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Do you think it’s strange to want to throw a celebratory bash after we’ve been engaged for over a year? We’re a little torn over it at the moment, and there are a lot of differing opinions on this one from within our little family.
As for Miss Jaguar? Well, she thinks that something—anything—would be good!
We’re only going to be engaged once, and that time is quickly running out—why not celebrate it? And also, I want a chance to eat more cake. Maybe even cute baby-jaguar cupcakes, like these:
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OK, so it’s not all about the cupcakes. (And I guess I could technically make them for ANY reason whatsoever.) But it is a very “done” thing on my side of the family, and I feel like we’ve missed a step somewhere.
Logically, though, I get what Mr. Jaguar and his family are saying—and since we’re being frugal, it does kind of seem a bit unnecessary. I really do want to have something, though, even if it is just for a few of our closer family members and friends.
I’m thinking I might offer up a happy medium and suggest that we have a “We’re Back in the Country…Oh, and Also Engaged, Woo!” dinner or barbeque once we’re home in Sydney. We’ll keep the attention on the engagement to a minimum and focus instead on catching up with what’s been happening since we’ve been away…and hopefully still eat some cake.
Did you have an engagement party to celebrate? Was it low-key or something fancier?
Oh man, I love those cupcakes!! Engagement parties are not a part of my culture. I’ve only gone to one actually and I didn’t really know what it was about. I’d throw one in order to eat those cupcakes though 
We ended up having two, one from each of our families and both were so fun! My parents had a backyard BBQ, with volleyball, bocce and burgers and then my IL’s threw a much larger, more extravagant soiree in Miami (where they live) since there were a bunch of people they weren’t going to invite to the wedding that they wanted to celebrate with…That one was a brunch and also awesome…I think you should do something, it’s a great way to celebrate!
I think having a combo party to celebrate your return and engagement makes perfect sense! There must be tons of people who want to meet up with you and catch up, why not do something for everyone? So you should definitely go ahead with that - just prepare yourself to not be disappointed if some people (like your fiance’s family) will not show too much interest / enthusiasm.
We had a brunch for our engagement party, it was very nice but pretty low key. I did not have another one in my home country since I only go back there for short visits!
We haven’t yet, and I’m not sure if we will. I can’t really say what is ‘done’ in our families because we’re the first ones to get married, and we’re only children, and I only have 2 cousins… no precedent set!
We had one - it was a great way for our extending families to meet one another. I think it is a great idea to have one once your back in the area, as a combined ‘Welcome Home/Happy Engagement!’ party.
I say go for it!! They are your memories & you’re the one who might look back on this moment & wished you had one…besides like you said you have a dual reason to throw a party… so why not! =)
We had sort of an impromptu party since he proposed on my birthday and we were already flying home to celebrate with my friends and family. My birthday party became a sort of engagement party too!
Unfortunately when we were first engaged not many people were on our side about it (there’s an 8 year difference). Most people were placing bets as to how long we’d last rather than congratulating us. But now that we’ve been engaged for almost 18 months, and getting married in 6 weeks, people are just starting to realize this shiz is real. I think for us a joint “wedding shower” will be better than the traditional e-party, since we had so many negative experiences (from people, not the actual engagement) with being engaged.
We actually already had a mini reunion weekend planned with our college friends and it happened to be the weekend after we got engaged. Ours friends were were awesome and picked up some champagne & cheesecake to celebrate our engagement.
You should definately have a celebration, especially since your mom wants to do it. Like you mentioned, it could be a combination “We’re back/we’re engaged” party. Just something simple with cake would be inexpensive and a good way to have a reunion with friends and family!
We’re having one in December (we got engaged in July). I thought it was weird to wait so long, but my fiance’s brother lives in London, so we’re waiting until he can be home for it.
Honestly, I think either way is fine!
We had the exact same dilemma! It took us forrrever to plan an engagement party. We actually didn’t have it until 6 months after we got engaged and were worried it was a little late, but it was sooooo special. We’re sooooo glad we did it and our family and friends raved about it for weeks.
We did something laid back in the rec room at Mr. B’s apartment building. We actually did pot luck and had a few key players bring multiple dishes, and we had TONS of food. We ordered a few bigger entree items from Glory Days restrauant and it worked out great, and was not expensive at all.
The attention was totally on the engagement though, and people seemed fine with that. We did games, etc, but if Mr. J’s family isn’t into the idea, I think you can still get your fix in with a laid back bbq, with focus on both the engagement and your travels.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I vote to have one!! Any kind of one!!
My parents and my FI’s parens have never met and we’ve been together since 2004! While we’re not having an “engagement” “party” (ie no solitation of gifts). We would like to have a “get-together” so that at the very least the parents, and hopefully, the wedding party can meet each other before the wedding. Sometimes calling it by a different name helps people who have pre-conceived notions of what to expect.
do it! We couldnt have one when we were first engaged and i was sad about that. Then my parents came back to NZ for a bit and Mum threw us a mini party, with pavlova and such- just family, and even though it wasnt a huge bash Im really glad it happened. It isnt too late yet for you to have an engagement party!
Down in our school apartment, we had like 10 friends over for an “unofficial engagement party” and played wii and watched movies. It was fun and super low key.
Those cupcakes are awesome! Immediately after we got engaged, we went to dinner with our parents, siblings, and grandmothers at a restaurant. We were seated in a private room, so it had a very intimate family vibe. For us, it was perfect to celebrate such happy news with such important people in our lives.
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Mrs. Jaguar, Sydney Age and Occupation: 27, Primary School Teacher Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, IT Consultant Engagement Date: August 8, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2011 Venue: Curzon Hall About Me: I'm an Australian girl who is a self-proclaimed nerd, loves all things stationery and would be lost without books, music and the internet. Mr. Jaguar and I have been together for the past eight years and he finally popped the question last August. Hurrah! We currently live in Sydney, Australia with our adorable cat who thinks he's a person. We're a couple who likes to multi-task: we've been planning a wedding abroad, a permanent move from London to Sydney, and preparing to build our own home all at the same time. Travelling makes me giddy...as does Mr. Jaguar, of course!
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