Engagement Party Games

The engagement party is a time when the families of the couple will get to know one another. In some cases, this might be the first meeting between the two families or groups of friends and any icebreaker activity will be a welcome event.

In that light, whoever plans the engagement party (likely the bride's family, but it can be the engaged couple or anyone else who wants to plan the party) should plan a few games and activities designed to help everyone get to know everyone else.

First up is a trivia game. Create a "Trivial Pursuit" type game with questions about the bride and groom's lives. You might contain the questions to just facts and events relating to both the bride and groom (such as how long did it take her to say "yes" when he asked, where did he propose, where did they meet, etc), or you can include questions pertaining to their lives outside of each other and before they met each other. Not only can this be fun, but also it's an entertaining way for people to get to know each other and the engaged couple better.

One popular icebreaker that's used at corporate functions and company parties can also work really well at engagement parties. Tape a card to each person's back and encourage him or her to work the room, mingle with everyone and particularly try to get to know someone they have never met before. Before moving on to someone else, be sure to make a comment about the person on the card on his or her back. Partiers write an impression of that person, such as "she seems sweet" or "he knows a lot about the weather".

This icebreaker ends when the mingling session is over. The cards are then read one by one and people not only get to know each other better, but enjoy hearing all the comments people made about them. Try to ensure that comments are complimentary or somehow presented in a positive light. Hurtful comments, obviously, are not appropriate.

If this is truly the first time many of the guests have met, then another fun game involving the wearing of cards might be in order. In this game, each guest wears a card on their front that has their name on the front and a number on the back. They don't share with anyone what their number is. Guests mingle and chat and get to know each other over the course of the evening.

Toward the end of the evening, the cards are flipped over and the number side is shown. Everyone gets a piece of paper and writes the numbers on the paper, then tries to correspond the name of someone with their number. This fun game can be hard for people who are bad with names, but it's fun nonetheless.

For an activity that doesn't put people on the spot quite so much, consider letting the already marrieds help out the to-be marrieds. Place two pieces of posterboard on the wall and mark them "advice from women" and "advice from men". Now is the time to offer advice about wedding planning, not about being married. That advice can come later. Encourage guests to offer their own wedding planning advice. The advice from older people at the party could be decidedly different from the younger couples in the group, making for an enlightening group of comments.

Write Your Own Wedding Vows

Have you considered writing your own wedding vows? It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you think about it, it will certainly personalize your wedding and make it unforgettable. If you and your partner want to combine your efforts, you could both add something to make it more couple oriented. Make sure you have a private, quiet place where you can concentrate and not be disturbed.

To start, begin with an outline and a simple phrase such as “I Love you’ to get started. Think of your partner and any special traits he has that you want to mention.

Then take a minute to consider any promises you wish to make to your partner. These can be much generalized or very specific. You can use phrases like “love honor and obey” or you could say, love, respect and cherish.” These are just examples; you may have a better idea.

You may want to consider the language and whether you may want to put it in poetry form or if you are a singer, you could sing the vows to your husband. That certainly would be unforgettable! If you have a nickname for your husband, you might want to call him by that name. Or identify him as, ‘your husband’ which most likely is the first time you have said it.

If you have some general ideas, or have written some vows, you should share them with your partner and ask for input. You may want to make it more of collaboration between both of you. Your partner may have some suggestions, or may not like the particular way you have phrased something. You will most certainly want to get your partner’s input so that both have something to share about one another.

You may discover that you both have similar needs and intentions. Or, you might be surprised by your partner’s response. Take turns sharing stories and ideas.

You may want to reexamine the list and prioritize it. Or, there may be phrases or words used that your partner does not like or does not agree with. This may be the first project that you are doing together as partners, but it is an important one so keep that in mind.

Keep in mind that these are vows that you are making for the rest of your life. You may want to take that into consideration. In other words, do not make promises that you cannot keep. Keep in mind the unique qualities of your partner. As you weave his or her great attributes in your vows, you will have a deeper and more meaningful impact.

If it is easier, you may want to consider writing it in letter format. Make believe that you are writing a letter to your new partner, what would you say? You may want to consider taking some excerpts from poems, prose of song lyrics. Keep it real and specific to the commitments that you want to make.