Engagement Party.....

Sunshine128 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:16 PM

Engagement Party.....

What should I do for a theme? Or centerpieces? How far in advance do I send out invites? Do I give favors? Thanks!!

jessicae129 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:23 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

I am in the same predicament as you...I know nothing!!!!!!!!! But try doing a search for engagement parties and maybe you'll be able to get more info.

One idea - do a theme that you might have wanted for the wedding but couldn't for some reason..for example, both FH and I are Irish and I was initially thinking of an Celtic theme for the wedding...but in the end decided against it cause I don't want green as our colors!! But maybe try some ideas in that way..

when are you thinking of having your e-party ? The time of year can help you set a theme. Also, will it be formal or more informal...this can help guide you too. I'll help you think if you give more info!!!

I am thinking of sending out info's one month prior, but I am not sure if that is proper or not...anyone know???

julz33 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:24 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

For my engagement party it was pretty casual. We had it at a local American Legion Hall and had it catered by a local deli. For centerpieces and decorations we had ballons on each table. For favors we gave out magnets that cousin made them. Nothing to fancy.

Nora101004 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:28 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

Ours was pretty casual too. We got the 'decorations' at Party City, they had the whole set of 'engagement party' stuff (plates/cups/etc). They just got some other stuff in a plain color to match. We gave out rolls of lifesavers with a cute wrapper I ordered from ebay. A little favor is nice. The invites should be sent about 4-6 weeks before the party.

jrl0223 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:28 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

I'm not really having a theme per se, just a running motiff. The invites are 'A perfect pair' by Stylart. And for favors, I'm either doing chocolate covered grahm crackers with a choc pear emblem, or pear shaped chocolate lollipops. And the ribbon will have our names on one side and 'a perfect pair' on the other. We're going to have flowers on the tables and balloon bouquets scattered throughout the restaurant. I'll probably coordinate the colors of the flowers/balloons with the colors on the invite.

I saw the invitation and fell in love with the perfect pair idea.

BMD'sPeanut Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:29 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

We had a 'dinner' with 80 people in the back of a restaurant. No music, just mingling.
Balloon centerpieces and STD magnets and ceramic dove candle holders for favors. (Peace and love was our theme and we had lots of doves and hearts around.)

ETA: We sent out invitations that we printed ourselves and sent them out less than a month before the dinner.

nferrandi Posted: Feb 04, 2004 01:30 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

Our engagement party was in a big heated tent in the back yard. It was a very casual bbq type party and we went with an autumn theme (it was in October). I had hurricanes ($8 in Odd Job) and orange votives as the centerpieces and I gave out vases from the dollar store as favors. They were kind of plain so I wrapped them all in fall colored cellophane and tied them up with ribbons.
If you're having your engagement party in the summer you can do a beach theme. You can have pails filled with sand as you centerpieces and you can give out inflatable balls as your favors.

jcdesignz Posted: Feb 04, 2004 02:20 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

We are having our engagement party in march at a vamps club at a firehouse in long island - we are having it catered by a local pizza/deli place, hired a dj - and are decorating in bright colors that match a 'Congratulations on your engagement' balloon that we liked at party giant. THe table cloths and other baloons and plates and stuf will all match that.

for favors we are giving out save the date magnets that we had printed out and that we put in these great little silver organza bags that we bought on ebay for 15 dollars for 100.

to save money, we went to the firehouse - where they charge you an all inclusive price for the hall, cleanup afterwards (yee hee) and unlimited beer wine and soda....

the place we are getting catering included all papergoods (plates, cups, knives, forks, spoons, etc, the flame things), salads, breads, and our choice of 6 entrees and 2 pastas for 8.00 a person,

and we are gonna get chips, and salsa and dip and stuff at bjs wholesale club the day before. they also have the full sheet cake for only $27.00.

hope this helps ---- any questions feel free to fm me

Kra5hnburn Posted: Feb 04, 2004 02:21 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

We sent out invites about 6 weeks in advance and had about 70 people in a little Italian restaurant. We had a Vegas theme because we got engaged there and our favors were decks of cards that said, 'Lucky in Love' with dice on theme. We had balloons as centerpieces and I scattered chocolate poker chips around the table.
A lot of restaurants have party rooms and if you don't do open bar, the prices are pretty good. You don't have to do anything flashy to add some special touches. You could put out some balloons or some pictures of the two of you. I like what someone posted about giving out their STDs at the party. Party city has some nice solid or theme decorations to choose from at a good price.

