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Savvy July 2017

"Engagement Party" vs. "Meet & Greet"

Terry , on July 21, 2016 at 5:20 PM Posted in Planning 0 13

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My fiance and I started dating about five and a half years ago and we got engaged last summer. We eventually "announced'' our engagement a short time after that at a birthday party/housewarming that she threw for me in our home in front of about 35-40 of our family and friends. On social media sites such as Facebook, if you update your relationship status, it automatically lists an engagement as a life event which is fine. The status was changed and hundreds of individuals from both pages "liked" and offered well wishes. Our actual wedding date isn't until next July 2017 and some members of our families have been around each other a few times. However we'd like to have a get together for both sides of the family, kind of a "meet and greet" but we don't necessarily want to call it an "engagement party". Would that be an acceptable idea?

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13 Comments

Latest activity by LizzyC, on July 21, 2016 at 6:36 PM

VIP June 2017
BeachBride · on July 21, 2016 at 5:21 PM
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Like a family picnic? Sure. Don't expect gifts.
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VIP August 2017
Spiff · on July 21, 2016 at 5:22 PM
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Sure. Sounds fine to me. Are you asking for gifts? Or literally just a come meet each other social event...
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Super May 2017
PushingButtons · on July 21, 2016 at 5:22 PM
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You don't have to call it anything other than a "party".
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VIP April 2018
EC18 · on July 21, 2016 at 5:22 PM
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By all means, have a get together! It doesn't have to be an engagement party, just a bunch of folks getting to know each other. Hell, it doesn't even have to be wedding/engagement related! Throw a party and invite folks you want there, wedding and non-wedding related alike!
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Expert November 2017
SoonToBeMrs115 · on July 21, 2016 at 5:23 PM
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If you're hosting it, don't expect gifts - but I think it'd be a great way for families to meet/mingle. It'd make for a more social event at your wedding since people will say, "Oh, I remember JoeBob from that BBQ last year..." (bad example).
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Savvy July 2017
Terry · on July 21, 2016 at 5:26 PM
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Thanks folks, we honestly could care less about the gifts. Its more about just allowing both sides to meet and mingle. ...
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Master January 2016
mimitrue · on July 21, 2016 at 5:30 PM
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A get together would be fine but if you're hosting it, don't call it an engagement party or expect gifts. I think this is a fun way for everyone to meet.
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Master November 2015
Rebecca · on July 21, 2016 at 5:39 PM
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Don't call it an engagement party at this point... just have a party and invite both your families. It sounds like it'd be fun! No need for a label
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Super July 2017
FutureMrs.M. · on July 21, 2016 at 5:43 PM
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OP we are doing something similar Labor Day weekend. We are inviting family from both sides and all our friends, my friends and FHs friends for a big BBQ. We basically just wanted to get everyone together to have fun and meet each other in a low key atmosphere. No gifts expected, invites just say join us for a BBQ!
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Savvy July 2017
Terry · on July 21, 2016 at 5:54 PM
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Great ideas across the board. We actually are doing a "luau" Labor Day weekend in our backyard so may use that as an opportunity to do it then.
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Rachel DellaPorte · on July 21, 2016 at 6:08 PM
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Just host a party. Don't invite a single individual who won't make the wedding guest list. If you do host such a party, keep the guest list filed and pull it up when it comes time to make up the wedding guest list. You owe every individual who attended your "get together" a formal invitation to your wedding (and their plus ones, without incorporating some weird "I haven't met them" or "they've been dating for less than year" standard).
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Savvy July 2017
Terry · on July 21, 2016 at 6:18 PM
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Thats a great point. I think our biggest issue is going to be narrowing down that guest list because we honestly know so many individuals. It honestly went from 200-100 back up to 150 so we have a bit of work to do.
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Master April 2016
LizzyC · on July 21, 2016 at 6:36 PM
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Thats definitely something we've all struggled with! Keep the meet and greet guest list more intimate, then you'll be less like to run into any issues later accommodating everyone at the wedding!
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