Now that you’ve decided to turn your relationship into a lifetime commitment, having an engagement party is a great way to launch the celebrations. The proposal may have been a quiet moment shared between the two of you but once you decide to share the exciting news, you may want to celebrate with a party. An engagement party can be as simple or elaborate as you want to make it. Think of this as the official kick-off to your impending nuptials. Here are some tips and ideas to get the party started:
1. Plan the party. Traditionally, the bride and her parents planned the engagement party, but these days anybody is welcome to run the show. Try limiting your guest list to family members and close friends, keeping in mind that those who are invited to the engagement party should also be invited to the wedding.
2. Timely manners. Try planning your engagement party six months to a year before your actual wedding day. A printed invitation isn’t necessary but is a welcomed touch. If you don’t want to bother with formal invitations, a simple phone call or email will do the trick.
3. Secret surprises. A note about the announcement: timing is important! Close family members should be made aware of your engagement prior to any public broadcast, especially if you plan to make your big news a surprise. If you choose to go the surprise route, you can choose to announce your big news at the height of the party or signal your new status with decorations and casual word of mouth.
4. Creating memories. Just like the wedding, you’ll want to capture the moments of this special day. Here are some ways to capture your special affair:
•There’s a time-honoured tradition where the father of the bride (or a close family member) makes a toast to the bride and her fiancé. During this time, you may want to have a video camera and delegate someone to capture these heartfelt words.
•A great way to make sure every moment is captured is to hand out disposal cameras to your guests to take pictures.
•Kick-start your wedding scrapbook by photographing everything—from the arrival of the first guest to the last dance—with a digital camera. These images can also be emailed to your guests after the party.