Fun stuff to do at Engagement Parties?

So I'm planning a casual, catered backyard party for our engagement in the early summer.
What types of things do you guys do? Besides Food and Drinks, and Cake. Do you decorate a lot? Photos of yourselves? We're not going to have a DJ, so no mike to do speeches.
Do we need favors if we have STD's magnets?
Is it fine if I just make the invites myself? I DON'T write where we are registered, correct?
ANy fun stuff is appreciated :)

Re: Fun stuff to do at Engagement Parties?

I see you are doing a casual backyard party, are you doing to do a theme??

I know in our family baci ball is very big...any of those fun summer activities would be fine...doing the invitations yourself is a great idea! I would not put where you are registered on the invites..

Re: Fun stuff to do at Engagement Parties?

I wasn't planning a theme...my family usually does Luau's so i would something else...any other theme ideas? I have no idea!

Re: Fun stuff to do at Engagement Parties?

Not sure if we are going to do this...BUT when my cousin has hers a few years ago the families kind of "roasted" the bride and groom to be. They had then sit in the middle of the room and tell embarrasing stories from their childhood, teenage years...it was funny!

Re: Fun stuff to do at Engagement Parties?

We are also planning a casual backyard bbq to celebrate our engagement. As of right now, I am not planning on doing really anything except playing music and eating! We want it to be very casual. I also don't think we are doing favors. Our families would ask us why we spent money on them!

I am planning on printing the invites on my computer. There are some really nice computer paper invites I have seen.

Re: Fun stuff to do at Engagement Parties?

I am planning to my on the computer too. We are having ours at a KNights of Columbus..nothing fancy.