by Ren Huff

Created on: December 02, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

Planning an engagement party does not have to be stressful. In fact, it can aid in the future planning of your actual wedding. With some patience, creativity and simple planning your engagement party can spark the theme of the whole wedding process.

Granted, the bride's parents traditionally host the engagement party. Let's face it! Keeping tradition is not common these days. If you, the bride and groom-to-be, desire a more modern approach then these tips are for you.

Let me paint the picture: You just confessed your eternal love to each other. You commit to an eternal life together. The moment is full of romance. Now you want to celebrate and announce to the world by throwing a party. The last thing you want to do is ruin the moment with the stress of planning. Your desire is to keep the romantic feeling sparked.
Here are some engagement party ideas to aid in a blissful yet fun engagement party:

1. To keep the party romantic keep it intimate. Only invite friends/family that are close to you. Keep the list small.

2. If you decide to keep the engagement a secret until the party it may be a good idea to host the party at either your house or one of your parents'. If you can't keep a secret that long then book a party at a quiet, restaurant. Hosting a party at a restaurant will cause more suspicion to those who don't know. The goal is to keep the atmosphere romantic.

3. Depending on the path you take with the location of the party, you need to decide what refreshments you wish to provide. If you decide on a restaurant and are on a low budget it would be best to have the chef prepare a buffet. Otherwise pick a restaurant within your budget.

However you decide to eat at the restaurant it is good to book a private room for your party. The less noise there is the better chance of keeping a romantic atmosphere.

If you decide on hosting a party at your home keep the menu simple. The goal is to share your intimate experience, not slave over the party until you are too exhausted to enjoy it. Either hire someone to prepare the meal or prepare ahead of time. Finger foods/hors d'oeuvres are best and easiest to prepare.

4. Not long after people arrive suspicions will arrise as to why they are there if you hadn't already told them. If you desire to wait have keep everyone mingling and busy. Spend some time apart and mingle with everyone.

5. At the right moment, either before dinner or after, you can both make the announcement. Keep it simple, yet romantic. Don't wait too long for the announcement. Many will want to pry and ask for details and you do not want to be answering questions way into the night.

6. Cleanup does not have to be stressful. Either hire someone else to do it or designate a few close relatives to do pick-up throughout the evening. Of course if you choose to dine out the cleanup process is eliminated.

7. Before everyone leaves have a tablet and pen available for them to write their addresses and phone numbers on. That will help when you send wedding invitations.

Keep it simple and intimate. Save your big ideas for the wedding and reception. This is just the beginning of the whole process of getting married.

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