Hosting an intimate dinner party to celebrate your forthcoming wedding
Words and contribution by London-based wedding planner and designer, Roberta Burcheri Events.
Before getting down to the serious business of planning a wedding, you and your fiancé should celebrate your engagement with a party. In other words, this is a fantastic chance to put your event-planning abilities into practice. Choosing a location, date, guest list, invitations, meal, and budget are just a few of the things that need to be planned.
Your engagement is without a doubt one of the most significant occasions in your life, so even though throwing a party is not a requirement, it’s a great way to announce your upcoming wedding, commemorate and just start making new memories and mark this important milestone in your lives.
It doesn’t have to be a massive party, but it’s nice to have with you people that had a remarkable impact in your journey together.
Because it’s true that changing your relationship status on Facebook and social media is a fantastic tool for spreading the word, but there’s no substitute for getting together in person with loved ones to celebrate a happy moment.
Traditionally it was expected that the couple’s parents will throw and pay for the engagement party. However, modern expectations have rendered this totally obsolete. These days, it’s not uncommon for engaged couples to organise, host, and foot the bill for their own celebration.
Why planning an engagement party, you might ask?
It’s a great way to get friends and family together to celebrate before the stress of wedding planning begins.
When
It’s best to host the party right after the proposal, so that everyone may share their congratulations immediately. If you wait longer than three months, it might get in the way of some important wedding planning tasks.
How to plan it
Just like your wedding, the party atmosphere should reflect your personal style, but not necessarily match your wedding style. You wouldn’t probably be any closer to choosing your big-day aesthetic at this point in time.
Choose a location. You could pick a night to host a dinner party for your closest friends and family members, whether it’s a backyard barbecue, at your go-to restaurant, or at your home.
Not a low-key person? Consider a cocktail party or renting a lounge for private dining in a private club/hotel/restaurant.
So, who should you invite then and how?
Both your immediate and extended families, as well as your closest friends, should be invited to an engagement party. Everyone who was invited to the engagement party should also be invited to the wedding, or you risk offending those who are not making it to the big day.
Start by sending the invites two to three weeks before the event at the latest.
For a formal affair, a classic invitation via post is the best option. The best choice is an invitation with a stamp and a street address. But if you’d rather have a less formal get-together over email, you’re welcome to do that. You shouldn’t use social media to invite people to your engagement party.
Avoid sending out save the dates at the same time, or it might create some confusion.
F&B
Keep in mind the main purpose is to celebrate your upcoming marriage. So, if you’re hosting a cocktail party you could serve canapes, appetisers or a small plated dinner. (Ask your guests about food allergies and dietary requirements, just like at a wedding).
If you’re having a garden party, you could think about a barbecue type of menu, with the usual suspects (beers, wine and Pimm’s).
In a more formal setting, a plated and curated menu is lovely and appropriate, but a five-course meal with wine pairings is overkill.
A celebratory sparkling wine -or the non-alcoholic version for the ones that prefer- is a must for a toast to the newly wedded-to-be.
What to expect?
First of all, it’s a party, so lots of fun!
The party provides guests with an opportunity to socialise, mingle and get to know each other before the wedding, and to you as a couple to share the story about your proposal.
Keep in mind that while presents are appreciated, they are not required, in any way, for the engagement party.
Have you thought of combining your engagement bash into a major event like Valentine’s Day? If you haven’t here’s some inspiration for you to be the hostess or host with the mostest.
Concept, Design and Planning: Roberta Burcheri Events @roberta_burcheri_events / Venue: Dartmouth House @dartmouthhouseweddings / Photographers: Mal’s Photography UK @malsphotographyuk / Second Photographer: Leanne Ashcroft Photography @leanneashcroftphotography / Videographer: Vic Rivero Films @vicriverofilms. / Bridal Designer: Shimmering Ivory @shimmering_ivory / Accessories Designer: Pearluminous London @pearluminous_ / Stationery: Lynda Loves @lyndaathey / Tableware and Linen: Maison Margaux @maisonmargauxltd / Furniture: London Event Hire @londoneventhire. / Candelabra: Eden Event Design @edenevent. / Models: Rohiny Belani @asweetrohmance & Oliver Fernandez @oliverfernandez1 / HMUA: CJC Hair and Makeup @cjchairandmakeup / Tux: Richard Anderson @rasavilerow / Bridal Shoes: Diane Hassall @di_hassall / Floristry: Shilpa Reddy Flower Design @shilpareddyflowers / Shoot Assistant: Rachel Parker @celebratewithrachellouise
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