When should engagement party invitations be sent?+
Four to six weeks before the party is usual. Earlier is sensible where guests are travelling or the party falls near Christmas, when diaries fill quickly.
Does everyone invited to the engagement party have to be invited to the wedding?+
It is the usual expectation, and the main reason to agree the list before ordering. Engagement parties are often larger than the wedding, so many couples keep the party to people they are confident will be invited to both.
What should an engagement party invitation say?+
Both names, the date, time and venue, and a reply-by date. The wedding date is only included where it is already fixed, usually with a short line saying the invitation will follow.
Should engagement party invitations match our wedding stationery?+
They can, though many couples treat the engagement party as a lighter, less formal event and choose something different. Where the wedding design is already settled, matching makes the two feel connected.
How many engagement party invitations do we need?+
Count households rather than guests. Because the party list is often wider than the wedding list, it is worth counting from a written list rather than estimating.
Do we need to send engagement announcements as well?+
They are separate things. Engagement cards announce the news to people who will not necessarily be at a party, while the invitation asks people to attend one. Some couples send both, many send only one.
