There is a sweet spot in between your engagement date and your wedding day.
Congratulations! You’re engaged!. We’re sure that you’re getting a hundred questions from family and friends – when will the wedding be? Where will you have it? What about the shower? Who will be in your bridal party? Are you having an engagement party?
First of all – relax! Take a step back and enjoy this time together. Once you have a moment to breathe, sit down with your future spouse and figure out what you want. Do you even want an engagement party? If you do, when should you have an engagement party?
There is a sweet spot in between when you said ‘yes’ and your wedding day. Some couples have an engagement party a few months after they get engaged. Others may wait a bit, depending on their wedding date. For example, if you want a longer engagement (say two years or more), you could wait a few more months to celebrate your engagement with family and friends. If you’re having a shorter engagement, you might want to have the party within a month of the proposal – or consider not having one and focusing on wedding planning.
MORE: 5 Reasons to Have a Long Engagement
Whenever you choose to have your engagement party, there are a few things to consider.
Who will be hosting?
Decide early on who will be hosting your engagement party. Once this is solidified, you’ll be able to figure out what is best for your and your future spouse. You’ll also be able to budget accordingly – and answer the rest of the questions below!
Venue size
Will this be a small, intimate gathering with close friends and family? Or will it be larger? Will it be a backyard barbecue or catered at a restaurant or venue? Once you figure out the venue, you can focus on the guest list.
MORE: 5 Reasons to Have a Short Engagement
Guest list
Even if you’re hosting a small gathering with family and friends, you might need to draw the line on your second cousins when it comes to the engagement party. Save extended family members – or family members you’re not close with – for your actual wedding date. And as far as friends, if you know your bridal party, you might just want to stick to having them to keep it small.
Location of the party
We’re not talking about the actual venue of the party, but more the location. For example, if you live on Long Island but all of your family and friends live out of state, you should think about whether they will travel for the engagement party.
Time of year
As you start to plan your engagement party, consider the time of year. The holidays can be tough for people, as they might be busy with holiday parties or commitments. In the summer months, people might be traveling.
MORE: 7 Long Island Engagement Party Ideas That Will Wow Your Guests
Remember, just like with your wedding day, you’re not going to please everyone when it comes to your engagement party, so do what makes you and your future spouse happy. If you want to have a large engagement party to celebrate what’s to come, then do it. If you just want a small dinner party, that’s OK too. And last but not least, make sure whoever you invite to your engagement party is definitely on your wedding invite list!
And when you’re ready to start planning, make sure to download our app – Ring Leader!
