Are you joining the half of American adults who are already married? You had a successful proposal, and your soon-to-be-wife spent weeks showing off her engagement ring to all her friends and family.
So, what’s next?
Even before you decided on getting married, you already know that the marriage proposal is the start of a string of events that will mark the beginning of your married life. Weeks before the actual wedding, you have the bachelor’s party, bridal shower, and many related events to plan.
One of those events is the engagement party, which you celebrate with friends and family. But how do you pull off the perfect party?
Read these tips to help you plan the best pre-wedding party without taking away anything from the actual wedding.
1. Set the Budget
Determining the budget is the most crucial step when planning for the perfect party. Consider all the expenses involved in the whole wedding event — from wedding rings to honeymoon.
It’s customary for the bride’s parents to host the party. However, if you’ll be the host, make sure not to spend a big chunk of your wedding budget on this post-proposal event. Set a detailed allocation of funds that will help you narrow down your choices for the event venue, menu, and guest list.
2. Decide on the Guest List
Before deciding who to invite to your engagement party, you must consider the guestlist for the actual wedding first. You don’t want to invite people who are not on your wedding guest list.
If you have a big budget, you can both invite all your friends and family, as well as your co-workers. Otherwise, you might want to keep it small with only your close family and friends.
3. Determine the Best Date
While you might want to celebrate your newly-engaged status right away, you shouldn’t jump into it without careful planning. When picking a date for this fun event, you must consider the availability of the guests.
Some of your friends or family might have to fly in from a distant city, or close colleagues might be away on business trips. Consider all factors involved to determine the best date to accommodate them all.
4. Pick an Idyllic Venue
A large percentage, around 70%, of couples live with each other before deciding to tie the knot. That said, most lovers have places where they often enjoy a fun time together and will be the perfect choice for the pre-wedding event venue.
But, what if your favorite hangout spot is a bar or club? It’ll not be appropriate for a formal, or even a semi-formal, event.
The conventional choice for a venue is a restaurant, but you can have it at the beach, a hotel rooftop pool, or even host it at home — if your house is spacious enough to accommodate your guests.
Whatever your choice is, make sure that it will be appropriate for the party’s theme and the attending guests.
5. Send Out Invites
For your post-proposal party to be successful and well-attended, you must send out the invites well ahead of time. This way, you’re giving your guests plenty of time to prepare their schedules and accommodations for them to attend your party.
It’s also a good idea to call and inform the guests before actually sending out the invites. It will also be one way of confirming their availability on the date of the event.
Whether you go for traditional invitations or electronic invites, make sure to choose an appropriate design that goes well with the wedding theme.
6. Plan the Menu
Most couples take this opportunity to introduce their favorite cuisine to their family and friends.
But as with any party, the menu can either make it or break it. For your guests to enjoy the celebration, consider their preferences before yours.
They can’t have the same choices of food, though. Going to a buffet restaurant is one way of catering to all your guests’ palates.
Take the Pressure off Planning
An estimated 88% of Americans tie the knot for love. If you’re not careful planning your post-proposal party, the pressure can put a strain on your relationship.
Take note of these tips, and you’ll be sure to have the perfect pre-wedding party. And, if you’re still looking for wedding or engagement rings, Chattanooga jewelers have a wide selection available.
