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So you've said the easiest yes of your life and now is the time to celebrate your new fiancé status with an engagement party, but where do you even start?
From budget to dates to invites, the list can seem endless and overwhelming at first, but there are a few simple considerations that can ease the process from the offset, making this exciting phase of your life enjoyable, memorable and personal to you both.
To help with your engagement party checklist, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares six fool-proof etiquette tips to avoid those stressful preparations:
1. Decide who's hosting
"Whether it's you and your fiance, your BFF or your family, just about anyone can host the celebration, so don't feel pressured to tackle this by yourself! "Discuss logistics with your partner well in advance and decide who is taking the reins when planning your celebration. Weddings and all the events that come with take a lot of organising so don't be afraid to lean on those around you for help."
2. Pick a date
"We believe the best time to celebrate is within the first few months of your engagement. The excitement is still SO fresh, plus, it's a great excuse to celebrate with your nearest and dearest before the hard work of wedding planning begins."
3. Guest list
"We are firm believers in keeping the engagement party guest list to those people you really want to celebrate taking this next step of your relationship with. Don't be afraid to keep the list more intimate. "You may want to make your wedding guest list a little larger, however, everyone who comes to the engagement party really should be invited to the wedding too."
4. Invitations
"As soon as the venue and date have been confirmed, give your guests as much notice as possible, we recommend sending invites out at least 1 month before the event. "The type of invitations you choose to send will depend on the type of event you're throwing. To keep it simple and cost effective, opt for a digital invitation. WhatsApp groups are great for an intimate celebration. For a larger affair, go for a stylish printed invitation of your choice.
5. Budget
"Be sure to keep a budget in mind when planning your engagement party. It's easy to get carried away, after all, it is a really exciting time! "Just remember that you are only at the beginning of a quite costly celebration process, so the less you spend here, the more you can indulge on the big day itself."
6. Outfit choice
"An engagement party is a celebration of you and your fiancé and therefore your outfit choice should represent your personal style and whatever makes you feel comfortable. "Use your engagement party as a time to trial some potential wedding dress styles or afterparty outfits. Renting is a brilliant idea for an engagement party as you can try something a little different with no commitment.
"You don't need to wear white to your engagement party but if you are looking for an excuse to be the centre of attention then now is your time to shine!"
To find more decoration inspiration for your engagement party, please visit: gingerray.co.uk/party/engagement-party
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