Engagement party?!

We didn’t have an engagement party. I think We expect people to come to a lot events already with the bachelor/bachelorette party, bridal shower, and wedding. It’s just one more party to plan that isn’t worth it. Just my opinion. A night out with friends to celebrate was perfect for us

We didn't necessarily have an engagement party,but we did have a pretty large celebration dinner/ meet the family. My family is mostly in Portland, Oregon and his family is all in Eugene, Oregon which isn't far but our moms are the only ones who have met each other so when we got engaged we texted everyone and set a date for like 2.5 weeks later for dinner at our favorite restaurant and said anyone who wants to come is welcome and then our close friends who are in our wedding party came as well and it was nice to drink eat and get to know each other before all the other wedding events. I personally loved this idea for us but I do know some people still do huge engagement parties but only when they are planning for a longer 2+ year engagement.

I personally think engagement parties is a fairly new trend. I have been to plenty of weddings and I didn't go to my first engagement party until 2018. My friend did everything but she went the whole nine yards when it came to her wedding. However my one friend that just recently got married she just did an engagement party a bachelor party and then had a wedding Sarah. It's really all in your budget because an engagement party is just a party so you're feeding people and probably providing Libations. Usually any kind of wedding party it can be bad at a kid to do a potluck style but you don't have to do anything elegant. Ultimately your wedding is really just how you want to do it some people don't want any pre-wedding events and some people want all of them so that's your decision.

We had a backyard engagement party that was honestly really fun! We have been engaged for sometime (since August 2018, getting married this October) so we wanted to celebrate a little as soon as he popped the question! Our friends and family had a blast but it’s definitely not necessary at all for everyone!

We got engaged at a state park and my parents, his mom, his brother and brother's wife, my sister and brother, my grandparents, and his cousin and cousin's then gf were there so after I said yes we had a pinic in the park. We had hoagies, chips and a cake that said congratulations. Otherwise, we didn't have any type of party or anything. Our best man got engaged last May and he had an engagement party in October, but he lived across the country so we could not attend. He is the only one of our friends to have an actual engagement party.

I threw myself one because I was so excited and because my parents were only in town for another week after I got engaged. It was okay and it was a nice opportunity for the family and friends from the two sides of the family to interact, but it's definitely more exciting if someone else throws it for you.

I love, love, LOVE the idea of an engagement party because who wouldn't want some extra time to spend with family and friends to celebrate your new engagement?

We ultimately did not have an engagement party, mostly for the logistical reasons of us living in one state with a very small friend group, majority of family living throughout another state, and long time friends scattered in 5+ other states! In our case, it was more important for us that if guests have to travel a limited amount, we wanted them to prioritize the wedding itself!

I didn't do an engagement party

I have never been to an engagement party and don't know of any couple that has planned one or had one planned for them. I think whether or not they are "a thing" probably depends a bit on where you live, your socioeconomic status, and your cultural background.

If you haven't been to one and don't know anyone who has, I think they are probably not very common in your "group" and you probably don't need one. Because they are so uncommon around here it would be very weird for a couple to throw themselves an engagement party, and would probably be seen as "attention grabbing" and not received all that well.

However if people want to throw you an engagement party or if you want to do an informal engagement celebration with really close friends, or for your families to meet one another, I think that's totally fine. Or if you are the type to host parties regularly and just want a reason to throw another party, go for it! I just wouldn't host a big all out bash for yourselves if you don't normally host parties and they aren't common among your friend group or family, because it might just seem like another expensive or time intensive wedding event people are required to attend. Definitely don't feel like you have to have one just because Wedding Wire has it on the list!