to Engagement Sayings.