There is no more special time in a couples life together as when they decide to tie the knot and having a good understanding of engagement party manners will go a long way to making sure that special day runs smoothly. Taking the time to make sure things are done correctly is always the best idea for this special even.
In today’s environment it is tradition unfortunately that suffers. Even if the plan is to have a wedding that falls into the nontraditional category following the classic engagement party manners will still make sure that no one is offended and no one feels left out.
To begin the engagement party is usually hosted by the parents of the bride to be, this can be held at a private home or a restaurant. Under normal circumstances no one is told of the purpose of the party and everyone just assumes it is a normal get together.
At some key point in the evening the mother of the bride to be stands and announces the big surprise and makes a toast to the happy couple. When following engagement party manners the groom to be will stand and make a toast thanking the parents.
If your plan is to do things differently the only engagement party manners that should be kept in mind is that everything should be done to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and involved. Which brings up who should be invited, close family and friends are the normal guests at an engagement party.
The key with the guests is to not invite anyone that you do not intend to invite to the wedding. In other words it might be nice to invite the ex girlfriend of your husband to be, however that really does not keep within the rules of engagement party manners.
If the engagement party is less formal then, there is plenty of room to take liberties, however inviting the ex girlfriend is still probably a bad idea. All kidding aside, one key thing to remember is that this is a celebration for the future couple, so what they want is always going to be important.
When it comes to gifts the engagement party manners say do not expect a gift from anyone. These people are your close family and friends therefore they will be at the wedding shower and the wedding itself. Both of these events require a gift, so you should not expect to receive a gift at the engagement party too.
Always keep the engagement party manners in mind when taking, thinking and planning your party is the first step to having a wonderful experience when making preparations for your wedding. Making sure that everyone is welcome and can feel the love of the couple to be is what is really important.
Picture it: You’re sitting at your kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee in the late afternoon, perusing the etiquette section of a popular magazine that is talking about “Gift Giving Tips” for all events. Your significant other returns home from work, bearing a fancy looking envelope. You look up at him, nervous as anything, and ask, “What’s that from?” He replies, equally as terrified, “Boss announced today that she’s getting married…again. We’re invited to her engagement party next month.”
First off, don’t panic! While there are people out there who do put too much stock in etiquette nowadays when gift giving, there are some people who are just glad you’re attending their function and are very happy to receive whatever you are willing to give them. Let us begin with tips on giving to those who are waiting to critique the gift you give them. A long time ago, when people were more concerned with being the best at giving, someone decided to make a few dollars by terrorizing society and making rules for present exchanges. These rules are still around today and still make even the most accomplished gift giver quake in their Jimmy Choos. Here are some examples of excellent presents for modern brides and grooms for their engagement festivities.
Gift Card Gift Giving Tips
Gift cards are an amazing invention. They allow people like most of us (let’s be honest!) who do not have days to spend in pretentious department stores, scouring shelves for the perfect set of crystal salt and pepper shakers. We can walk right up to the cashier, or even in some cases right up to a kiosk in the grocery store, and buy a gift card. Many of them come with fancy little envelopes or decorative little boxes. Add an engagement card, and the gift is complete. No wrapping necessary!
Now there are some people who will argue that gift cards are disrespectful or insulting. Are gift cards really that impersonal? They might be a bad idea for the parents of the newly engaged couple or a member of the bridal party, but for a coworker, neighbor, or even an acquaintance, gift cards can be a great and easy idea. There are gift cards for so many places out there! If you would rather get them something more personal instead of getting the usual card to a department store so they can buy another unnecessary set of candlesticks, try out a gift card to a restaurant you know they prefer, a spa, or a movie theater so they could have a date night. No sane couple will refuse “free money”, especially to a store or for a service they like.
Registry Gift Giving Tips
If you are lucky, the couple might have already registered somewhere nearby. This means that they need certain items at various stores and are giving people a list of those exact items so no one is running around like maniacs all on her own, trying to figure out if mother of pearl tea cups or sterling silver knives are most appropriate. This can be a huge headache and can backfire in the end when they receive nine of the same set of knives.
