9... Engagement stuff

Setting the Engagement Party Date

An engagement party usually takes place within a couple months or so of the proposal. That being  said, if you're planning to have a longer engagement, feel free to wait several months. Just make sure that your engagement party takes place closer to the time of your engagement than it does to your wedding date.

Compiling the Engagement Party  List

People  invited to your engagement party should ultimately be invited to your wedding, so the size of your engagement party guest list is really dependent upon your actual wedding day guest list. You might have as few as 10 or as many as upward of 100. When the host asks you to come up with a guest list, set it up so your closest family is first, followed by your best of friends, then go from there.

Engagement Invites

Your invites can be as simple or formal as you want , and really depend on the style & look  you're going for. Word of mouth or an Evite is totally appropriate for a small, casual gathering at home. Then again, if your parents are throwing an elegant dinner at the country club, you may want to look into sending out formal paper invites. Get those invites out about a month in advance to give guests a good heads-up, or within four to six weeks if guests are from out of town.

Engagement Party Menu & drink  Ideas

You really  don't have to serve a 7 course sit-down dinner. Passed hors d'oeuvres, tasting menu stations, and family-style buffets are all great ways to go. Another idea: Theme your food. If you had your first date over Asian food, order up dumplings and sake-tinis for your guests.

Party Decor

Pick a style and theme that are completely different from your wedding day. So if you're planning a formal wedding go for a laid-back beach-themed engagement party with vibrant tropical colors and a casual outdoor setting. The real trick here is that you don't want to upstage the wedding day. So if you're planning to have simple decor at your wedding reception, it would be odd to order over-the-top floral centerpieces for the tables. That said, a few small arrangements from your local flower person will instantly perk up any space. Look beyond flowers as well . Get colorful fabric for the tables and food areas and work with your theme.

Hope this helps,please let me know.

Peter Bruce Photo

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