Engagement Party Invitation Wording HELP!

[Amanda.Rx]

Hey there!

We are planning a more casual engagement party with a few of FI''s friends when we go home to visit in a few weeks. We only know of about 10 that can attend so far, but we wanted to send out real invitations.

We are thinking about just meeting at a nicer restaurant for dinner and drinks. We would be able to afford to put a few appetizers on the table but we certainly were not planning to pay for everyone''s meal and beverages.

Is there a proper or polite way to indicate that on the invitation so that our guests are not expecting us to pay?

Thanks!

 

[Haven]

This is a tough one--it''s difficult to invite people out to an event that you don''t want to actually host, especially if you''re sending out invitations.

I would probably just keep it very low key and skip the invites, because technically you aren''t inviting them to anything, you''re asking them to meet you out for dinner. I would call everyone personally and say something like "We''d love to get a bunch of people together to meet up for dinner, are you free?"

I''m trying to think of a way to say what you want to say on an invite, but I just can''t come up with the right words. Maybe someone else will weigh in.

 

[Amanda.Rx]

True... I talked to my mom about it tonight and she thinks its inappropriate.

Bummer- it seems like you either have to do nothing or spend $1000 to host something. I guess I''ll figure something out. There''s just a lot of FI''s friends that I would like to meet before the actual wedding. I didn''t think people would take dinner seriously if we just "word of mouth" it, but it looks to be our only option if we can''t afford to pay for everyone.

Thanks for responding, at least... I guess I needed help putting it in perspective.

 

[Haven]

Could you host a BBQ or something else in one of your homes? A potluck is an idea, too--that way, everyone contributes so it saves you some money.
OR, would your parents allow you to have something in their house?

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

i think you may have already changed your mind but if you still wanted to do something without having to pay for the whole thing and have invitations you could try this...

i can''t help with the wording but my sister had a champagne breakfast for her engagement party at a restaurant and instead of people bringing gifts (they have everything) they just asked for everyone to pay for their own breakfast. (it was worded on the invite but i can''t remeber how, that was over 12 years ago and i was 16)

I''m sure that there would be people completely opposed to this suggestion with all the manners stuff that seems to go on around here, but, well if you can''t afford it you can''t afford it, i think people understand that.

You could always just sms the details of the dinner and make it completely informal. How would your Fi get together with all of these people when he visits home?

 

[NakedFinger]

How about:

Mike popped the question, and Ashley said Yes!
Please join us as we toast to their happines.

And then put below it:

Join us for cocktails at for and Engagement Celebration
Address
Date/Time

This way they are expecting drinks only. Then if someone wants to eat something they can buy it. But at least they arent coming with the expectation of being fed.