It’s engagement season, and we love weddings AND celebrations at Salty’s! This is where Seattle comes to celebrate, so we thought we’d take a moment to highlight some of our favorite facts about this time of year and offer some advice on how to enjoy your engagement rather than stressing!
Why December?
Did you know that 40% of US engagements occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day? December alone accounts for 16% of engagements with Christmas day being the #1 most popular day of the year to pop the question! But why December? Holidays and weddings are both occasions to celebrate with friends and family and many like to start off their engagement on a similar note. Couples often spend the holidays with their families regardless, who better to help plan a proposal than those that know your partner best? Proposals can carry a lot of pressure, ask for help from friends and family to help plan and execute the perfect proposal. Winter proposals are also practical in terms of timing! It’s no secret that planning a wedding takes a lot of time and energy and if you plan on getting married during wedding season (May through October) this gives you 6 months to plan away.
When and Where to Host Your Engagement Party
Engagement parties typically take place between a week and 3 months after your engagement and can be as formal or as casual as you’d like. Whichever direction you take, be sure that you pick a venue that allows you to greet and celebrate with your guests personally. After all, they’re there to celebrate the two of you! Appetizer style events work great as they allow everyone to mingle in a non-restrictive setting. If you wanted to host more of a formal dinner, we suggest incorporating a cocktail hour so that you can mingle with everyone in attendance rather than just the people sitting closest to you. Another fun route can be to host an event that has nothing to do with your engagement and surprise your guests by announcing your engagement at the party! This could be a holiday party, football party or even a simple dinner party. This route is popular as you get to share the exciting news with friends and family face to face rather than over the phone.
Who To Celebrate with and How
A general rule of thumb is to host an event that will be different than the wedding itself. If you plan on having a big elaborate wedding, maybe host a more intimate engagement gathering. Typically speaking, everyone in attendance of the engagement party should be invited to the wedding. However, smaller more intimate weddings are becoming more and more trendy. If you plan on hosting a smaller wedding, then feel free to host a large engagement party to celebrate with as many people as you’d like! Engagement parties are typically more casual than the wedding itself so if you’re working with a tight budget this is a great route to take.
Saving Money on Your Engagement Party
First things first, determine your budget and stick to it. It’s easy for parties to spiral out of control in the age of Pinterest and Instagram. Sit down with your partner and be realistic with how much money you have to invest in this celebration. The first place to start is finding a venue. Look for venues that aren’t in the heart of downtown as these tend to be more expensive. Look for something outside of the city to save your pennies. In terms of décor, hit the dollar store! They have a surprising amount of useful décor all for $1! Pinterest has plenty of great dollar store hacks to make your party stand out such as hoola- hoop wreaths and balloon arch backdrops! Regarding food and drink; keep it simple. Always have water available (infuse it with herbs and fruit for a classy touch) and if you plan on hosting alcoholic beverages stick to one type of beverage. Champagne is classic and can be found for cheap when bought in bulk. Try visiting Costco or Sam’s Club! Food can be kept simple with options like fruit and/or veggie trays, salads, crostini’s or sliders. Another fun and inexpensive option is to host a taco bar! I mean… who doesn’t like tacos?
Keep it Simple and Have Fun!
No matter which direction you take with your engagement party, remember to take a step back and remember why you’re doing this in the first place. This is an exciting time, take it all in! Surround yourself with loved ones, pop a bottle of champagne and soak in this celebratory occasion. Cheers! We hope this information was helpful, please check back next month for more featured tips!