Having spoken to couples who have registered, there seems to be two types of people. The first take the registering scanners and put anything and everything on their lists, just to see what people will go for, from $8.00 towels to $500.00 glassware. Some of their items are just ridiculous! Then there is the next set: the “We don’t really care” couple that already has everything because they already bought a house together or share an apartment and were forced by overbearing parents and friends to register. They are the ones who go to discount stores and register for washcloths, ten for $2.00 and fertilizer. At least they know what they want…and you can give it to them! More often than not, these gifts are more expensive than most people want to spend for an engagement party and reserve the registry for the wedding and shower events.
Money Gift Giving Tips
Money is probably the one gift that etiquette writers think is the most horrible gift to give because it requires no thought at all. At least with gift cards, the givers have to find an appropriate store or service for the couple. Money just gets stuffed in and envelope or a check gets written. Engaged couples that were spoken to for this post said that they’d be delighted to receive a monetary gift. Money can be especially helpful to the couple who is paying for most of the wedding on their own or those who are already having financial difficulties in the first place and might have to cut back on things they want at their wedding. Free money is free money, no matter how “impersonal” others may deem it to be.
“No Expectations” Gift Giving Tips
Many Engagement Party Etiquette sites online will agree that Engagement gifts are not necessary, even if there is a party involved. The couple should not expect them at all, and they should be gracious and grateful for any presents that come their way during their engagement at all. Most people are not accustomed to going to a party empty-handed, so if you cannot afford a gift card or money, a nice bottle of wine or champagne or a dessert for the table is completely acceptable. Save the big gifts for the wedding! Using these gift giving tips is not necessary, but you can save yourself a lot of extra pain and suffering.
Engagement speeches are some of the most special memories that a couple will enjoy. Whether you are a close friend, family member, or acquaintance, the words in meaningful engagement speeches are some of the most memorable that the bride and groom will cherish. There are a couple of pointers you will want to consider when deciding what to say at the engagement party.
Very few people actually enjoy giving speeches, but the engagement of friends and family is a special exception where people find themselves wanting to express their feelings to the happy couple. This often spurs them on to making engagement speeches in an effort to tell the couple how much they are loved. To avoid stumbling over words and feeling like you have made a fool of yourself, it helps to already have an idea of what you’re going to say before you even arrive at the party.
Engagement party etiquette dictates that the speech be appropriate but still have a healthy dose of personality and even humor. Even if you consider yourself pretty good with words and feel you can easily come up with something to say at the spur of the moment, engagement speeches are special and require at least some degree of preparation. A little forethought will also eliminate regrets by ensuring that you not leave out anything you meant to say.
Members of the wedding party should begin engagement speeches by thanking everyone for coming, including guests, both sides of the family, and all who helped with the engagement party. Make your speech memorable by then moving on to a funny anecdote that involves you and the couple. A unique memory is what will really add a special touch to your speech. If you are nervous about this part, you may want to practice a little, working on making the story more entertaining.
The personal aspect of engagement speeches comes when the speech giver expresses his sentiments and good wishes for the couple. Take a minute to tell the couple (or bride or groom, depending on which party you know better) what they mean to you, how they have been there for you throughout the years, or what they have taught you in life. Don’t forget to express your wishes for their happy future and success together.
Finally, end your speech by raising your glass and offering instigating toast to the happy couple. A toast to the couple’s good health and happiness is a common one if you can’t think of another. You may want to put together a couple of different variations of engagement speeches and practice them in front of a friend or family member that can give honest feedback and helpful pointers.
It’s a whole new world out there when it comes to engagement party decorations and supplies. No longer does every bride hire a wedding consultant, nor have carte blanche from Daddy. The economy and the age of the bride are changing things. Thinking outside the box will benefit today’s bride in more than her or her parents check book balance.