Sunshine128 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 03:09 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

Thanks so much everyone! I'm thinking either March or April.... we are trying to get my uncle to get his Knights of Columbus in Oceanside... I think that they charge around $50pp but it includes all food and alchohol... do you think that's too much? Any other ideas of places? We would like to stay in Nassau County... thanks everyone!

AliKing Posted: Feb 04, 2004 03:17 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

Posted by Sunshine128
we are trying to get my uncle to get his Knights of Columbus in Oceanside... I think that they charge around $50pp but it includes all food and alchohol... do you think that's too much? Any other ideas of places? We would like to stay in Nassau County... thanks everyone!

My sister had her Eparty at KOC in Oceanside... It was really nice, but I thought it was a lot cheaper then $50/person. I will check into it though and get back to you.
We had ours at Vito's in Long Beach.. It was $42/person with open bar.. There are different packages that you can look at though. It was a lot of fun and they have a house DJ that was only $500.
You could also look at Bridgeview in Island Park.. I think that's $50/ person.

Sunshine128 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 03:21 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

hmmm.... I'm going to look into Vito's! I eat there all the time

MrHostility Posted: Feb 04, 2004 03:40 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

Favors at mine were a bag of chocolates that FW, my mom, and I all made. We had fun making them wacky colors. They were really tasty too.

nferrandi Posted: Feb 04, 2004 04:12 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

I'm not really familiar with LI, but that does seem like a lot of money for an engagement party. It should really be more in the range of $20-30. My RD is going to be at a local (Westchester) Italian restaurant and it's $35 for a coursed dinner and beer, wine and soda.

OctGroom Posted: Feb 04, 2004 04:19 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

We had two engagements parties...

1.) With the parents.. they had not yet met and we went to an Itaian restaurant. Just a regular meal.. no trimmings.

2.) With our friends.. at a bar/lounge in NYC. Very simple thing too.

We liked both.

Whatever you do, (if you make it fancy or simple) just make sure you just have fun!

drewsgirl Posted: Feb 04, 2004 04:34 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

My eparty was at Molly Mallones in the upstairs room. For favors we just had chocolate pops made up that had a cameo of a bride and groom on them. The place was really nice and we did it around Christmas time last year so it was decorated for the holidays. You can check there if you are looking for places. The price per person wasn't too bad at all.

jw11897 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 05:54 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

We had our engagement party at my FIL's house b/c we were already engaged for 1 year and just wanted to keep it low key we gave out Lenox bud vases as favors and I made a bunch of chocolate lollipops w/ a BM and made a wedding cake out of styrofoam rounds and decorated and stuck all the lollipops in there. I had ribbons made up with our engagement party date and our names. We kept everything in the same color theme maroons and pinks.

Kra5hnburn Posted: Feb 04, 2004 06:01 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

$50pp sounds kinda steep for an engagement party. I called many restaurants for prices, including open bar and cake, and teh most expensive quote I got was about $40 at Momma Lombardi's. Everthing else was between $25-$35. But, if it's everything you want and price is no object, go for it.

Sunshine128 Posted: Feb 04, 2004 11:55 PM

Re: Engagement Party.....

Price is definitely a factor.... I could be getting that number wrong... I'm definitely going to have to do some calling around tomorrow! Thanks so much girlies!

jrl0223 Posted: Feb 05, 2004 09:06 AM

Re: Engagement Party.....

My e-party is at the West End Cafe in Carle Place. The're closing therestaurant for a sunday brunch and can accomodate up to 90 people. I believe its $26.95/pp plus $1 for each person if they want soda.