Engagement Party Protocol for Gifts
An engagement party is an effective way to gather family and friends at the beginning of an engagement. It can serve either as an opportunity to officially announce your impending nuptials or simply a way to introduce the bride's and groom's respective families to one another. In any case, there is no strict protocol regarding gifts, but it is important to be gracious and tactful.
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Gifts Optional
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Gift-giving is not mandatory for an engagement party--these are generally less formal than other wedding events, like the reception. Engagement parties also do not necessarily announce their purpose on the invitation. The bride or groom's family may use this opportunity to formally announce the engagement, inviting guests under the pretense of a typical get-together. This being the case, guests may not know ahead of time that they are even celebrating an engagement.
Start a Registry
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If your guests know ahead of time that they are attending an engagement party, they may wish to bring gifts. Be prepared for this by starting your bridal registry early in the engagement--as the wedding nears, you'll be glad you had a head start. Register for gifts in a range of prices, to accommodate any gift-giver's budget. Do not request gifts for the engagement party, and do not announce where you are registered. Instead, discretely tell your families--guests are likelier to ask them than you.
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When Gifts Arrive
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Unlike at a wedding reception, gifts should not be displayed prominently at the party--you don't want to offend any guests who did not bring one. Have a small table prepared out of the way where you can stash any gifts, and be sure to thank your guests who bring them. You may need to assure them that you value their generous contribution, and that you simply don't want to make any other guests feel bad.
When to Open
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Should a gift-giver seem to expect you to open gifts at the party, politely ask if it is all right for you to wait--again, you don't want to make any non-gift-giving partygoers feel guilty. If any guest insists that you open your present at the party, do so away from the other guests and be sure to express your gratitude.
After the Party
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When the party is over and the guests are gone, feel free to open your gifts. Keep a list of who brought what--this will save you the headache of trying to remember later on. At your earliest convenience, send out personalized thank-you notes to your guests who brought gifts, letting them know how much you appreciated the gesture. Make an effort to do this soon--within a week or so--before any impatient friends or relatives begin wondering whether you are going to do it at all.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit people at the party image by NiDerLander from Fotolia.com