A truly unique wedding or engagement party is a hard thing to plan, harder even to execute. Budget, style, color, theme, and a whole host of other concerns can all be addressed with ease if the bride and her family are willing to get a little creative. Start with a budget, set it and stick to it. Decide on style, casual, traditional, destination, elegant, chic, or modern. Pick one color and only one, this is the foundation color. Let the accent color be dictated by season, availability of flowers, tableware, and the location of your event. Choose a theme, it could be Beach Blanket Love, Back to Nature, A Night at the Opera, or even Victorian Carriage Ride, whatever the theme carry it throughout all of the upcoming events. Select the location for the event, the time and day. Engagement party etiquette is a little more relaxed than that of the etiquette of a formal wedding. The engagement party will set the tone for all of the events to come in the months leading to the big day. Relax, go with the flow of the day and enjoy it.
The décor of the event turns the head of every guest and the stomach of every bride, below is an example that is both budget friendly and creative.
Garden Party Themed Engagement Party Decorations and Supplies
· Budget: $4.00 approximately per person not including food, drink or location rental
· Style: Casual – Afternoon Tea
· Color: Blush Pink
· Theme: Love in the Gardens
· Décor: Greenery and Roses
Check local chain stores, garden supply centers or discount stores for Boston Ferns, they usually run about $8 to $10 a fern. Hang the ferns at various heights around the perimeter of your party area. Use muslin or other inexpensive white, ivory or colored cotton that has been torn into 2” wide strips 72” long to hang your ferns tying a neat but casual bow at the top. Hint: check the fabric section at large discount retailers; they often have sales for $0.99 a yard. Two yards will make approximately 20 to 30 hangers.
Knowing what flowers are in season can save the budget savvy bride enough money to upgrade the alcohol or the entrée just by using what is readily available. Spray roses are less expensive than long stem and for this next trick better too. One bunch generally about $3 at your grocery floral department will enhance 4 to 6 ferns. Collect floral wire and floral tape (available at your local craft store for about $2 each), a pair of scissors, one to two egg whites (beaten slightly with a teaspoon of water per egg), and fine silver toned glitter. Let the roses soak up as much water overnight as possible (enhance the water with floral additive, often free with purchase of the flowers). On the morning of the event cut each flower head away from the bunch leaving 2” – 3” of natural stem. Save the leaves for the centerpieces. Create a bendable stem with the wire approximately 12” to 18” long depending on the size of the ferns. Wrap the stem and the wire onto the flower’s stem reinforcing the wire with the floral tape. Dip just the edges of the pedals in the egg white mixture and then in the glitter. Insert an uneven number of varying sizes in each fern about midway from the top. Secure using the wire either in the soil or around a stem.
For centerpieces use the same spray roses as for the ferns. On each table set a small to medium size garden pail (the kind used to hold citronella candles – available at dollar stores); spray paint to match if needed. Dip the rim of each empty pail in white glue, and then dip in silver glitter. Fill the pails to about ½” from the rim with play sand (less than $6 for 50# at most garden centers), moisten the sand thoroughly but do not make it puddle, insert one taper candle in white in the center about 3” deep. Scatter the saved leaves around the base of the candle covering the play sand. Insert individual rose stems into the sand around the base of the candle, moving leaves as needed.
Seed packets from local garden centers or dollar stores can double as both place cards and favors. Print your guests names on heavy card stock ($0.99 a sheet at most large craft or office supply stores), using a decorative but casual font. Cut into 1” by 2.5” rectangles. Using raffia or fine ribbon and a darning needle sew each name tag to the corner of the seed packet. Tie the “thread” into a knot or bow. Place labeled seed packets on the tables according to the seating chart.
Small wooden bird houses painted to match your color scheme can add interest to table settings or buffet tables. Be sure to print a honored guest’s name on the bottom of each one as a special little thank you.
A hardware store, discount centers, fabric stores and garden centers usually have seasonal items at greatly discounted prices making engagement party decorations and supplies a cinch on a budget.
Engagement Party Decorations And Supplies – Think Inside The Big Box
It’s a whole new world out there when it comes to engagement party decorations and supplies. No longer does every bride hire a wedding consultant, nor have carte blanche from Daddy. The economy and the age of the bride are changing things. Thinking outside the box will benefit today’s bride in more than her or her parents check book balance.
