Engagement Party Etiquette

RE: Engagement Party Etiquette Post By Thrifty Me (Guest Post) (12/27/2007) The purpose of etiquette is to help you include people in your plans. The etiquette comes in when you need help with HOW to include them. By all means, this is an exception to a rule intended for a wedding held in the same town. If you want an engagement party, go ahead and give your friends an excuse to dress up and meet the man who has stolen you away from them. It can be an elegant affair, or a barbecue; the feeling will be the same. Do what is comfortable for you and your hostess friend. Your invited friends will follow suit. Congratulations and best wishes to you both! RE: Engagement Party Etiquette Post By Cassie (Guest Post) (12/27/2007) Invite everyone you would if you were staying in Texas for the wedding. Maybe some people would actually be thrilled to make the trip to NC! I think your friend sounds like a real sweetheart, and I wish you the best! RE: Engagement Party Etiquette Post by NokomisNims (9) | (12/27/2007) Contact Hi, Amanda! congratulations on your fairy-tale engagement! You're lucky that you have such a generous friend, not to mention 150 people who'd want to meet your fiance! I'd send wedding invitations to everyone I'd invite to the wedding if it were planned for Texas. I'd include a separate card for the 'meet-my-fiance' BBQ and state that it was 'casual dress.' You'd want the RSVPs directed to your friend hosting the party. If anyone asked, your friend could let the guests know where you are registered for gifts (it wouldn't be a bad idea to choose some place that has branch stores in your new home area, too, so you could pick up gifts in NC, instead of having to transport them from Texas.) Of course, the idea isn't just to get gifts (although they'd be welcome!) but to have your friends get to know your fiance, but you'd want to make it easy for those who'd like to give a gift. Your friend could explain that gifts could be ordered to be picked up in the NC store, if anyone asked.) Then friends who want to wish you well can attend your casual BBQ; everyone would be able to share in the wedding happiness and have your invitation as a memento. I hope this doesn't sound greedy; I'm trying to think like a guest as well as a hostess. Congratulations! Nancy in Florida RE: Engagement Party Etiquette Post By Jenny (Guest Post) (12/27/2007) How romantic that you were reunited after 2 decades! I think you should invite everyone, as its an opportunity for your friends to share your happiness. The BBQ sounds like fun, but in the end, you should do what suits yours and your fiance's personality best. Congratulations! RE: Engagement Party Etiquette Post by Exasperated (97) | (12/27/2007) Profile | Contact BBQ sounds like fun--and very Texan! Ask yourself what you would like to be invited to and go for it. (I would be delighted to be asked to a casual BBQ!) Best wishes. Cay from FL RE: Engagement Party Etiquette Post by louel53 (66) | (12/27/2007) Contact Well, I don't know the etiquette on this, but I think that you should invite everyone you want to. If the friend who is hosting this party is prepared for 150 guests, than go for it. Talk it over, and figure out what you can do. If you are just expecting that the guests will meet and greet you partner, it should be fine. If some sort of gift is expected because of labeling it an Engagement Party -- make it clear that gifts are not the purpose of the party. Don't call it that -- call it a BBQ to celebrate your engagement!!! Congratualtions Louise, from Canada