What to Wear to an Engagement Party: Everything You Need to Know
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Knowing exactly what to wear to an engagement party has the tendency to catch people off guard.
Since not everyone hosts an engagement party, many people remain unfamiliar with the etiquette rules that apply. Luckily, we know the best etiquette practices and are happy to share them with you.
If you find yourself unsure about engagement party attire, don’t worry. Conducting a little research will quickly help you choose the perfect outfit.
In this post, you’ll learn how to determine the engagement party dress code and pick an outfit to match it.
How to Determine Engagement Party Dress Code
Determining what to wear to an engagement party starts with figuring out the dress code.
The host typically states the dress code on the engagement party invitation. You may have received a paper invitation, depending on how formal the event is. Otherwise, a friend, family member, or the host might ask you via text or phone call.
The host most likely aligns the dress code with the venue’s formality.
If the engagement party takes place in an informal, outdoor location like a park or someone’s house, the host will likely set a casual dress code.
Look at pictures online of the venue if you’re unfamiliar with it. This will help you determine their dress code and, in turn, show you what to wear to the engagement party.
It’s a good idea to dress one step up from the dress code at this venue or on the dressier end of what would fit in – this ensures you’re appropriately fancy for the engagement party.
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Sharing the Engagement Party Dress Code with Your Guests
Are you the person hosting an engagement party or the newly engaged couple?
Your communication with guests is critical. The people on your guest list are excited to celebrate your engagement, and it’s up to you to make sure they can easily do this.
Start by checking over your invitations. Do they state the date, time, location, and dress code? Better yet, include any activities you’ll ask the guests to participate in. Laying these details out gets everyone excited for your party, too.
Leading up to the party, it’s important that guests know to reach out with any questions. When people RSVP to the party, respond with something like this: “We’re so excited that you can join us! If you have any questions before the party, feel free to let me know. See you soon!” This response is casual but communicates effectively.
Dress for Comfort
Wearing a comfortable engagement party outfit accounts for a few factors.
First, find out what activities you’ll be doing throughout the party. If you are participating in activities that require movement (like yard games), choose an outfit that accommodates that.
Second, make sure the outfit you pick is comfortable, easy to walk around in, and photographs well. You want to enjoy your time without taking attention away from the newly engaged couple but still look presentable.
Check the Season, Time of Day, and Location
When you dress for the season, you choose fabrics and outfits that suit the weather and style choices appropriate for that time of year. This will look like light, flowing fabrics for summer and heavier, stiffer fabrics for winter.
Once you know the outfit category you’ll wear to the engagement party, check the temperature for that time of day. This helps you plan for layering your outfit to accommodate weather changes.
Finally, check if the engagement party will be indoors or outdoors. If you’re anything like me, this will change your choice of outfit significantly – the difference between an air-conditioned room versus the sun beating down is huge!
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Do’s and Don’ts on What to Wear to an Engagement Party
There are some big do’s and don’ts when deciding what to wear to an engagement party.
Unfortunately, these rules aren’t well known, so take note!
Avoid white or any flashy, sexy outfits. These have a tendency to draw attention away from the newly engaged couple and are considered distasteful. Stick to well-fitting garments in neutral colors.
If the dress code of the engagement party you’re attending is casual, keep in mind that this doesn’t mean being too casual. Avoid jeans, hoodies, and other super casual clothing. Instead, opt for slacks and a comfortable, neutral-colored shirt.
If you just cannot place your finger on the expected formality, put together an outfit that converts. Throwing on a sweater or blazer, changing shoes, and untucking shirts provide easy fixes to fit into a dress code.
Finally, this is far from the last dressy event you’ll attend. If you need to purchase a new outfit for this event, make sure it’s one that can fit in for other occasions. This saves money and allows you to wear an outfit you love quite a few times.
Knowing What to Wear to an Engagement Party
After reading this post, you should know what you’ll wear to an engagement party.
If you’re still unsure, reach out to the host or newly engaged couple. They are the ones who have a vision for this event and know what they want guests to wear.
When in doubt, dress for the weather and comfort, and choose an outfit that adapts. Then, when you get to the party, you can easily adjust your outfit to fit the dress code.
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