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Congratulations!! You’ve just gotten engaged and are starting to explore the wonderful world of wedding planning! An engagement party is a party that is thrown that celebrates your engagement, but there is a lot more to it than that. Many couples and their families throw out the idea of having an engagement party because to them it just seems like an extra expense. Engagement parties used to be a must, and while they did fall off for a while, they are starting to make a comeback.Typically, an engagement party is not only a time to celebrate the engagement, but also a time for the families and friends to meet each other, if they haven’t already. So while you may know that engagement parties are meant to announce your engagement to the world and celebrate with family and friends, here are some little known facts you may not know.

An Engagement Party is Informal

Since engagement parties are meant to celebrate upcoming nuptuals, only close friends and family are typically invited. Engagement parties can be as formal or as casual as you choose, but typically they don’t include very many people. Another great thing about engagement parties, they focus on the individual couple rather than the bride or groom to be. Engagement parties should not break the bank.

Engagement Parties are Not a Time for Gift Giving

Wedding gifts can come later, an engagement party is meant to be a celebration of the engagement, and no gifts are typically given at this time. Leave the gift-getting to the future bridal showers. Instead, engagement parties are meant to celebrate the engagement, and not give a gift.

Who Throws an Engagement Party?

An engagement party is typically hosted by the couple’s parents, or another close relative. Etiquette surrounding engagement parties states that an engagement party is not to be thrown by the couple – and that it is in very poor taste to request an engagement party of your friends and family. However, many couples today are choosing to throw their own engagement parties, so really the choice is up to you.

When Should I Schedule the Engagement Party?

Engagement Parties will within a few months from the actual engagement. For couples with long engagements, your engagement party should take place about a year before the wedding, and they are a great place to hand out save the date cards with your favors.

With all the stress of planning your wedding, the last thing you’ll need to add the extra stress of throwing an engagement party, hence why they are usually thrown by family or friends. Keep in mind that while engagement parties can not only be a lot of fun, they can also be a time you’ll treasure with your family and friends. Also, if you don’t want to add the extra stress or expense that they aren’t really a necessity.