So You're Engaged!

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For all of those lucky gals whose misters popped the question this holiday season, the wedding planning process has begun! It's an exciting year for weddings, and we can't wait to walk you through it, every step of the way.

By now, I'm sure you've shared the good news with family and friends... And I'm SURE you called a wedding planner (right?!)... So step three is upon us: Planning the engagement party.

Although it's not a 'must have', an engagement party is such a great way to get everyone excited about your upcoming wedding. So that it all goes down in style, Bella Bridal Consultants wants to share some must-have tips for planning your one and only engagement party:

1. Get on it!  The engagement party traditionally occurs within the first three months of engagement (but ideally, not the first month... you want some time to enjoy just being engaged!).

2. Determine your wedding size (and guest list A-list). Everyone invited to the engagement party should be invited to the wedding. No if's, and's, or but's.

3. Register. Depending on where you live (especially NY/NJ area), it is acceptable for guests at the engagement party to bring a little something. Avoid the battery-operated quacking duck sculpture by sharing a list of what you'd actually use.

4. Don't upstage the wedding. As fun as it is to plan the engagement party, don't get carried away. You still have a wedding to plan and pay for, so don't go crazy just yet! Build up the suspense and excitement by giving your guests a preview of the wedding day... not a spoiler.

5. Mind your thank-you's. Etiquette states that it is not proper to send out thank you notes in your married name (this includes your married monogram) until after the wedding. This applies to engagement party thank you notes, as well as thank you notes for wedding gifts received before the wedding.

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