Engagement party: is it necessary? Do I have to invite everyone who will be at the wedding?

We just got engaged in Jamaica on Saturday, and have just announced it to our friends and family. My father wants to throw us an engagement party, although since he will be paying for everything, we feel somewhat uncomfortable asking for an engagement party, as well.


Could we have a small engagement party with just the families and bridal parties? How much would an engagement party at a restaurant cost?
Engagement party: is it necessary? Do I have to invite everyone who will be at the wedding?
Engagement parties are optional. They are almost always smaller than weddings, so don't feel like you have to invite everyone. Additionally, it is less common to invite out of town relatives (especially ones who live really far away) to the engagement party. You can choose to invite close family and friends only. The cost of having the party at a restaurant varies considerably depending on total number of guests, the restaurant you choose, and how much boozing you plan on doing. For 20 people with some drinking I'd plan on several hundred dollars. You can save a lot of money if you have the party catered at the restaurant (with a predetermined menu instead of letting everyone order what they want).
Reply:There's no requirement to have an engagement party. Usually only rich folks or professionals or society folks do this these days. I think I'd use rule of thumb - how much time between now and the wedding? If more than 2 years, I'd have an engagement party. Make it a smaller guest list than the wedding, though.
Reply:An engagement party isn't necessary, but nice that your dad wants to throw you one.


It's usually just an informal event, no need for a meal. Just have a gathering of the two families at your dad's house for drinks and snackies, with you two, the wedding party, and close family from both sides - just so everyone can meet.
Reply:just go w/the ONE that


your Dad is paying for!!!!!


Cost: Approx:$25/person
Reply:Engagement party is nice to announce that you are engaged if you have the money for it and feel that it is worth it. To have a party to include all the people that will be in the wedding you will already be having a rehearsal dinner before the wedding anyways.Something to think about, ask your dad can he help with the rehearsal dinner instead.That is more meaning full and you will be hungry by the time you practice what you will be doing already.
Reply:Not required at all


I ain't having one as I think it is superfluous
Reply:Tell him to save his money for the wedding! ;)


I had 3 small engagement dinner parties. One with the Groomsmen and their better halves, 1 with the Bridesmaids and their better halves (at which I actually asked them to be in my wedding so it was a surprise) and 1 with our parents... all three were fun and less expensive.
Reply:not everyone but almost ur closest friends.
Reply:You haven't asked for the engagement party so let him throw it. The engagement party guest list should all be invited to the wedding, but not everyone you would invite to the wedding should be invited to the engagement party.





We kept ours small. And the wedding guest list is large. Usually it is the nearest and dearest people to you.





Congratulations





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Reply:I don't feel that an engagement party is necessary. Many people feel obligated to bring a gift to congratulate the newly engaged couple. We had a small family dinner with both of our parents, and we also had some friends get together at a restaraunt. It might be nice just to have the bridal party (if you've picked them) and the families together to meet. You can do this on a budget and probably for about $15 per person including drinks.
Reply:To me a engagement party is not necessary.