A truly unique wedding or engagement party is a hard thing to plan, harder even to execute. Budget, style, color, theme, and a whole host of other concerns can all be addressed with ease if the bride and her family are willing to get a little creative. Start with a budget, set it and stick to it. Decide on style, casual, traditional, destination, elegant, chic, or modern. Pick one color and only one, this is the foundation color. Let the accent color be dictated by season, availability of flowers, tableware, and the location of your event. Choose a theme, it could be Beach Blanket Love, Back to Nature, A Night at the Opera, or even Victorian Carriage Ride, whatever the theme carry it throughout all of the upcoming events. Select the location for the event, the time and day. Engagement party etiquette is a little more relaxed than that of the etiquette of a formal wedding. The engagement party will set the tone for all of the events to come in the months leading to the big day. Relax, go with the flow of the day and enjoy it.
The décor of the event turns the head of every guest and the stomach of every bride, below is an example that is both budget friendly and creative.
Garden Party Themed Engagement Party Decorations and Supplies
· Budget: $4.00 approximately per person not including food, drink or location rental
· Style: Casual – Afternoon Tea
· Color: Blush Pink
· Theme: Love in the Gardens
· Décor: Greenery and Roses
Check local chain stores, garden supply centers or discount stores for Boston Ferns, they usually run about $8 to $10 a fern. Hang the ferns at various heights around the perimeter of your party area. Use muslin or other inexpensive white, ivory or colored cotton that has been torn into 2” wide strips 72” long to hang your ferns tying a neat but casual bow at the top. Hint: check the fabric section at large discount retailers; they often have sales for $0.99 a yard. Two yards will make approximately 20 to 30 hangers.
Knowing what flowers are in season can save the budget savvy bride enough money to upgrade the alcohol or the entrée just by using what is readily available. Spray roses are less expensive than long stem and for this next trick better too. One bunch generally about $3 at your grocery floral department will enhance 4 to 6 ferns. Collect floral wire and floral tape (available at your local craft store for about $2 each), a pair of scissors, one to two egg whites (beaten slightly with a teaspoon of water per egg), and fine silver toned glitter. Let the roses soak up as much water overnight as possible (enhance the water with floral additive, often free with purchase of the flowers). On the morning of the event cut each flower head away from the bunch leaving 2” – 3” of natural stem. Save the leaves for the centerpieces. Create a bendable stem with the wire approximately 12” to 18” long depending on the size of the ferns. Wrap the stem and the wire onto the flower’s stem reinforcing the wire with the floral tape. Dip just the edges of the pedals in the egg white mixture and then in the glitter. Insert an uneven number of varying sizes in each fern about midway from the top. Secure using the wire either in the soil or around a stem.
For centerpieces use the same spray roses as for the ferns. On each table set a small to medium size garden pail (the kind used to hold citronella candles – available at dollar stores); spray paint to match if needed. Dip the rim of each empty pail in white glue, and then dip in silver glitter. Fill the pails to about ½” from the rim with play sand (less than $6 for 50# at most garden centers), moisten the sand thoroughly but do not make it puddle, insert one taper candle in white in the center about 3” deep. Scatter the saved leaves around the base of the candle covering the play sand. Insert individual rose stems into the sand around the base of the candle, moving leaves as needed.
Seed packets from local garden centers or dollar stores can double as both place cards and favors. Print your guests names on heavy card stock ($0.99 a sheet at most large craft or office supply stores), using a decorative but casual font. Cut into 1” by 2.5” rectangles. Using raffia or fine ribbon and a darning needle sew each name tag to the corner of the seed packet. Tie the “thread” into a knot or bow. Place labeled seed packets on the tables according to the seating chart.
Small wooden bird houses painted to match your color scheme can add interest to table settings or buffet tables. Be sure to print a honored guest’s name on the bottom of each one as a special little thank you.
A hardware store, discount centers, fabric stores and garden centers usually have seasonal items at greatly discounted prices making engagement party decorations and supplies a cinch on a budget.