Nimanto

Guide

Engagement party invitation wording

By Nimanto · · 5 min read

The short answer

An engagement party invitation names the couple, says who is hosting and that it is a celebration of their engagement, and gives the date, time, venue and a reply-by date. It does not carry the wedding date, which is often not set, and it does not mention gifts. The tone follows the party: a cocktail evening, a backyard afternoon or a ring ceremony with both families.

What should an engagement party invitation say?

Both names, the hosts, the words "engagement" or "celebrate their engagement", the date and time, the venue and address, the dress code if it matters, and a reply line with a date. Leave off the wedding date and the registry. If it is a surprise for the couple, say so in the first line.

  • Hosts: traditionally the bride's parents, today either family, friends or the couple.
  • Write the couple's first names in the order they use, or the bride's first by tradition.
  • Reply-by date one to two weeks before the party.
  • Only invite people who will be invited to the wedding.

Casual engagement party wording

She said yes! Join us to celebrate the engagement of Lily and Marcus. Saturday, March 20, 2027 at 5 pm. The Thompson backyard, 17 Elm Street, Portland. Drinks, bites and a toast. Hosted by Lily's parents. Reply by March 12.

We're getting married! Come celebrate with us. Engagement drinks for Jess and Sam, Friday, April 16, 7 pm, The Copper Bar, 400 Pearl Street. Casual. Let us know by April 9.

Pop the champagne. An engagement party for Nadia and Theo, hosted by their friends. Sunday, May 9, 2027, 3 pm. Rooftop at 88 Grand. RSVP by May 1.

Formal engagement party wording

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Alvarez request the pleasure of your company at a dinner in honor of the engagement of their daughter Isabella to Mr. Jonathan Reed. Saturday, the eighth of May, two thousand twenty-seven, at seven o'clock. The Terrace Room, The Peninsula. Cocktail attire. Kindly reply by the twenty-fourth of April.

Together with their families, Charlotte Bennett and William Hayes invite you to celebrate their engagement. Saturday, June 19, 2027 at 6:30 pm. The Orangery, Bellevue Gardens. Please reply by June 5.

Ring ceremony, roka and nischitartham wording

In many Indian families the engagement is a ceremony of its own, with an auspicious time, rings exchanged and both families present, followed by a meal. The wording leans on the families and the blessing, names the elders who host, and gives the muhurat or ceremony time as well as when guests should arrive.

With the blessings of our elders, Mr. and Mrs. Suresh Rao and Mr. and Mrs. Anil Mehta invite you to the ring ceremony of Ananya and Rohan. Sunday, February 14, 2027. Ceremony at 11:30 am, followed by lunch. Lotus Banquet Hall, Edison, NJ. Please reply by February 5.

You are warmly invited to the roka of Simran and Karan. Saturday, March 6, 2027 at 4 pm, at the Kapoor residence, 25 Garden Lane. Dinner follows. With love, the Kapoor and Singh families. Kindly reply by February 27.

Nischitartham. Join us for the engagement ceremony of Divya and Vikram, with the blessings of Sri and Smt. Venkat Reddy and Sri and Smt. Prasad Rao. Sunday, April 11, 2027, 10:30 am, Sai Convention Center, Fremont. Lunch to follow.

Surprise engagement party wording

Shh! A surprise engagement party for Olivia and Ben. Please arrive by 6:45 pm; they think it's dinner at 7. Saturday, April 3, 2027. The Grant home, 9 Cedar Court. Hosted by Olivia's sister. Reply by March 26, and not a word to the couple.

Do you mention gifts on an engagement party invitation?

No. Gifts are not expected at an engagement party, and listing a registry reads as asking for one. If guests bring something, a card or a bottle is usual. Some couples add a "no gifts, please" line, which is fine; so is saying nothing at all.

Your company is the only gift we ask.

No gifts, please. Just bring your dancing shoes.

When should engagement party invitations go out?

Four to six weeks before the party. Engagement parties usually fall within a few months of the proposal, so this is often a quick turnaround; three weeks works for a casual party close to home, with a call to close family. A ring ceremony with relatives flying in needs six to eight weeks.

  • Reply-by date one to two weeks before the party.
  • On Nimanto, send one link by text, e-mail or WhatsApp and watch the replies arrive: see sharing the link.

Questions people ask

Who hosts an engagement party?

Traditionally the bride's parents, and their names lead the invitation. Today either set of parents, both together, close friends or the couple themselves can host. Whoever hosts is named on the invitation and takes the replies. In many Indian families both families host the ring ceremony together.

Do you put the wedding date on an engagement party invitation?

No. The wedding date is often not set, and the engagement party is its own occasion. Guests will hear the date from the save the date or the wedding invitation later. The engagement invitation only needs the party's own date, time and place.

Are gifts expected at an engagement party?

No. Guests who want to bring something bring a card, a bottle or a small gift, and that is their choice. Do not list a registry on the engagement invitation; a line saying gifts are not expected is fine, and saying nothing at all is just as correct.

Should you invite people to the engagement party who won't be invited to the wedding?

Etiquette says no: an engagement party invitation is read as a promise of a wedding invitation. Keep the engagement guest list within the people you plan to invite to the wedding. The exception is a very small or destination wedding that everyone already knows will not include them.

How far in advance do you send engagement party invitations?

Four to six weeks before the party. Three weeks is acceptable for a casual party near home if you call close family, and a ring ceremony with relatives travelling in needs six to eight weeks. Ask for replies one to two weeks before the day so you can confirm numbers.