engagement party ideas please

shelovestobuystuff

Hello,I am getting married next year and having my engagement party this Saturday:D .I have been so excited about the wedding plans that I have totally neglected the engagement plans until the last moment.
We are having a family BBQ in our garden and will tell everyone at some point that we are finally going to get hitched after 15 years of living together;) .
I will tell you what I have decided so far regards Saturdays BBQ and please give me any advice or tips too:D .
There will be 10 people in total,we are pretty good at BBQ,s and dinner parties as we often have big family meals etc so the catering is pretty well under control(actually,I havn't planned anything yet but am not worried as we are used to catering for 10 at the drop of a hat):cool: Ideas welcome???.
We have asked people to be here ready to eat by 4pm but to come as early as they like.I hope it will be a late night:D .
We are tidying up the garden for the weekend and I will add some new flowers to pots on Friday to brighten up the place.I have bought a string of bright coloured paper lantern lights to string across the patio area.
I was contemplating new garden furniture but we have decided just to move the dining furniture outside for the event.
I will use a big white cotton sheet as a tablecloth and have still to come up with ideas of how to decorate the table and chairs.Ideas please???
I will buy more than the usual amount of wine and a few bottles of bubbly too.What are the best deals on bubbly this week???
I am not having a ring and am dreading it incase people expect to see a big diamond after the announcement.
The announcement!!!This is the thing I am worried about.When to do it,how to do it,who should do it???Help on that would be most appreciated.
Can,t believe I have spent all my tme researching the wedding and let this go till the last minute!!!" 2 Days to go!!!:eek:

looneyleo

Congratulations! you sound like a fairly organised type of girl to me, so I'm sure it will all come together really quickly. I'm assuimng people don't know why they have been invited to your party then? Rather than a big annoucement, why don't you play it subtle and see if anyone is clever enough and sober enough to work it all out? I thought of maybe buying some plastic children's rings and then maybe placing one in someone's drink...then another in someone elses and keep on going to someone works it out... I'm sure you could think of other hints like some confetti on the table... etc

I'm sure as you have been living together for so long (!) it will take them a while to work it out! Good luck...enjoy the party and hope it goes well...

art_student

I wouldn't worry about not having a ring - alot of people seem to not get one straight away. I wouldn't see it as that unusual.