Engagement Parties & Destination Weddings

[TheFutureWagners]

I know this is an older thread but I wanted to bring it back to the top since our Engagement partie(s) yes, we are having two, are coming up. I am from NY and my FH is from Florida so both sets of parents are throwing us something.

 

I feel very weird taking gifts from people because of the expense of the trip... we registered for a ton of stuff but I figured that was for the shower/wedding.

 

We are having a fiesta theme (kind of- with mostly Italian food, as I am Italian) at my parents and who knows what will go down at my FH's parents- they are more lavish than mine so it probably won't be a backyard thing like the first one.

 

What is everyone else doing/thinking/feeling about their engagement parties?

[Tennyt1]

We are thining about having one too.  And I actully do want to mention our registriy on the very informal invite that we are sending out.  Also, we will be hosting.

[lshaef]

I had posted this in a different thread but I think that one is too old so copying it to this one:

 

Like a few of you have mentioned, your families had not met so that was a main reason for having an engagement party.  I'm in the same boat and a very generous friend is hosting our engagement party August 21st at her house.  She really isn't telling me too much about the evening except it is for adults only, cocktail hour from 5 - 8, she is paying for a bartender and I guess appetizers.  I really don't want  guests to bring gifts- I just want my friends and family to get to hang out for a few hours but she didn't put that on the invite.

 

So now, the big question is...what do I do for her and her husband for hosting this party!!???

[TheFutureWagners]

Oh crap.... that's a really tough one.. Maybe get them a night at a nice hotel and a a dinner nearby or something?? NO clue...

[bediva33]

I wouldn't worry about it. I always thought that gifts weren't necessary for an engagment party but Most people aren't going to come to a party empty handed.

[a&p_lenz]

I had a destination wedding and we did not want any gifts!! I told everyone who was coming to the wedding not to give us a wedding gift.  We did not have an engagement party but I would definitely tell people to not bring gifts.  If someone asks what other people are doing just say "We told everyone not to bring gifts, so I doubt they will bring one."

 

It is hard because some people feel like they have to, so if someone give you a gift, thankfully accept. 

 

Good luck 

[Ellabaja1983]

We are not having an engagement party and I personally have never been to one (most of my friends haven't had one if they are married and the one that did happened during a snow storm, so I didn't go).  For my wedding I had mentioned to the bridal party that I didn't even care to have a bridal shower since people would be spending money to go to the wedding, but they insist that I have to have one, and not everyone is going to be able to go to the wedding so I shouldn't think that way. 

 

I would certainly tell guests that they are not necessary, but I'm sure many will come with them... nothing wrong with that!  I probably wouldn't go to an engagement party without some sort of gift!

[Kendall]

I agree.  If guests are going to the wedding, I have told them that that is enough - their being there is a good enough gift for us!  As for the engagement party, I would probably take a gift.  Not as elaborate as a wedding gift, but I wouldn't show up empty handed.