JCC Engagement parties

That's because they are things you shouldn't do in the first place.

 

Hm, you know, a lot of my friends have gotten married over the past several years, and none of them threw engagement parties. The only engagement party that did occur was when one girl's roommate knew her boyfriend was proposing, so she planned for us to throw them a surprise engagement party deal when they got back from their date. Which was fun but was very informal.

I do hate when there are multiple wedding events where it's kind of expected that you'll bring a gift. Bridal shower plus bachelorette plus wedding? Yeah, no. I am poor. I gave people one wedding present. After all, they're about to have two household incomes and I'm on student loans. Though in fairness I don't think any of them resented that.

My favorite friends are the ones who, after all these weddings and wedding events, got engaged without telling anyone but me, a couple other people, and their family. Then they got married with their family only present at the courthouse. Then they let people know they were married and had one informal party at their place. That was nice

-sj loves kevin spacey

 

Exactly. If you want to throw a party, throw a party. Invite people to the place, provide entertainment, whatever.
Then make the announcement.
But telling them "We're having an engagement party. Show up." is like "Give me an extra gift."

Bachelor parties... I've been to a few. I've given a couple--they were PG-rated because those involved didn't want the other kind (we're just not that inclined to alcohol or porn). X-rated or PG13, they all sucked.
My own wasn't bad, but meh.

All things considered, the reason for the bachelor party was for the groom to pay his body guard in gratitude for the services the next day. Since most people don't have to worry about being kidnapped on their wedding day anymore, that's another "tradition" that can be phased out. (though unlike most groomsmen, I was always prepared--just in case)

 

Well, an engagement party serves several purposes.

Firstly, they're right after you get engaged, and there usually (though not always) is some time between the engagement party and wedding. The bachelor party...or whatever else you want to call it, is usually closer to the wedding date. Sometimes it's even the night before.

An engagement party is more about friends and family of the couple meeting each other than anything. The bachelor party... Far more raucous. Patents come to the engagement party, they DON'T come to the bachelor party (usually).

What I don't figure out is where the bridal shower fits in the scheme of things. So much of wedding planning seems like a cash grab.

 

Like many other's at the party last night, I enjoyed a nice glass (on the rocks) of alcohol (Jack Daniel's being my favorite liquor to boot). And the the problem there is?

Just because it's something that wouldn't work for you doesn't mean it wouldn't work for me.

I have to convince my infamous younger brother to do this.



Los Angeles Lakers: Drama, guaranteed.

 

It's just another way for the girl to show off that some dude is dooming himself to one vagina for the rest of his life.

 

My engagement party was a chance for our two families to meet and get to know each other a little bit. We didn't receive one gift. We had a nice barbeque and most of our two families stayed well into the night and we ended up having bon fire. It was really nice.

 

I could see how it'd be nice for some people to throw engagement parties, particuarly if the families don't know each other well.

But I'm not very socal so it'd all be just more of a hassle for me.

 

I could have sworn I saw dollar signs in evil ex's eyes when she talked about having an engagement party.

Then I told her it was stupid and if she had one I wasn't attending. Her response was "but we get free stuff".
Then she started crying that I didnt love her enough, and started calling me by her estranged father's name. Fun times.

 

Seems like the majority of people here are agreed on this general rule for parties of all sorts:

Throwing party to socialize and have fun = good idea.
Throwing party to get free crap = bad idea.

 

Really, was your opposition that implacable? Not that I agree with her about it's necessity, mind you. But it seems pretty extreme to say that you wouldn't attend an event with your wife-to-be that she is clearly looking forward to, and is meant to celebrate your upcoming nuptials. At most, it's a few hours of your life. Unless you suffer from PTSD because your whole family got assassinated at an engagement party, I don't see the cause of such strong aversion.

 

Dude, by that point, I didn't want to even attend a bloody MOVIE with her. Getting engaged was less about "I love you" and more "Ugh, you win". I didnt even propose or anything. Just like "here you go".

 

That seems... unpropitious.

 

It was the result of a sad, sad, broken man.

 

Ummm...why are you even getting married? It looks like you don't want to.

 

This is an unfair and horrible stereotype.