Questions about engagement parties?

Well for starters, I was planning on throwing her baby shower for her BUT she is incredibly OCD and did it herself before I could. My sister threw me a baby shower, I didn't do my own, as I won't throw my own bachelorette party or anything else if I have one. To each their own. Both of my parents are gone and have been since I was a little girl, as I spent the next 10-12 years after graduating with an abusive alcoholic, I didn't have a normal childhood/young adulthood to have anyone to teach me stuff, I learned on my own.

That being said, because of that, I don't have many friends and probably why I don't really like people. I have only been to 2 weddings, 1 was at 17 and just went to the wedding and then left, the second one was much later but I wasn't a part of the bridal party. I have never even thought about having a wedding let alone know the first thing about them, which is why I joined this app so I could learn about them since I am now getting married. As far as I knew you maybe have a bachelorette party then a wedding/reception then honeymoon and you're done. I didn't even think about any kind of engagement celebration, I could care less, I'm only asking because she's asking and I figured I could get the information and advice from here. Thanks for all the input

You don't like people in general but you like the idea of co-engagement party? I'm not sure I get that. The last engagement party I was invited to attend was in 1993. I don't think they're much of thing anymore. I know you're excited and want to do something "wedding-y", but you'll have plenty of time for that. In the meantime, maybe your parents can host a congratulatory dinner for the family and very close friends.

Off topic but....have you ever considered therapy?

My FH and I didn't have an engagement party but we took our parents out to a tasting at our venue after we booked it. I imagine that as our celebration of engagement and it was great because everything was free lol

We had one but it was thrown by my FH's family. My best friend and her FW threw their own and just invited a small group of friends to this house and they had a baked potato bar, assortment of chips and dips, burgers, etc just to kind get everyone to hang out as well. IF you do throw your own, don't make people bring food. Supply your own.

We had an engagement party. Our families hosted it for us.

@OG Kathryn I'm not sure what my age has to do with an engagement party and @Gymrat I ask a question about engagement parties and explain why I'm asking and that means I need therapy? I thought my question was a normal question? I don't know anything about weddings or anything that goes with it, I just needed some input on something my friend asked me about because I didn't know. I thought that's what forums were for.

Thank you to every one who did answer my questions, that's all I needed.

When I say I don't like people in general it just meant that I'm not a people person. I've been burned by people I thought were close friends before and now I would rather just not trust people and spend my time with the ones who are true to me; that doesn't mean I don't want to celebrate getting engaged/married or not celebrate with her getting engaged/married. We just wanted to do something for it and didn't know the "etiquette" or normal stuff you do for it so I asked the only people/place I figured could give me an answer/advice.

My parents are hosting my engagement party.

Reality = they actually just pay for it while I pick what décor & such I want lol

That's just how it is in my culture.

You're right, it wasn't the topic of discussion, but I was reading between the lines. The reason why I asked have you considered therapy is because more than once you brought up how you "really don't like people." Doesn't make sense to me when you're trying to plan an engagement party -

whether you knew the etiquette surrounding it or not. But clearly you knew what I meant, because in your second comment you clarified.

So now it's you're not a people person. Got it. Makes sense.

Best of luck with your wedding planning.

Engagement parties must be a regional/cultural thing, because people have them all the time where I'm from (Central Virginia), but some people on here go ape shit if you so much as mention an engagement party.

That being said, you never want to throw a party in your honor, but I get what you're saying about doing them together. I think that'd be fine, especially if it's just a low-key backyard thing.

@Mary I have noticed... There are alot of things I would like to say but I'm gonna just leave it. I'm better than that. I'm not very good at explaining things or saying what I mean with the right words. I have that problem everywhere I go. I'm not planning an engagement party for myself, like I said, I could really care less. She brought it up to me and I didn't know about them so I asked here. Obviously that was a bad idea. But I do appreciate everyone who actually answered my questions and thank you all.

FH and I threw our own engagement party. We had a bbq, catered sandwiches and hot food from an Italian restaurant, and lots and lots of booze, snacks, and cake. We had an awesome time and it gave the families a chance to meet and mingle. We paid for everything that we served.

Do whatever works for you and whatever you guys are comfortable with.

The only thing I hate more than engagement parties is housewarming parties.

Still a faux pas to throw your own engagement party. Same for showers and bachelorette parties.