Who is invited to an engagement party

The individuals who should always be invited include: The parents of the couple, including divorced parents if possible Close or significant family members, such as grandparents Close friends who may be asked to be in the bridal party Significant coworkers, neighbors, or friends who will very likely be invited to the wedding Of course, if the engagement party will be a small affair, it is acceptable to invite fewer guests without breaching engagement party etiquette.

Only invite people to the engagement party who will also be invited to the wedding. Who Isn't Invited There are certain people who should not be invited to an engagement party, even with the best intentions. After the couple has had the opportunity to discuss these old relationships, exes can be invited to the wedding but it is best to leave them off the engagement party guest list.

Non-Wedding Guests : If casual friends or coworkers whom the couple knows will not be invited to the wedding, it is best not to invite them to the engagement party.

An engagement party guest may assume that being part of this party will lead to a wedding invitation which can be awkward and impolite if it does not. Children : Even though a couple may have young children in their wedding party, it is inappropriate to invite them to most engagement parties unless the event is a casual family affair and there will be many children attending. When to Break the Rules Despite the best planning intentions, there are times when a couple has to break the rules with their engagement party guest list.

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Kids Gifts. Just remember that giving gifts, while certainly customary, is not mandatory for engagement parties. Having more than one engagement party is quite common, especially if the bride and groom are from different places or live far from home and want to have a party with non-locals, too. If your friends or a coworker want to plan something informal, like after-work drinks, you can invite a larger group without worrying about an etiquette faux pas.

Whether you got engaged over the holidays or any other time of year, you have the option of combining your engagement party with another celebration. Just try to avoid holidays for which people will have other plans and will be focused on family traditions, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, or a date like Valentine's Day when people will want to make plans with their special someone.

At an engagement party, the atmosphere isn't going to be right. From key decisions you'll make early on to final touches the day of, here's how to plan an engagement party. You can call in the help of a professional if you're going all out for your engagement party some wedding planners even include it in their overall package. The best time is within the first few months of engagement. The excitement is still fresh, and any potential wedding planning stress has yet to kick in!

The best bet is to keep the engagement party more intimate and invite only those who will be at the wedding as well. If someone is throwing the party on your behalf, consult with them before ordering invitations. Gathering in the backyard? Your favorite cookout fare is a must. As with just about every other engagement party detail, the theme and decor can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like.

The focus is on celebrating, so do whatever will help you enhance that vibe. Send out the invites at least a month in advance six weeks ahead if a lot of guests are coming from out of town. There are a few people who should be invited to an engagement party almost automatically. First up is family. Anyone who is part of your immediate family — parents, brothers, sisters — should be invited.

This rule should be extended to any family member who played a significant role in your upbringings such as grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Proper engagement party etiquette also involves inviting the bridal party.