Many couples celebrate their engagement with friends and family. At this point, they may not have even begun to decide when they will marry, how formal their wedding will be or even how many people they will invite. It is, however, considered good etiquette not to invite anyone to the engagement party who will not be invited to the wedding. One way to help accomplish this is by choosing to celebrate this occasion with your closest friends and family in a small, possibly informal, affair.

The engagement party is a celebration for both the bride and the groom. Naturally, both should be present. It is generally not expected for guests to bring gifts to an engagement party. Nonetheless, engagement gifts, given at a time other than during the party are always welcome.

Anyone can host an engagement party, however, it is often the bride's parents who assume this responsibility. Whether or not to send invitations for the party would generally, as with most considerations, depend upon the formality of the occasion. For a formal dinner party, invitations may be expected. For a more casual gathering, at someone's home or in a local bar or restaurant, a telephone call or email would be appropriate.