Although a bridal shower is still de rigueur for most brides-to-be, many couples are supplementing the celebration with an engagement party. Some even scrap the traditional bridal shower altogether in favor of an inclusive party that welcomes male and female guests of all ages.
There are few rules for hosting an engagement party, so don’t be afraid to be a trend-setter. In fact, some bold party planners don’t even wait for the couple to become formally engaged: the proposal is the highlight of the party itself.
Engagement Party Invitations
Unless you’re hosting a formal catered affair, keep your invitations casual. Free online invitation providers are a suitable choice for getting the word out about your engagement party, but use them with caution if the party is a surprise to the couple. It’s too easy to forward emails to an unintended recipient, and a guest may accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
Engagement Party Planning
Your engagement party theme can be as creative or simple as you want it to be. If the party is an adult affair, you can’t go wrong with a simple cocktail party and some hors d’oeuvres. If the engagement is far enough along that you are privy to details about the planned honeymoon, you can mirror this theme with a party centered on the destination, like a beach bash or Parisian party.
Engagement Party Favors
Today’s photo developing services give party planners a multitude of inexpensive party favor options. You can take a photo of the couple during their courtship, and place it on anything from a golf ball to a deck of playing cards to hand out to guests.
You can also center the favors on a romantic theme. Give each guest a small potted plant painted with the words, “Love is in bloom.” Anything heart-shaped makes a good favor, such as cookie-cutters or candles.
Engagement Gift Ideas
Unlike a traditional bridal shower, where guests “shower” the future bride with presents, gifts aren’t the focus of an engagement party. However, an engagement party is an appropriate time to give the couple something that will have sentimental value.
If you plan to serve alcohol at the engagement party, purchase a bottle of fine wine or champagne for the couple to open and use for a toast. After the guests enjoy their libations, have everyone sign the bottle. The wedding couple can use the bottle as a flower vase at their guestbook sign-in table on the wedding day.
The bride-to-be may appreciate a gift of high quality lingerie for her wedding night. Don’t buy anything too risqué; off-color gifts are better given at the bachelorette party.
Complement this with a robe or a pair of silk boxer shorts for the future groom.
A delicate ring tree is a thoughtful gift that puts the focus on the beautiful engagement ring. A leather dresser-top tray provides the man with a place to store his future wedding ring.
Remember that it matters little how simple or opulent your engagement party turns out to be. Keep the focus on the couple and the introduction of the families, as this is the first of many such gatherings to come.
