Engagement Party -- Is it necessary?

I didn't have an engagement party, and we didn't miss it. My family is throwing my shower, so I didn't want them to spend even more money!

We had one and it was very nice. For us it was a way for our extended families and,BP to meet each other as we are from different areas. We didn't Want our wedding day to be the first time the whole family met.

My problem is that my future mother in law wants to throw it and invite family that we are not inviting to the wedding. I honestly don't want one.

We wanted our immediate aunts and uncles to all meet, my mom dubbed it an engagement party. It was so much fun, but really we had it just for the aunts and uncles from both sides to meet, and for our parents to meet all those people too. We didn't even invite our BP if they weren't siblings or first cousins. It was SO FUN though. It sounds like you don't need one. We also hosted a bowling night with our BP, which I highly recommend! It was so fun. But it wasn't an engagement party.

We didnt have one. i was wary about a wedding shower as well, but my mom and sister insisted, so...guess thats happening.

I personally am not a fan of traditional engagement parties or showers. I feel like a wedding is enough to ask people to go to. However, it is nice when a certain group does a small party or shower. I helped with a lovely shower for a coworker once, with just us girls from work. I would love to have something like that.

Edit: A lot of people do it so families can meet, but ours already knew each other so that wasn't an issue. I think it would be super helpful to have a party first if your families don't know each other well.

I didn't have one and don't plan too.

We didn't have one. I had a couple girlfriends repeatedly ask when we were having one and I just don't get it I guess. I've only seen them in the movies where it's this big fancy party to announce the engagement lol. I could maybe see if you were going to have a long engagement or like others said, as a chance for the families to meet?