Engagement Party... Decisions, Decisions, Decisions....
Having an engagement party is a good way to introduce your fiancé or fiancée to your extended family and friends. An engagement party is a quick way to introduce a future spouse to a group of people at one time. The following tips will help you have a successful party.

Who Should Host the Event?
Etiquette states that the parents of the bride should host the party to celebrate their daughter’s engagement. Today, you will find parents of either the bride or groom hosting the party, or grandparents, an aunt and uncle, a close friend of the parents, or a godparent may choose to host it instead. It is also popular for friends to host the party. Or perhaps, the future newlyweds can through their own celebration. Anything goes!

If you want to host the engagement shindig, have an open discussion with all parties involved. Several parties may be interested in hosting this event. If the couple has a large circle of friends, the bridal party may host an engagement party with just the friends of the bride and groom, while the parents of the bride and groom may co-host an engagement party for the family and family friends.
-Decide who will host or co-host the party.
-Decide whether or not this is going to be a surprise party for the couple or a surprise announcement for the guests!

Who To Invite?
Engagement party etiquette typically dictates that only family members and close friends be included in the party.

Etiquette also says that your wedding party members should be included in your engagement celebration. It goes without saying that the bridesmaids, attendants, best men, and groomsmen should be invited to your engagement party.
- Contact the bride's and or groom's family to obtain a list of people who should be invited.

WHEN?
The purpose of the party is to celebrate the engagement. Therefore, the party should be held shortly after the engagement occurs and several months before the wedding.
-Decide when the party will take place: late morning, afternoon, evening...

WHERE?
Many engagement parties are held in homes. Others are held in restaurants. Some are held at creative locales -- the beach, on a boat, an art museum, a vineyard, a hotel. Many engagement parties center around a THEME party.
You will want to keep in mind, the number of attendees, and your budget.
-Decide where the party will take place: home, outdoors, restaurant, etc...

WHAT’S NEXT?
It is a good idea to make out a realistic budget from the outset. Write down all of the elements of the party: the invitation, the food, the drink, the entertainment, the décor. Keep in mind that some of the nicest engagement parties are low-key at-home affairs. Another way to save is to offer just cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, just desserts, or just wine and cheese, instead of a full-course meal.

If the party is not a surprise for the couple, you might also want to address the issue of gifts. Gifts are not mandatory at engagement parties, but there is a lot of confusion surrounding engagement gift-giving. Some couples are uncomfortable receiving engagement gifts, shower gifts and wedding gifts from the same group of people. If this is the case, you might want to put “no gifts” on the invitation. Most guests will want to bring a gift, so if gift-giving is okay with the couple, remind the couple to register with us for their wedding registry. If you don’t address the gift issue on the invitation, be prepared to guide RSVPers who call you to the couple’s registry.
-Decide upon the menu: snacks, buffet, sit down lunch, dinner, sweets table., etc.
- Decide whether the food will be catered, prepared by you or pot luck.
-Send out invitations
-Prepare a menu.
-Prepare a shopping list to include food, flowers, materials needed, prizes (if needed) and decorations.
-Create a guest information sheet that Include Mailed invitation, RSVP (Yes/No), remarks.
- Plan all activities and games and prepare materials needed.
- Decide what you would like for entertainment. Does your budget allow a DJ, pianist, steel band or will a family member serve as the DJ/Emcee for the evening.
- Contact guests from far away who will not be able to attend
- Arrange for them to phone and congratulate the bride (and groom) at the party.
-Set a special place for gift opening - Although gifts are not necessary, most people will bring a gift

PARTY DAY
Toasts are not just for rehearsal dinners. Toasts are traditionally a part of engagement parties. The father of the bride is usually the first to toast, followed by the groom and whoever else wants to chime in. Set aside some time for toasting -- probably about two-thirds of the way through the event.

Enjoy the party you planned for your favorite couple -- don’t be too stressed out by the details. Keep your hosting duties under control by delegating simple tasks. Ask someone close to the couple, perhaps a personal friend or sibling, to receive guests at the door and take their coats. Call upon the family photo-taker to capture the event with digital photos. Focus your energy on facilitating introductions and enjoyment. Your efforts are sure to be appreciated by the guests, and by the happy bride and groom-to-be.
-Be sure everyone has a drink in hand for the toast
-Delegate duties to family & friends
-ENJOY & HAVE FUN!!!!