I think they are a nice way to celebrate getting engaged - especialy when a long engagement is planned. Getting engaged is big and exciting news and it should be shared with family and friends.
I agree about the gifts - it shouldn't be about that and I like the 'Your presence is present enough' line posted above.
I also think they should be as close to the engagment as possible.
One year, one of my friends got engaged in August, had an eparty in February, Shower in August, Bachelorette in Sept, Wedding in October, House Warming in December. I felt abused!
MegLehner
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Re: Engagment Parties
I never really liked the idea of engagement parties - I always feel like the couple is asking for more gifts.
kel2004
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Re: Engagment Parties
Posted by ChristineC68
I think they are a nice way to celebrate getting engaged - especialy when a long engagement is planned. Getting engaged is big and exciting news and it should be shared with family and friends.
I agree about the gifts - it shouldn't be about that and I like the 'Your presence is present enough' line posted above.
I also think they should be as close to the engagment as possible.
One year, one of my friends got engaged in August, had an eparty in February, Shower in August, Bachelorette in Sept, Wedding in October, House Warming in December. I felt abused!
How tacky!
september2004
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Re: Engagment Parties
Posted by ChristineC68 One year, one of my friends got engaged in August, had an eparty in February, Shower in August, Bachelorette in Sept, Wedding in October, House Warming in December. I felt abused!
ChristineC68
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Re: Engagment Parties
Posted by september2004
Posted by ChristineC68 One year, one of my friends got engaged in August, had an eparty in February, Shower in August, Bachelorette in Sept, Wedding in October, House Warming in December. I felt abused!
Not funny - I was broke!!
Stacey04
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Re: Engagment Parties
We had an E-party 6 months after we got engaged..we had other reasons for not having it right away - FI had surgery - I really enjoyed it and everyone had a great time..I had some reservations about the whole gift thing too, with the shower and then the wedding..but the majority of people we know had engagement parties..so we felt it wouldn't matter to them...
HappyLady05
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Re: Engagment Parties
Posted by ChristineC68
I think they are a nice way to celebrate getting engaged - especialy when a long engagement is planned. Getting engaged is big and exciting news and it should be shared with family and friends.
I agree about the gifts - it shouldn't be about that and I like the 'Your presence is present enough' line posted above.
I also think they should be as close to the engagment as possible.
I feel the same. We are having an e-party next weekend to celebrate our engagement. Our wedding is a year and a half away so not everything is in the same year. Our family was calling to send gifts after we got engaged but my parents felt a party was more appropriate to celebrate. I think it is personal. If you dont' want the party because of gifts, then just write it on the card to not bring any. do whatever makes YOU and FH happy
katebloom99
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Re: Engagment Parties
I am so glad I read this. My FH and I just got engaged and are not getting married until July 2005, so we want to celebrate! We are having an informal e-party in our big back yard this summer with a tent, and catering.
I don't want to admit this, but we were planning to put registry cards in the invites. But after reading all of your comments, I will rethink that. I don't want to burden our guests. And we are not having the party JUST for the gifts. We are having it to celebrate and have a good time. Hmmm...I have to reconsider...
The only way I think i will have gifts at the e-party, is if I do not have a shower in addition. And, I am torn about having a shower, so that may be apossibility. Showers are not my favorite. I think an e-party is way more fun.
What do you all think about showers?
Whoa, that was long.
raken40
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Re: Engagment Parties
we had one at my parents house..I thought it was a lot of fun and a good reason to celebrate..We got tons of gifts, although i was hoping that people would just come to have a nice time.
FLaCaTaCa
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Re: Engagment Parties
We are having one in June. It is in a church basement, with food, some music and some beer. It is a meet and greet and invitations are strict. Immediate family and Bridal Party...that's it!!!! I am letting word of mouth go about no gifts. I am not including it on the invite.
Scoop
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Re: Engagment Parties
We didn't have one because we got married within the same year that we got engaged.
Lorena
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Re: Engagment Parties
I'm not a fan of engagement parties that are as big as weddings. I've been to a couple of those where the party was in a catering hall, there were over 100 people and it was very formal. To me it just takes away from the wedding. I may have gotten turned off though because I went to a big one like that and then the couple broke up. It was kind of creepy. Anyway, smaller, more casual gatherings are really nice IMO. Good way for everyone to get to know each other. Plus if you have a smaller party and people give you gifts they are quite possibly people who would have given you gifts regardless.
JimmysBride
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Re: Engagment Parties
I had one. My mom hosted it and it was at Chateau La Mer but it was nothing like a wedding. Very informal and very fun. I have a large family and so does FH so it was a good way to get most of the important people together to meet in a comfortable, neutral environment. My parents are divorced, remarried and can't be in the same room. Same with his parents. We had about 50-60 people and though we did get gifts, we told everyone 'best wishes only, please'. However, I see nothing wrong with receiving engagement gifts. I don't think they are necessary, but there's nothing wrong with it either.
sammi102
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Re: Engagment Parties
We had one!!! His parents threw one. It was nice, I got to meet some of his family members that I never met before!!!
dita531
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Re: Engagment Parties
I'm having one in May and I can't wait! We're moving to Florida so as far as I know there will be no Bridal Shower. I think having both might be a bit much on the guests.
I didnt have one but of course I wouldnt have minded one...
I think they are a nice way to pre-introduce the families.
DecBride04
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Re: Engagment Parties
We did it! Go for it! What a better way to show off the rock and such a great place to ask all your attendants.
May052805
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Re: Engagment Parties
we are going to have one in August. Very informal in my parents backyard, brunch more like an open house.
Nessa79
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Re: Engagment Parties
W had one we were engaged in Dec, and had ours early July, because we wanted a backyard party, we paid for it ourselves it wound up beaing really cheap, my grandma and i cooked. It was a blast it was a great way for our families to all come together we went through like 3 kegs we had such a blast we playedf drinking games his family against mine (they won theyre %100 irish )
it was so informal, we put on the invite 'no presents, just your own' and we only got sweet and thoughtful gifts. Things we could use for the wedding - frames, toasting glasses, I loved all the stuff we got peopel were not obligated to bring gifts, some did some didnt.
I recently got invited to one and it had all of the couples registry information, thats kinda tacky, you shouldnt be recieving china and stuff for wour engagement.
Im really glad i had mine it was a blast. Hey my thought is any excuse to have a party!!!
WinterBride2005
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Re: Engagment Parties
FH and I had a brunch for family and close friends given by my parents. It was a celebration of our engagement and so that everyone close in our lives could finally meet. I am glad we had it. We did get very generous gifts from our families... but that is how they are.. they wanted to give us a little head start.
