The Best Wedding

The Best Wedding Ever
By Diane Warner The Engagement Period
How does an engagement party differ from a shower?
Are gifts expected?
An engagement party is a party given in honor of the newly engaged couple; it may be formal or informal. Often, when it is hosted by the bride's parents, it is a formal sit-down dinner where the couple is toasted and lavished with love and con-gratulations on their engagement. Gifts may or may not be given at this type of formal occasion, but if they are, they are often family heirlooms that are being passed down. Or it can be a very informal party hosted by peers of the couple, and gifts may or may not be given in this case as well; however, if gifts are part of the celebration, the party usually becomes more of a co-ed shower.
Should my parents be expected to host an engagement party
even though my fiance and I are paying for the entire wed-ding?
They aren't necessarily expected to host this celebration, but they should be asked if they would like to, since the bride's parents usually host the first engagement party. After they have had the opportunity, anyone may play host, including the groom's parents; having two or more engagement parties is not uncommon. By the way, if money is a problem, this doesn't have to be an expensive affair-ice cream sundaes on the patio are fine!
How should we word our engagement announcement for our local newspaper?
And how soon should we send it in?
Call the newspaper to find out what they require as far as ad-vance notice of your announcement; although the announce-ment usually appears a month or so before the wedding, many society editors need the submission a month earlier than that so it can be scheduled. As far as the wording goes, the best reference is your local newspaper itself. Save the en-gagement announcements over a few months' time and use the wording to help you compose your own unique an-nouncement. Some society editors write the announcements themselves and will ask you for the following:
Names and addresses of the bride and groom.
Names and address of the bride's parents.
Names of the bride's grandparents.
Date, time and place of the ceremony.
Names of the attendants.
Descriptions of the wedding attire to be worn by the bride and her attendants.
The bride's and groom's educational background and professions.
Where the couple will be honeymooning.
Where the couple will be residing after the honeymoon.

The Engagement Period
What is an "announcement party"?

An announcement party is similar to an engagement party except that the engagement is formally announced for the first time during this party. It is usually attended by relatives and close friends, may be formal or informal and is often a sur-prise announcement, although everyone probably suspected as much, having seen that love light in your eyes. By the way, this is usually the first time the bride wears her engagement ring.

What is the ideal length of an engagement?
What's the best advice you can give us during our engagement period?

My best advice is this: Try to relax and bask in this magical, Cinderella time of your lives. Don't let the wedding plans work you into a lather of anxiety-it's just not worth it!