Although you are already have the ring on your finger and most of your family and friends already know you are engaged, the engagement party is the official announcement of your wedding plans. The engagement party is a special event and is sure to rank pretty high on your “special days of my life” list. So, engagement party arrangements including: catering, venue, and especially attire are all very important.
Engagement parties are usually a drop-in type of event, where family and friends actually “drop in” to congratulate you and your future mate, wish you the best, and leave. Drop-in’s usually call for some kind of hors d’oeuvres and a sparkling cider, tea, and/or wine and beer. Liquor and spirits can be appropriate for any engagement party from casual to formal. But in most cases the the “Black-Tie” affairs include wine and spirits along with champagne.
Formal parties require “black-tie” attire and causal parties usually have a wide range of acceptable dress. Attire for a formal engagement party should be reflect the same “black-tie” formal wear and causal parties allow for more relaxed attire options.
Dressing For Your Engagement Party
When deciding what to wear to your engagement party follow a few of these handy suggestions.
- If the party is hosted in the home of a family member, a simple elegant dress or skirt would be perfectly appropriate for the bride-to-be.
- If the event is at a banquet hall, with elaborate decorations, some form of entertainment, and with a large guest list, an elegant evening gown would be more fitting for the occasion.
- For the groom, a tie is necessary, regardless of the event’s formality rating, and possibly a suit jacket. For the most formal of engagement parties, the groom may wear a casual styled tuxedo.
Just remember that when you are the center of attention, it is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. So, when in doubt, go for the more formal option!
