A toast to you – you just got engaged! Once you’ve had a couple of weeks to let your romantic news sink in and enjoy spending some quality time with your new fiancé/fiancée, it’s time to start thinking about how you might want to celebrate with friends and family. Whether you and your other half are all about dancing and dressing up or the pair of you prefer smaller gatherings, every engaged couple deserves some sort of celebration to honour the special adventure they’re about to begin.
Engagement parties are a great way to introduce both sides of the family as well as different friendship groups. Everyone gets to mingle which means your wedding is likely to be much more fun and relaxed. And if you’re having a more formal affair, it’s a good opportunity to plan and organize an event – a practice-run for you big day, let’s say.
When it comes to celebrating, there are endless ways to do so. Sunday brunch, a black tie event, BBQ in the garden, cocktails and canapés at your favourite restaurant, a home-cooked meal for your closest friends. Our tip: choose a party invitation that reflects the formality and theme of your event and the time of year it’s taking place. What about the wording? Scroll on for our simple guide to getting your loved ones together in style.
It’s your party and you can say what you want to, right? Whilst you have the freedom to make your invitation your own, there are a few key pieces of information you’ll have to include for guests. Once you’ve got these down, the tone and anything else you want to add is up to you.
Compared with wedding invitation wording, engagement party invitation wording is pretty simple. All you really need to include on your engagement party invitations is the following:
Let your guests know which couple is celebrating their happy news!
So guests can save the date in the diary and know what time to arrive. Some couples choose to write an end time as well as a start time if they only have use of their venue for a set amount of time.
Share the venue name and its whereabouts so guests can make travel plans. Remember to include specific directions if your venue is tricky to find.
Add your email, address or phone number, depending on how you’d like guests to respond. We recommend asking people to let you know 2-3 weeks before your party.
Here’s a look at some additional information you might like to feature on your invitation.
(Remember, too much text can begin to look cluttered so play around with the letter and paragraph spacing if you’re choosing to include a lot of information. This’ll help to keep the presentation chic and digestible to read.)
For a more formal approach, some couples will state if their parents are hosting the party, similar to a wedding invitation. You may like to call yourselves out as the hosts or sometimes friends might even be throwing the party in honour.
Whether it’s fancy dress, smart casual or cocktail attire, tell your guests if they need to wear something in particular to your party. If there’s no dress code, you can simply omit this.
If you’re hosting an event with food, it’s polite to ask guests if they have any special dietary requirements.
The tone of your invitation should echo the nature of your event and the style of your party invitation. For example, an Art Deco invitation for a formal dinner party suits a traditional, polished tone, whilst fun and floral designs for garden parties in the sun or low-key gatherings at your local pub are best suited to relaxed wording.
Salima & Aaron invite you to their Engagement Party Join us for cocktails & canapés Saturday 12th July 2pm till late 56 Summerby Mews Dulwich RSVP by 16th July Salimapw@hotmail.com
You’re invited to Jasmine & Damrae’s Engagement Party 18th December 3 o’clock The American Bar The Savoy Black Tie RSVP - JM97@gmail.com
You’re invited to Jasmine & Damrae’s Engagement Party 18th December 3 o’clock The American Bar The Savoy Black Tie RSVP - JM97@gmail.com
Mr and Mrs Moto invite you to celebrate the Engagement Of Mia & KeIji Please join us for cocktails followed by dinner Thirteenth of November 7 o’clock The Old Inn, Andover Smart casual Rsvp: themotos@me.com
Kamila & John are engaged! Please join them for a BBQ & drinks to celebrate 29th July 1pm till late The Blue Cottage Chichester RSVP to Kamila@gmail.com
You are invited to Christine & Eron’s Engagement Celebrations Join us for Cocktails & canapés 3rd February 8 till late 2 Hurst Road, Bath RSVP - christine92@mail.com
Join Us You’re invited to celebrate Rosie & David’s Engagement At the Dog & Fox Pub Harsden Village on Saturday 16th October at 7pm RSVP: rosiejenkins@gmail.com
She said yes! Join us at the engagement party of the future Mr and Mrs Wright Sunday 4th March Babington House 2pm onwards
Sarah and Lillie are engaged Come party with us to celebrate their special news! Saturday 7th October The Joiners Arms 7:00pm-closing RSVP by 8th February - 07893 828 78
We’re engaged! Damien Wright & Sam Williams invite you for an evening of dinner, drinks and dancing. Friday 14th September As You Like it, Jesmond Seven Thirty till late RSVP - damienandsam@email.com