Long Engagement

It would be odd to be engaged for over a year and a half before your engagement party. They typically take place within 2-3 months of the proposal, but I suppose the host could choose anytime they'd like.

I agree with Caytlyn, they normally happen shortly after your engagement.

I would go ahead and do the engagement party now.

I say do the party now. I didn't get one and am kind of bummed I'll have to wait well over a year to do any kind of celebration.

Do the party now because you will have many events to celebrate closer to the wedding date, and it could be overwhelming for you and your guests.

There is a long tradition of either being acceptable. If you have a long engagement, like 3 years, you may graduate or change jobs, change many friends and move. So instead of doing a party when first engaged, it is done between 9 months and a year. Before announcing the wedding party. Some people with long engagements have a dinner party, not called an engagement party, where they announced they are engaged . People at such a party do not have to definitely be invited to the wedding. It is years off. And this is just a dinner where you tell people ( an announcement party in many old etiquette books ) Whereas at one held in the year of the wedding, if it is called an engagement party, you stick to those you intend to invite for the guest list ( though that applies to the primary guests. You may invite couples, but if the boyfriend or girlfriend is gone by the wedding, you have no obligation )

If someone's wanting to host the engagement party, now should be a good time!