Are you wondering who do you invite to an engagement party? Read on for everything you need to know and subscribe for the latest to your inbox!
Wedding season is here, and with it comes a flurry of engagement parties! If you’re wondering who makes the guest list for these celebrations, you’ve come to the right place.
Are there any specific etiquette rules when it comes to the guest list, or is it up to the discretion of the happy couple?
In this blog post, we’ll tell you who to invite to an engagement party, where to have it, and who hosts the soiree.
So whether you’re a newly engaged couple, a loyal friend, parents, family, or a member of the wedding party, read on to find out all of the details.
Let’s get started!
Before you host an engagement party, make sure you know what the event is all about. Here are some things you need to know about an engagement party.
Understanding the Purpose of an Engagement Party
Before you host an engagement party, make sure you know what the event is all about. Here are some things you need to know about an engagement party.
People often confuse an engagement party with a wedding shower. However, they are two distinct types of celebrations. The biggest differences are the theme of the celebration and the timing of the party.
THEME: An engagement party is a celebration of the couple’s commitment to each other. The wedding shower celebrates the upcoming wedding.
TIMING: An engagement party is held as soon as you announce your engagement. It usually happens within a few weeks or a month or two of your announcement. A wedding shower, on the other hand, celebrates your upcoming wedding. It usually happens three months or sooner before your wedding day.
Who Hosts an Engagement Party
Anybody can throw an engagement party, as long as it’s not the couple. Traditionally, it’s the bride’s parents who throw the party, but in today’s world, anyone can throw a party to celebrate the couple.
Who To Invite to Your Engagement Party
Now that you know the purpose of and who throws the engagement party, here’s who to invite as guests to the event.
Immediate Family and Close Friends
First, include immediate family of the couple:
• Parents
• Siblings [and their spouses / children]
• Grandparents
Then, add in:
• Close Friends
• Wedding Party Attendants (If Already Selected)
STOP! If you wish for a small intimate wedding, stop the guest list here! You just compiled a perfect guest list of the couple’s closest family and friends.
If you wish for the party to be larger than this number of attendees, keep reading.
Extended Family
Next, you’ll add extended family of the couple, including aunts, uncles, and cousins to the mix. Fun!
• Aunts
• Uncles
• Cousins
Plus
• Extended Family Friends That Are Practically Related :)
STOP! Many people stop here and have a great list. If you wish to add more attendees, keep reading.
Work Colleagues and Acquaintances
Lastly, if you wish to add more guests to the list, you can include:
• Work Colleagues
• Acquaintances
Who to NOT Invite to an Engagement Party
It is just as important to learn who to invite as it is who to avoid inviting to an engagement party.
Don’t invite someone to the engagement party who won’t be invited to your wedding. And if you don’t have a guest list yet, don’t worry. It’s too soon to know all the details. But if there’s someone you already know isn’t going to be on your wedding guest list, then don’t invite them to your engagement party.
Finalize The Guest List
Now that you have a rough draft of attendees, it’s time to finalize it!
The best way to do this is to talk to the couple after you’ve made your engagement party guest list and let them decide if they want to keep it small, or if they want to add more people.
Once you have an accurate list, it’s time to send invites in the mail. Read: 7 Super Cute Engagement Party Invitations with Photos for inspiration.
Conclusion
To sum up, the people you invite to your engagement party are usually your immediate family and friends. You can invite extended family members, as well as work friends and acquaintances. The best way to make sure everyone you want to be there is to have the couple review your guest list before you finalize it. That way, you can add or remove names as needed to keep the guest list to a minimum.
I hope it helps!
Comment Now: Are you having an engagement party or throwing one for someone? If so, who are the guests you’re inviting to the engagement party? Tell us in the comment box below!
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