Engagement Party
The Perfect Engagement Party
The engagement party officially kicks off the wedding festivities and starts the wedding-day countdown. Throw a flawless one by following our nine easy steps.
- Decide who’s hosting.
Traditionally, the bride’s parents host the couple’s engagement party. However, like many etiquette rules, this one has changed over the years and these days, pretty much anyone close to the couple is welcome to plan and pay for the engagement party. However, the bride’s parents should still get the first chance to throw it.
- Pick a date.
Engagement parties are usually held soon after the couple becomes engaged, while the news is still fresh. You might even decide to announce your engagement at the party! But many couples decide to share their happy news on social media soon after the proposal happens.
- Create the guest list.
Anyone invited to an engagement party must also be invited to the wedding, so the party host needs to work with the couple to compile the engagement-party guest list. And if you aren’t sure of the size of your wedding just yet, it’s better to limit the invites to those you are certain you will also invite to the wedding.
- Decide on a venue.
Think about the type of party atmosphere you want: If you like the idea of having everyone in the same room, you might want to rent out a private room at a local restaurant. For something more low-key, a family member’s house, backyard, or clubhouse might be a better choice.
- Register for gifts (or not).
Some guests may inquire about a gift registry, so figure out if you want to register or not. If you decide to do so, select items in the low to middle price range (don’t forget, the wedding is still to come). If not, include a note in the invitation kindly requesting no gifts.
- Send the invitations.
Keep the invitations simple — hand-write them yourselves or send the invite via email. If you decide to go the printed-card route, choose a clean, classic design; don’t worry about color palettes or other details — your engagement party invitations don’t have to match the rest of your wedding stationery.
- Plan the menu.
There’s no need to plan a five-course meal with a four-hour open bar. Anything from passed appetizers to a simple buffet or a casual cookout will work for the engagement party. You can also get creative and serve dishes with special meaning to you.
- Set the scene.
If you want, choose a theme that reflects you as a couple or something that reflects your two families. The real trick here is that you don’t want to upstage the wedding.
- Decide what to wear.
Choose attire that complements your engagement party setting, but keep it simple. A pretty sundress is great for an outdoor celebration; if your venue is a little fancier, a little white dress is a safe bet. As for your fiancé, while he doesn’t have to don a suit and tie (and definitely not a tux!), his outfit should nicely complement yours.
Lily’s Bridal and Prom Boutique offering Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses up to size 30. Lily’s Bridal offers the largest selection of exclusive designer Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses in Maryland. Curvy and Plus Size Brides you must come see the best selection of Wedding Dresses in Maryland.
Wedding Invitations
How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Invitations
Similar to choosing the perfect wedding dress, ordering wedding invitations can cause bridal panic attacks. First impressions last forever, and wedding invitations set the tone and theme for the entire affair – not to mention the fact that they’ll last forever in a scrapbook.
Theme
Many brides struggle with creating the perfect theme for their weddings. In my experience, brides begin with a theme in mind, but it goes out the window once they see wedding invitation samples they love. Keep an open mind about wedding invitations, especially if you have not locked-in theme or color scheme. Sometimes, actually viewing product samples is the difference between liking a wedding invitation and ordering a wedding invitation. My best advice when it comes to planning a wedding is to stick with a color theme, rather than stick to a design theme. Narrow design themes can eliminate choices before you’ve even considered them.
Price
Wedding Invitations can get pricey. It’s also difficult to weigh a fair price against the level of quality and detail required. I recommend that brides compare the prices of many vendors on wedding e-marketplaces to ensure they’re receiving reasonable deals. Some vendors may offer free guest address printing on wedding invitation envelopes, while some offer free shipping. It’s important to consider each aspect of a price to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Invitation design
Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. What one bride loves, another bride hates. For example, more outgoing brides could feel that a metallic pocket fold with a satin ribbon and rhinestone buckle perfectly sets the stage for an elaborate, flashy wedding. On the other hand, traditional brides may love classic wedding invitations, featuring a white cotton cardstock with black, gold or silver lettering that appears simple and elegant. In any case, I have found that bold-colored ribbons or colored rhinestone embellishments have negative effects on wedding invitations. These aspects can make invites appear “Sweet 16-ish,” and no bride wants that look.
It is also recommend that brides stay away from adding photos of the couple to the wedding invitations. Photos of the couple, or of a landscape, are more appropriate for an engagement party or a save-the-date announcement. If you have your heart set on incorporating a favorite photo, use it on your wedding program, table menu or wedding favor. A beautiful picture of the couple on a custom wine label definitely makes a lasting impression on guests.
Final thoughts
Finally, when it comes to ordering wedding invitations it is a must to purchase a sample before placing a full order. This allows brides to physically see the quality of the wedding invitation before placing a large order. Remember that actually viewing a product can make all the difference.
Ease your invitation stress by performing a little research before contacting vendors. Know roughly what you want, but keep an open mind in order to get the best results. Have fun with the process, and you’ll be able to create something that you’ll want in your scrapbook, too!
Lily’s Bridal and Prom Boutique offering Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses up to size 30. Lily’s Bridal offers the largest selection of exclusive designer Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses in Maryland. Curvy and Plus Size Brides you must come see the best selection of Wedding Dresses in Maryland.
Wedding Invites
Wedding Invites
After you drop down from the high of telling everyone you are engaged, you have to get to work planning that special day. Regardless of how big the wedding will be, you will still have the responsibility of making your invite list. And no matter how many people you plan on having, I guarantee you will have to make the tough decision of figuring out who to leave off—and then letting them know. It’s never easy, but making sure you do the proper thing is important as it will cut down on bruised feelings.
Invite Who You Want
Your wedding is, YOUR wedding. Not your parents’, not your friends’, not your families’, but your own. Bottom line, if someone isn’t nice to you, don’t invite them. Think of a guest list as a college paper. You remember those days right? You have the long list of notes with facts and points you want to add, but you have to narrow the list down to the ones that will make the paper an A+. And with your wedding, you’ll want to invite the guests who will make the day as special and fun as possible.
When it comes to weighing which friends you should invite, think of those who would appreciate being there and be happy for you. Your wedding is not a time to pay people back or make others happy, despite your own conscience.
Don’t Invite Unwanted Coworkers
This one is usually the number one issue people have when planning their wedding. Do you invite the coworkers and boss? Sit down and think about all the people you work directly with–the ones you see every day. Then think to yourself, “If I was going out for dinner, would I invite this person?” When you use this methodology, it will really help shape your ideas of who should be invited.
You Don’t Have to Invite Everyone with a Date
Deciding if you should invite someone with a date can really make your numbers add up to grand proportions. And sometimes when you invite someone with a date, they feel burdened with having to go find one. A lot people have this problem because they may have a friend who is dating someone and said friend feels they should be invited. Guess what, they shouldn’t.
If they are married, engaged, living together, or have dated for more than six months, they get invited. Anything aside from that, it’s a no. When you have to tell someone their date is not invited, state your rules. Even if they put up a fight, still let your friend know that’s the rule you and your fiancé decided on. It’s cut and dry and across the board and the only way to make it fair.
Lily’s Bridal and Prom Boutique offering Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses up to size 30. Lily’s Bridal offers the largest selection of exclusive designer Wedding Gowns and Prom Dresses in Maryland. Curvy and Plus Size Brides you must come see the best selection of Wedding Dresses in Maryland.
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