We don’t need another reason to cut shapes so it seems crazy to think you would need an excuse to host a party but with everything involved in planning and pulling off a killer wedding, some couples are left wondering what the point of an engagement party might be. 

If you are on the fence about throwing down an engagement party, here are some reasons why they're a great idea. 

1. Engagement parties bring people together 

It is hard enough to see all your loved ones in one place these days. With people double booking or flaking on plans, it sometimes feels almost impossible to get the whole crew together at the one time. An engagement party is a significant event that calls for people to fit you into their busy lives. 

There is no doubt planning a wedding takes up a lot of your spare time. As you get closer and closer to the big day you will have even less time to socialise with friends and family. Getting one last decent party in before you put your head down might just keep that FOMO at bay.

2. Engagement parties are a great trial run for the main event

Unless you’re like Elizabeth Taylor and have a few weddings under your belt, you likely haven’t hosted anything bigger than birthday drinks at the local pub. There is a whole host of considerations that go into planning the big day and making it a seamless experience. From coordinating the venue, catering, guest list, photographer and music just to name a few, it can be a really overwhelming and stressful experience. 

Your engagement party will allow you to sharpen those party planning skills and act as the perfect trial run where you can see what is worth doing and what can be done better. You can trial your caterer, DJ, and even your photographer often for a fraction of the cost and get feedback from friends and family long before you have locked them into the main event.  

3. Engagement parties can distract from a long engagement

There is no right or wrong length for engagements, some people will happily wait for years so they can have their wedding during the perfect season at the perfect location, while others want that big day ASAP. 

If you have just gotten engaged and are so excited that you want to jump up and down on a couch in front of Oprah and announce it to the world, a long engagement might leave you feeling a little deflated. An engagement party allows you to celebrate and enjoy the moment of getting engaged so you don’t have to wait for the wedding day to celebrate. 

4. Engagement parties are a great opportunity for families to meet

Some couples don’t live close to their family or extended family which means that often the families on either side have not had a chance to meet even before the engagement. The engagement party is the perfect setting for families to be introduced in a more casual atmosphere. 

It’s also a great opportunity to take note of any family dynamics that need to be taken into consideration when planning the big day. Photographers and other vendors also find this information useful to ensure everyone is comfortable and having a great time on the wedding day. 

5. Engagement parties allow you to invite your wider group

Weddings are expensive and the ‘wedding tax’ is very real. As a result, couples might choose a micro-wedding or intimate wedding with fewer guests so that they don’t need to compromise on things that will make their wedding dreams come true like a Tuscan backdrop or Vera Wang gown.

An engagement party allows you to celebrate with all your friends and family without the price tag attached. You can host an epic bash for a fraction of the cost of a wedding. 

Boyfriend XOXO