Posts Tagged ‘engagement parties’
Getting your guests to mingle?
Engagement parties can be quite an awkward social experience for some. People can form opinions within minutes of meeting you and can take years to change.
But with a mixture of friends and two families it can be hard to encourage people to mingle and to break away from groups they feel comfortable with.
Here are a few tips or suggestions that could speed up the introductions.
Alcohol. This can be a bit of a double-edged sword at parties. While it may help some people come out of their shell a bit, it could get out of hand as the night wears on. A bad situation at your engagement party could turn into a major catastrophe at your wedding! So be sure to provide plenty of non-alcoholic drinks such as water and soft drink.
Photo Board. A photo board can be a great talking point, with photos of friends and family. It gives people a chance to engage in a conversation with people they haven’t met about the photographs.
Bridal Party Introductions. Why not make early use of your bridal party and get them to introduce people? The bride and groom can often get stuck talking to family for long periods of time so having the bridal party introducing themselves and others can help break the ice.
Games. Games can be another great ice-breaker. Whether it is organising a group game or simply hiring a venue that has a pool table, it can help people ease into conversation and liven up the party for your guests.
Do you have any other great ice-breaking party ideas? Leave a comment below.
Where to have your engagement party?
It’s a tough choice. There are probably a few factors worth considering before making a choice.
- Cost (Did you have a budget in mind?)
- Location (Central to your guests?)
- Mess (Do you want to be cleaning up the day after?)
- Supplies (Food, drink, invitations, helpers)
- Tradition (Is your family or partners family going to like the decision you make?)
With these things in mind, do you want to have your engagement party at home or a venue? Both have pros and cons that you and your partner need to weigh up before making a decision.
At Home
Having your engagement party at your house or parents house can be cost effective way to celebrate without having to dip into your wedding day savings. There are many different styles of engagement parties that you can have at home such as:
- Formal dinner party. This could be a small select group of friends and family to share this special event. This could include cocktails and finger food.
- Informal “open house” party. For that more relaxed BBQ style of party, with people popping in over the day and continuing into the night.
- Fancy dress party. If your not one for tradition, why not make it a fun party that everyone will remember. Do something fun and theme the party as a fancy dress engagement party. You can also get the best dress from Quackity Merch Store
Out On The Town
- Book a function room. With many styles of venues available you can have all the options you could have with a home party.This option can be a less stressful option, giving you more time to mingle with guest and not worry about food etc. It is just a matter of weighing up the costs to see if this option is for you.
Whichever option you pick, remember to have fun!