So we wanted to have an engagement party this summer, more of a casual type of event to just celebrate being engaged with friends and family, since our wedding is so far away (2012). We wanted to have it outside at my parents', since they have a huge backyard. We were going to rent a tent, get kegs and alcohol, and have food catered.
When we told my FMIL about it she kept insisting that we should have it at a place, that way it will be easier on my parents, etc, and she told us that she will pay half (with my parents).
So I have been looking around trying to find a reasonable place, but everything is SO EXPENSIVE! I mean I am not going to make them pay $40 a person for an engagement party!!! The only way we can do this for a reasonable price is to only have 50 people there, and we have a bigger guest list.
Anyway I wanted to see where you guys had your party, pros cons, etc.
TIA!
mivs929
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Re: engagement party dilemma/poll
I had it at a hall and it was very nice. I actually wanted it in a backyard too. The only thing with yard parties is that your mom will probably have to do most of the cleanup or whoever is throwing you the party. You want her to enjoy it too. Unless you hire cleanup help but that adds up too.
FutureMrsDe
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Re: engagement party dilemma/poll
what about checking out a pub or something more casual.
depoc1011
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we had it at the Westbury Manor... Maybe check out some resturants...
JBC12510
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I really wanted to throw a huge casual kegger engagement party in my yard and it didnt work out. We didnt have an engagment party. I still wish we did!
futurestevens
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we wanted ours in a backyard since it would be casual and not too expensive. turns out our guest list was too big and they wouldn't have all fit in the backyard lol
FFIL is a member of the american legion hall in copiague so we're renting that out instead. i really don't know how much it was since FILs are paying for the space. we're just going to have food catered. american legion hall has a bar and provides a bartender
CantWait2Wed
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I’m glad that you posted this poll. I was starting to think I was the only one having my eparty at home. My aunt and uncle have a beautiful home/deck and have generously offered to host the party with my parents and I am really excited for it. We have it set for June 12- hopefully before it gets too hot! We will be doing a nice but casual event- bbq type food (chicken, burgers etc) and some catered food. I plan on sangria and other fun touches. This is really the first time our full families are mixing so a casual event with lots of food and drink is the way to go for us. My parents just purchased my dress and are paying for an immediate family brunch soon, I would not feel right having them do a huge party.
MongieToBe
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Re: engagement party dilemma/poll
FH's parents have a beautiful house on the water with a big backyard. We rented tents (the ones with the lights in them), had tonsss of liquor, lots of beer, a friend DJed, & we had the food catered. We also had 2 servers so that FMIL could enjoy herself (or atleast try to) & not have to clean everything up. We had a reeeally fun time. Tropical Storm Danny couldn't keep us down! lol
Corinne Ann
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Re: engagement party dilemma/poll
we had it at the American Legion hall in Williston Park on Willis Ave..
its really nice inside! It was something like $17 pp for open bar....
we catered it by Dominicks Italian Deli on Herricks Rd - the food was great!!!!!!!!
we hired servers and a DJ
It was great!!
I think we had about 100-125 ppl and it was $4000 in total for everything!
allornil
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I'd still have it at home. See how much it is to have a cleanup crew. My aunt always has someone at every event..even thanksgiving to come and help clean.
leesah85
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We had ours at Dao in Huntington and paid $22 per person. It was only appetizer and dinner though - we brought a cake and coffee with us.
Moonmist09
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just because your FMIL asked you to have it at a place doesn't mean you have to. you wanted to do a more casual thing - then just do it in the backyard.
however, catering, kegs and renting a tent will all cost money - so make sure that all of those costs don't cost more than just having it at a restaurant or something.
did you ask your parents if they are even willing to have it at a place instead of your backyard?
bluj786
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i voted backyard. we actually did just that, FH built a tiki bar in his parents backyard and we have had many amazing parties there and why not have the engagment party there. im soo glad that we did it that way, it was more casual but thats how FH and I are and his family. and we are party people. let me put this way, we had some guests stay to watch the sun rise!!!
LoveyDovey
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Re: engagement party dilemma/poll
if we had a big backyard, we would have done it that way but we don't
so we are having a small party, 50 people, at a restaurant...you could probably get it for less than 40 per person...try Portico's in Hauppauge---that's where we are having it...they are reasonable! and worked with us alot on the price
also backyard parties can tend to cost just as much as restaurants when its all said and done
and like someone else said...you have to do all the clean up and set up yourself...sometimes its nice to just enjoy the party!
JenBill61210
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i had just close family (like aunts uncles, cousins,) was about 60 people. I had it at domenico's in levittown, it was around $30 pp. the food was really good too!
FutureMcBride
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wow! Thanks everyone! I am surprised to see so many people did it at home....
We looked into prices, with a tent, catered food, alcohol etc it will definitely be a lot cheaper than having it at a restaurant, since we will be able to invite more people. We are hoping to spend about $2000.....
I guess we will see what happens, there is a company that we will probably use that brings grills etc to barbeque a ton of food and then they clean up after....
also hiring a cleanup crew is not a bad idea, does anyone know any companies that do this?
I am very excited! Hopefully it won't be too hot in August when we do it!
Dc1204
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i love that idea...who are you using? Because we are having ours in the yard too....not sure about clean up crew tho. Maybe you could ask the people who you are renting all the stuff from.
Ang9483
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Re: engagement party dilemma/poll
I think the backyard is a good idea. I never even had an engagement party but if I did I prob would have done the yard also. Plus your not rushed you can hang out as long as you want. If your Fil's are concerned with the cleaning and serving maybe you can hire people to help serve and clean up.
