Got Bling??

You’ve been waiting for this moment for your whole life, and it’s finally here. Now what? Let the Engagement Party planning begin! There are plenty of different types of engagement parties that you can have. You should ask yourself the following questions to help narrow down the choice.

How much should we budget for our party?
One of the most important things is to set a budget…and stick to it! The wedding industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and that means that you are now about to “donate” to this cause. This will be one of the first events that you or your parents will be spending money on, so my advice, don’t go overboard…there are going to be some hefty checks that you will need to write shortly down the road. You might be saying to yourself, I’ve never planned an event like this so how am I supposed to put a price tag on it? Well once you continue reading on, you will get a better idea of some of the expenses that an engagement party entails. In each scenario below, I’ve provided you with ideas on how to create your dream party with a large budget or small budget. There are plenty of ways to make your party elegant without breaking the bank.

How many people do we plan to have? Will it be just family or friends too?
Some people like to keep their engagement parties small and intimate, while others want to share their engagement with the world! Both are fine, just be aware that the larger the party, the more you will have to take into consideration. Also, when making your guest list it is important to discuss with your parents and future in-laws. You don’t want to forget to invite Aunt Sue!

What time of the year will the party be?
Now that you have your list, let’s pick a date. The customary time frame is about 3 – 6 months after you become engaged. However with today’s busy schedules, it is really at your convenience. Once you pick the time of year, you will be better able to narrow down your venue choices.

What type of venue should we choose?
Let’s eat! Ok, so you’ve got your list and your date, now it’s time to search for venues.

If you have chosen to stick with a smaller, intimate party you might want to look into the following.
· Local restaurant for lunch, dinner or brunch. A lot of restaurants will close for a party and you can have the entire place to yourselves or have a separate private room. Keep in mind that lunch will more than likely be the cheapest of the three choices. Brunches are delicious, but add on extra items which will incur additional costs. Also, a place with a liquor license will run up the bill, so consider finding a BYOB restaurant. You can then go to a discount liquor store and purchase the liquor yourself. Don’t go crazy with options; beer, wine and champagne are sufficient. After all this is your engagement party where it should be a social event, not a frat party!

If you have chosen a larger guest list then keep these things in mind.
· If the season is warm, and you have the room, a backyard party is great! Just remember, you have a lot to consider. If you want a full on tented event, the check list can get quite large. Most towns also require tent permits, so be sure you check into that. With a party at your home you have to consider catering, servers, liquor, décor, plates/silverware/napkins/glasses, dessert/cakes, entertainment and seating. Now if you want the party to be more casual, and budget friendly, skip the tent, fancy serving items and entertainment. There is nothing wrong with sharing good food and drinks with your closest family and friends!

· For a more formal event, and if you don’t have the room at your home, then off to the catering halls we go! Again lunches and brunches are easier and less expensive to plan here. A lot of venues keep evening dinner events open for weddings and may not book a smaller event until 6 months prior to the date. Just something to keep in mind. You can also check into local hotels in your area, but if you’re looking for a better quality of food, this might not be the best option. Remember, these are all places that will have liquor licenses so you will need to include that into your pricing.

Invites? Décor? Favors?
I have my date and venue chosen; now it’s time to invite my guests! Here is where you get to bring your creativity into the mix. The theme of the invites can correlate to the type of venue you choose, but more importantly your personality as a couple. For a formal, slightly pricier option, you can check your local invitation vendors in the area to create something unique to you or order from one of the invitation books they have. The books will help you obtain ideas and/or order the exact invitation that you see.

For a less expensive, more casual approach, there is always online websites such as http://www.impressinprint.com/ that have a wide variety of invites for a more reasonable price. Save some more cash here by ordering them blank and printing them on your own. Don’t have a printer? No worries, TSP (The Silver Platter) offers invitation printing packages. We will be happy to print the text of your invite and also the addresses. Don’t forget that you should send them out no later than 6 weeks prior to your event. You want to give your guests notice and also most places require a headcount 10 days to 2 weeks prior to your event.

Time to decorate! With an engagement party there is no reason to go crazy no matter what type of venue you choose. Something from simple flower arrangements to romantic candles as centerpieces or throughout the room will provide a nice touch to spice up the room with your personality. Not crazy about either? Add a touch of color with your linens.

Your guests are not expecting a favor at this party, but if you want to thank them, there are a number of things that you can give away as favors. My suggestion, stick to something edible. I’m sure many of us can open up a drawer that has 10 heart shaped measuring spoons and multiple wine stoppers that we’ve never used, so why give your guests more stuff they don’t need? A small box wrapped up in a nice ribbon with chocolates or candy of your choice is simple yet elegant. For a more extravagant edible option, you can create your own candy buffet.

Check out our Gallery to see a Candy Buffet display: http://www.thesilverplatterllc.com/Gallery.html. You can get the different shaped glasses at your local crafts store and check into candy pricing at either a local candy store (Black River Candy Shoppe in Chester, NJ provided candy shown in our Gallery), or a wholesale store like Costco. It’s quite the attention getter and your guests no matter how young or old, will be sure to stock up on some goodies!

Who should fund this fabulous event?
Well now that you are full of great ideas, and a better idea of where our budget should be, who is footing the bill? It is customary for the bride’s parents to throw the party, however these days, it’s nice for the couple to chip in too. Sit down and talk with your parents and see what they may be willing to help you with. As you are checking out your venue, décor and invitation options, you will get a better idea of what will be realistic in relation to your budget.

Now that you have a step by step check list to help plan your party, how do you feel? Still overwhelmed? Give us a call, enjoy your party and let us do the work. TSP provides full service event planning from start to finish and our pricing is affordable. We will get to know you as a couple, and create ideas that will suit your personality and budget. This is supposed to be an enjoyable time for you and your fiancé. So sit back, enjoy your bling and let us take care of the details!