Dear Jacquelyn,

I am so excited to be hosting an engagement party for my daughter and soon to be son-in-law. This will be my first time throwing an engagement party, and I want to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. Can you please offer some guidance as to what I should keep in mind as I begin planning this special celebration?

Dear Reader,

An engagement party is a great way to show your support and happiness for a newly-engaged couple and, as the host, you want to make this as perfect as possible for the couple. There are several things you need to keep in mind when planning this pre-wedding bash.

The engagement party can be as formal or relaxed as you’d like. Consider the mood you’d like to set. White tablecloths and candlelit dinners are classic for a reason, but if you can certainly consider a more casual get together. Consider the formality and tone of the upcoming wedding and let that be your guide.

When considering who to include on the guest list, the only rule of who to invite to an engagement party is they must be invited to the wedding.

Engagement parties should be intimate gatherings for those who are closest to the bride and groom. Immediate family members, close extended family, and the intimate circle of best friends should receive invitations to an engagement celebration.

Plan on mailing out the invitations around four to six weeks before the event to give guests proper notice. Even if it is a casual affair, invitations will help inform guests of important details such as the type of attire that is preferred, whether or not to bring gifts, and how to RSVP.

This is a time of celebration and a fabulous engagement party will set the mood for all the festivities to follow.

Respectfully Yours,

Jacquelyn

Have a question? Email: jacquelyn@ptd.net. Jacquelyn Youst is owner of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol, specializing in etiquette training. She is on the board of directors of the National Civility Foundation.

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