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It feels like you suddenly get to a point in your life when everyone you know is getting hitched!
If you've recently had the question popped (or maybe popped it yourself!) and want to celebrate the happy event then it's time to start thinking about the engagement party.
An engagement party has its ups and downs. Don’t expect to throw one without some serious planning, not to mention money spending all round. On the upside, there is the romantic side of it all; a great opportunity to introduce the two families (this is assuming that they have not really met); and a fabulous excuse to party with your nearest and dearest.
In the ways of old, the tradition was that the party should be hosted by the parents of the bride in their home. Times, however, have changed, and these days it’s acceptable to throw such a gathering wherever you so please.
You may pick a family home, or even take up your best friend’s offer of the use of her place. If you want to take it out of the home, a great restaurant is always a good place to start. This way, you don’t have to stress about the set up and often messy aftermath of the do.
In fact, the rules of engagement parties are pretty easygoing as far as rules go. Heck – you could even get your family and friends to bring picnic baskets and have a party in the park where he proposed. Whatever you fancy and your budget allows - the list of possibilities is never-ending.
This said, there are a couple of things it helps to keep in mind when organising this event: Don’t: Invite people you know you aren’t going to invite to your wedding day. It’s considered rude. Don’t: Expect gifts. Giving engagement gifts is completely up to the attendees of this event, and unfortunately, not up to you. If, however, you are lucky enough to get a gift or two, thank you notes are essential. Don’t: Have the engagement bash too close to the wedding. Allow at least six months between the two. It will give everyone time to recover - in all senses of the word. Do: Try to keep it intimate, and invite a core group of people who are close to you and your partner. Inviting the entire wedding guest list would be more trouble then its worth, and would defeat the purpose of the engagement party itself.
Do: Make sure that you keep to your budget. There is nothing worse then splashing out on the engagement party, and then realising you have dipped into the wedding savings. Do: Create an informal type event. The point of the party is to get people to mingle and get to know one another. As they say, you not only marry your partner, but also their family. Happy socialising! Do: Remember to have fun. The wedding day will be stressful enough as it is, so use this one to unwind. Breathe in, breathe out…
Whether you throw an elaborate event, have a picnic in the park, enjoy an intimate dinner party, or decide not to have one at all, the ball is in your court. The most important thing to remember is that it’s your moment, so you can choose how to celebrate and share it.
A note from me: Congratulations, and here’s to you both!
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everyone you know is getting hitched! 
In fact, the rules of engagement parties are pretty easygoing as far as rules go. Heck – you could even get your family and friends to bring picnic baskets and have a party in the park where he proposed. Whatever you fancy and your budget allows - the list of possibilities is never-ending. 
Don’t: Have the engagement bash too close to the wedding. Allow at least six months between the two. It will give everyone time to recover - in all senses of the word.
Do: Remember to have fun. The wedding day will be stressful enough as it is, so use this one to unwind. Breathe in, breathe out…