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Savvy July 2021

Engagement Party Pros/cons

Erin, on August 28, 2019 at 11:31 AM Posted in Planning 0 9

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I’m recently engaged/recently booked our venue. We are toying with the idea of an engagement party. To me a pro is that our families will get to meet. My brother & SIL live out of state, as does my FFIL & his wife. My mom and FMIL are really the only family that have met so I thought it would be nice to get all the introducing out of the way and have everyone together!

A con for me is I know it’s an added cost that we don’t NEED. We are paying for our wedding ourselves and trying to cut corners as much as possible but I would be willing to do the party as cheap as possible.

Basically if you had one one do you regret having one?
If you didn’t have one, do you wish you did?

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9 Comments

Latest activity by Hannah, on August 28, 2019 at 1:47 PM

Master December 2019
Courtney · on August 28, 2019 at 11:32 AM
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We opted out of one for that exact reason: costs. We got engaged right before the start of the holiday seasons and we didn't want to add one more thing to everyone's schedules. Instead, we went our for a nice dinner with our parents to celebrate.
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Legend June 2019
Melle · on August 28, 2019 at 11:34 AM
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We didn't do one either. I don't regret it because theres plenty of other opportunities for everyone to meet beforehand and mingle
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on August 28, 2019 at 11:38 AM
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We didn't have one (no one offered to host one) and I didn't regret not having one since we had bachelor/bachelorette parties and a bridal shower.
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Super October 2020
Megan · on August 28, 2019 at 11:43 AM
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It is an unfortunate added cost, but for us, it came down to having our families meet, and including close friends who will not be in our wedding party (we have a large group of friends but are having a small wedding party). So we wanted to have something special for those closest.

At the end of the day, it’s very nice (and really wonderful if someone throws it for you) to have but it wouldn’t be bad if I didn’t have one!
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Savvy June 2021
Diana · on August 28, 2019 at 11:44 AM
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I had one for the exact reason you mentioned. It was a great opportunity for families to meet and get to know each other. It wasn’t anything crazy, a backyard bbq with food and drinks so it was not expensive. We had such a great time and everyone got along so well! I don’t regret it at all.
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Devoted November 2020
Jessica · on August 28, 2019 at 11:48 AM
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We just had a mini engagement party this past weekend
Very low key and casual we all met up at a cool arcade Bar in Chicago!
Super fun and just a way for us to all get together and celebrate our engagement
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Super May 2020
Michaela · on August 28, 2019 at 11:51 AM
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We didn't have one, but my families have met loads of times. I think it's a nice idea to have one. Maybe your families would be willing to chip in to keep costs low? Like everyone brings a dish to share or you assign someone drinks, someone else chips etc.
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Super October 2019
Sara · on August 28, 2019 at 11:54 AM
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We did a super low key engagement part in lieu of a shower. My mom offered to host us a party, and we ended up just getting space at a local brewery and providing a charcuterie style spread, cookies, and non-alcoholic beverages, and everyone picked up their own tab. We did minimal decorations (congrats balloons, tablecloths on the food tables, and engagement photos scattered around), and it was a great way for my family to meet my friends and colleagues even though FH's family couldn't make it (they're on the opposite side of the country). I think something low key like that could be a good option for you if you want to have everyone meet
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Devoted September 2019
Hannah · on August 28, 2019 at 1:47 PM
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I just threw a "birthday party" for my FH, all I did was call up a local brewery and ask if it would be okay - they only needed to know how many people we planned on having so they could make sure to be properly staffed, and gave us the ok to bring in our own snacks. We didn't have to pay anything and I didn't decorate anything since the ambiance was already nice. Maybe you can have a smaller party and do something like this.
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