Engagement Party Etiquette-Survival Tips

Congratulations on your engagement! You've just entered pre-marital bliss (hopefully!) and before you can even say pass the crinoline please, the planning has already started - with or without you!

For some of you brides, someone in your personal network is thinking an engagement party is the perfect way to kick off the wedding festivities. Don't be alarmed - if you can survive the planning of an engagement party, the wedding will be a breeze!

To help the process run a bit smoother on your end, here are our top three engagement party etiquette rules for you to stash away in your Wedding Planning Survival Kit.

Note: Feel free to whip these out to recite them to guilty parties at any time!

Traditionally the brides immediate family would host the engagement party however these days, engagement parties can be hosted by anyone other than the bride and groom. It's also important to remember it doesn't matter how badly you may want a party, the role of engagement party planner should not be delegated to anyone in the bridal party unless they request to host the event. Why? Because the wedding party has many other events to take care of like showers, bachelorettes, stag and does etc.

Remember, gifts are optional. Guests are not obligated to buy a gift for the engagement party however in the event that you do receive gifts, they should be opened at home, not during the party. Leave the awkward everyone-stares-at-you present opening for the bridal shower. Trust us old married gals, once is enough!

When it comes to the guest list remember this cardinal rule: no one should be invited to an engagement party who have not been invited to the wedding (even if you're having a destination wedding)!

Now that you've read our top three engagement party rules, tell us, what rules do you think should be added to the list?