We at Jalsa Lawn believe in celebrating as much and as often as possible, and this is sorely needed in the run-up to the wedding. That's why we all are big fans of engagement parties, even though there's no requirement or pressure to throw a big party for that. 

But if you're thinking about having one, today we're sharing our top tips for engagement parties, from how to plan them, to where to throw them, and who to invite to celebrate.

Why would you want an engagement party?

This is a pretty simple question to answer—to celebrate, of course! Your loved ones and relatives will be very excited about this new chapter in your lives, and an engagement party is a perfect way to celebrate the news.

Plus, if you're planning a longer engagement and the wedding is still a while away, it gives you an excuse to indulge.

Getting Started With Engagement Party Planning

Traditionally, it was the role of the parents of the bride to plan and organize the engagement party, but nowadays anyone can throw it; in fact, it's more popular for couples to do it.

However, that doesn't mean you have to plan everything yourself: engagement party planners exist and can help (some wedding planners even offer it as part of their services and may include it in the planning package). 

Also, your family engaged in planning a party for you gives you another level of pleasure. Whether you're planning it yourself or looking to call a professional, there are plenty of exciting things to get started!

First of all, engagement parties can be as formal or informal as you want. You may want to celebrate the engagement by gathering your friends at a bar and dancing the night away, or you may want something a little more structured, more like a celebration with family and relatives.

You may also prefer to plan more than one party, especially if you are both from different places: it may not be possible to have everyone travel once for the engagement party and then again for the eventual wedding, so multiple engagement parties in different places for different groups is also quite common.

So, it's time to get into the logistics side of things…

When to plan your engagement party

No matter how long you want to be engaged, the engagement party should be held as close to the marriage proposal as possible. In this way, everyone remains caught up in the new news, the whirlwind of the novelty: like when you put your hand to your face to brush the hair out of your eyes, for example, and then you see your ring shining in the sun, and you laugh, and you think, “Oh yeah, now I have a fiancé!” 

Additionally, scheduling an engagement party soon after you've confirmed reduces the possibility that the stress of wedding preparations may interfere.

Who to invite to the engagement party

Just like a wedding, the guest list is also a very important part of planning an engagement party. You will have to decide how many people you want to invite: do you want a small and selective group of people or do you want to throw the house out the window? Choose the option that seems appropriate to you. Also, your parents and family will be completely involved in making the guest list.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the general understanding of engagement party invitations is this: if I'm invited to the engagement party, I'm invited to the wedding. It is an important detail when sending invitations, to avoid uncomfortable situations in the future.

Alternatively, of course, if you're planning to have a super small wedding, a getaway to get married, or perhaps a wedding abroad that won't be feasible for most of your loved ones, an engagement party is a great way to celebrate together. to them: just make sure it's clear that's what you plan to do.

What happens at an engagement party?

The order in which the engagement party happens will depend entirely on formality: some engagement parties are nothing more than celebratory drinks after a day's work, and they're perfect in their simplicity. However, if you're planning something bigger, you might even be able to say a few words. You can also take the opportunity to introduce members of your family if you haven't already.

It is also probably the only time you will have all your wedding guests together in one space, so you can use it as an opportunity to collect words and messages from the guests, and turn them into anecdotes at the ceremony, speech or even as a super creative part of the wedding decoration.

More details of the engagement party

Engagement party themes

Planning an engagement party also offers an excellent opportunity for more quirky details. Although you should plan the wedding you want and not the wedding that anyone else wants, sometimes it can seem like weddings have to be timeless, because the photos will be on your mantel forever. 

But, for example, if you love the idea of ​​having a themed party, but don't want a themed wedding, why not do it at the engagement party? It's the perfect opportunity and it can also be a lot of fun.

Engagement Party Looks

There are no defined looks for engagement parties: traditionally, to imitate the wedding, the brides wore a pink lehenga; but of course, there is no right or wrong. What we're saying, though, is to take the opportunity to wear something you feel fabulous in—it's not every day that you get to celebrate yourself!