Engagement Parties

Someone proposed and someone said “yes” — sounds like it’s time for a party! Traditionally, parents of the bride or groom host engagement parties, but today’s post-proposal festivities are thrown by anyone ready and willing to bring friends and family together for a fun event — including the engaged couple themselves!

Here are some tips and ideas that will surely make a good time for everyone, no matter who hosts the celebration!

• Incorporate a theme. Engagement parties are the perfect opportunity to fuse personality into the fun. Why not host a luau for a beach-loving duo; or a set Las Vegas mood for a pair of Texas hold ’em enthusiasts?

• Try food networking. Ask each invited guest to bring a dish to share and include a copy of the recipe for the honored couple. This is a fun and tasty way for them to add old favorites and new dishes to their recipe repertoire. Lots of talking and tasting — food and drink — is a great way for those who don’t know each other to break the ice and start mingling.

• Keep the glass half full. You can — and should — expect a ton of toasts during this get-together.  Tradition dictates the father of the bride starts the toasts, followed by the groom, and then the floor opens to anyone wanting to offer well wishes to the couple. No matter who toasts or how many are proposed, keep plenty of liquids on hand so guests can keep raising their glasses. Be sure to include a variety of non-alcoholic choices so everyone can join in the fun.

• Pick a pic. If the engagement party includes family members, ask relatives to bring their wedding pictures. Not only will you get to admire (and chuckle) at the bygone wedding fashions of yesteryear, but you might learn something new about your family history (or that of your future in-laws). Who knows? You might even pick up a great idea or two for your own wedding album.

• Gather well wishes for your memory book. Set out a pretty journal or write-on frame at the engagement party and encourage family and friends to write words of wisdom, congratulations and support for you to read on the spot and through the years.

Whatever you choose to do, there’s no better excuse for a party than to celebrate your engagement with those you love. Cheers! ~CM