Weddingbee Blog

Way back when we first got engaged, Mr E and I thought we would go out with a few friends to a restaurant to celebrate our engagement and also to let these particular friends (mostly university friends of mine) get to know Mr E better (he had just moved to NZ).

Fail.

Long story short, one of these “friends” decided she didn’t like our choice of restaurant, changed it last minute, completely ignored (or forgot? didn’t realise??) the fact that it was OUR engagement party, and made it all about her. Mr E was ignored for the majority of the evening (except by two of my real friends who saw what was going on and tried their best to steer the party back on course but in vain) and I’m pretty sure the central subject of the conversations that night were all about aforementioned friend’s new kitten. *sigh* Maybe I need to learn to be more assertive.

Anyway. My mum found out, and felt really bad that we hadn’t had a “proper” celebration.

See, my family usually lives in Indonesia and therefore she couldn’t throw the party she wanted for us at first. I think engagement parties in New Zealand aren’t as common or as “big” as they appear to be in the States, but my mum was still determined to recognize in some way the step we had taken. A few weeks ago my family arrived back in NZ (where they will stay for the next 7 months), and Mr E and I went down to stay with them during our winter study break, so Mum had her chance.

Most of my extended family were away, and time was too short to organize anything at the church where my parents go (we had a week!) so she decided just a small and sweet celebration at home with all five other members of my family, my brother’s girlfriend who was visiting from Colorado (yeah, he is going State-side in his love choices too!), and Mr E and me, of course. Eight is not a huge number for sure, but it was a perfect way to just enjoy being engaged.

Mum decorated a pavlova with kiwi fruit (Mr E’s fave) and whipped cream for dessert (traditional in NZ—it is almost not even a celebration without it!).

Mmm…

Just because I’m sure you needed to see a pic of us eating the pavlova… and no we aren’t sick, I’m just a wimp and get cold very easily, so that is why the orange blanket makes an appearance.

And then she presented us with a mini vacuum cleaner so we can keep our dorm rooms clean, and then our apartment in future. Ha, love ya Mum.

Us cheesily displaying Harry the Hoovering Thingamabob

Sometimes the most simple things can be the sweetest, especially when the motivation behind them is so thoughtful.

*All photos in this post are personal

Did you have an engagement party? Was it big or small?