Skip to main content
ARE YOU A VENDOR?

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Alh728
Savvy December 2015

No Gifts "Engagement Party"

Alh728, on February 11, 2014 at 3:23 PM Posted in Planning 0 12
Saved
Reply

Hey All!!

After tons of research it is clear AND agreeable that hosting your own engagement party is in bad taste... IF you are expecting gifts. So that is not our expectations, but since we are having a relatively long engagment (just about 2 years) we want to do something to celebrate the "ITS ABOUT FREAKING TIME" moment! LOL My thoughts are as follows-let me know your feeback-hosting what people are referring to as a "meet and greet" (how would i word on invite?) for both sides of immediate family, bridal party & closest friends. To keep cost down I was thinking cocktails and hor d'oeuvres. Invites will clearly state "Your presence is our present". I have also been considering giving out recipe cards with the invite to request a recipe back at the party-I think its a creative jesture for the newlyweds. Would it be too much to extend that idea as an optional potluck kinda deal? We will also do games and probably a few cheap prizes to keep a fun atmosphere.

SO-thoughts?!

12 Comments

Latest activity by Alh728, on February 12, 2014 at 9:01 AM
  • Alh728
    Savvy December 2015
    Alh728 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Gesture*

    • Reply
  • Amanda
    Super October 2013
    Amanda ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I think if it's family and close friends people will probably ask if they can bring something anyway so maybe not put it on the invite. But the rest sounds great to me.

    • Reply
  • LadyMonk
    Master September 2014
    LadyMonk ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I wouldn't mention gifts at all. I don't think engagement parties generally require gifts, only showers and the wedding.

    • Reply
  • Lori
    Master June 2015
    Lori ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I would also leave off any mention of presents on the invite. I like the recipe idea, though.

    As for how to word the invites, do you have to mention the wedding at all? Just call it a party. FH hosted a surprise BBQ the day he proposed to me and didn't call it an engagement party, just a backyard BBQ. It was great! So maybe just throw a cocktail party and have the people you want there?

    • Reply
  • Alh728
    Savvy December 2015
    Alh728 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It's so funny how from different areas there are different expecations! In NY/Long Island it has become very common to give gifts (or at least the parties I have attended many/almost all give gifts) and thats why i have been having a hard time deciding how to approach this! But as long as the idea in general seems appropriate the gift notation is such a small detail to work out. Thanks for your helpful opinions ladies!

    • Reply
  • GrayCatVintage
    Master October 2015
    GrayCatVintage ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We are getting around this by having a BBQ in the summer and avoiding the term "engagement party". The people who will be in attendance will be the bridal party and our parents, brothers and sisters, and other close family. I am already fretting about getting gifts/doing a registry because I do not need anything...

    • Reply
  • Laura
    Master November 2013
    Laura ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Are you wanting just a casual house party? Are invites even necessary? I would just call/email the family and friends that you want to be there and let them know you are having a party to celebrate and give everyone a chance to get to know each other. Just keep it simple.

    • Reply
  • Alh728
    Savvy December 2015
    Alh728 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Laura-basically yes-we will be hosting at MOB's house... i'm doing alot of DIY projects for everything wedding related so i think i will probably do a simple but formal (paper) invite but yeah everything is going to lowkey... especially for the pre-party no frills necessary. My friend had like a mini wedding which just seemed over the top! BTW im relatively new to WW-is there a correct way to tag someone in your comments?

    • Reply
  • Carly
    Super November 2014
    Carly ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We had an engagement party and said absolutely no gifts. But people still asked OVER AND OVER AGAIN. So we suggested a couple things to the family that wanted to bring something, said no to friends and ended up with a lot of stuff we didn't ask for at the party. If friends ask, just say like a bottle of wine or something.

    • Reply
  • KristenMeowza
    Master October 2014
    KristenMeowza ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Sounds like a great idea. We did something similar - no gifts, bridal party brought dishes, but the invite list was friends only, no family members.

    I wrote a post about it here: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/our-engagement-party-pic-heavy/08365e3f12a4e836.html

    • Reply
  • KarenM
    Master November 2014
    KarenM ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    No, do mention gifts, or the lack thereof. I would never attend an engagement party without bringing a gift, unless it was specified. I also have a hard time with having to purchase a gift for the engagement party, bridal shower and wedding, so I think having an engagement party without gifts is an excellent idea.

    • Reply
  • Alh728
    Savvy December 2015
    Alh728 ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Awesome Karen and I agree. Gifts aren't necessary anyway we already live together and have most everything we need. Knowing my mom will be throwing a bridal party closer to the wedding I'll probably register for gifts at that point but I don't want people to feel obligated to do so

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Explore how we embrace diversity

Groups

Show more

WeddingWire article topics