Engagement Party or No Engagement Party?

Matt and I had a small engagement barbeque party at his parents house a little while ago. The idea was to have good food and get together with close friends and family. While it was no surprise that Matt and I were engaged, I thought it would be fun to get together with everyone!

Left to Right: My Fiancé Matt and I, My Mother Stacey and Brother Garrett, My great friends Ashleigh and Jen.

Having this party definitely brought up some interesting thoughts on engagement parties. When people were finding out that we were engaged, one of the first questions asked, was whether or not we were going to have an engagement party. I have also heard the opposite asking, why bother?

In most of the wedding check lists and timelines that I have looked at, I recalled seeing something about having an engagement party and celebrating your engagement! While you don't have to follow all the checklists verbatim, it comes down to whether or not you and your fiancé want to have one.

 

Here are some pro's and con's to having an engagement party:

 

PROS

• A great way to get together with friends and families and be together as an engaged couple!
• Integrate friends and family that will all be a part of this wedding time together.
• You've been dreaming about planning your wedding all your life, do everything you can to make this time special.
• Why not? Who wouldn't want to hang out and eat great food.
• It will create great memories for this special time.

 

CONS

• It may be a burden to the host/hostess.
• Another financial cost, that may not be reasonable to include in the wedding budget.
• Additional work and/or stress.
• It may not fit in the dynamic with the people around you.
• You may can be make excessive or over the top.  

This is a great opportunity to start creating memories and making plans in the wedding process! It will help make it all real and kick start this whirlwind adventure. So do what you feel is right, in the end you will make the best decision for you and your new fiancé!

 

Now I'll leave you to stew in some amazing looking engagement party set ups!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Image by Robert and Kathleen Photographers

 



XO,
Brittney

Red, White & Say I Do!

4th of July is one of my favorite times of the year! Nothing better than a fantastic American outfit, festive food, and spending all day on the lake with great friends! 
 

This year got me thinking how amazing a 4th of July wedding would be. As I started browsing for inspiration, I soon found out I wasn't the only one sharing the American spirit!

Here are some of my favorite inspiration boards for a truly American Wedding:

 

 

 

Now those are some inspiring ideas!

Who wouldn't want to attend a wedding like that!

 

 

This 4th of July, I had a blast in Lake Almanor! 
A tradition many follow, as it is just up the hill from Chico, and a great place to get away from the heat!

I tried my hand at making some festive 4th of July desserts!

Angel food cake, whip cream & fruit

 

Marshmallow & fruit kebobs with drizzled chocolate

 

**********************************************************************************************************

 

Now only 364 days till the next 4th of July, so plenty of time to get inspired and come up with some awesome ideas! It's always a great day to celebrate America, so don't be afraid to test them out before hand!

 

XO,

Brittney 

 

 

Bachelorette Weekend in San Luis Obispo!

What's a wedding without a Bachelorette party? Or a whole weekend for that matter!?

This last weekend I went on a fun girls trip to Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo.

Pool time, pedicures, girl talk, great food, lots of booze and dancing the night away.

Just a quick recap of the weekend!

Top: All the girls ready for a fun weekend!

Bottom: Sushi at Yanagi

(Serving you table side as you look out onto Pismo Beach!)

 

Top: Our gorgeous view at The Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach.

Bottom: Mimosas & soaking up the sun poolside!

 

Top: A delicious dinner at Novo on their gorgeous patio.

Bottom: Ready for a night out in downtown San Luis Obispo!

The bride Britnee had a really cute idea and made us 'weekend essential' bags! It was a personal touch to show her appreciation for a wonderful weekend.

She also kept in mind that plenty of Advil, sunscreen and cases of water would be absolutely necessary! Boy did we need it ;)

How cute are these!?

 

There are plenty of resources out there to help you think of some great stuff, like Pinterest! Here are some fun ideas to make the Bachelorette party fun and personal:

 

Corset Invitations

 

Have everyone match and the bride stands out in white!

 

Essentials for the night!

 

 Who knows what the next morning will be like ;)

 

**********************************************************************************

 

It may not always be easy to get everyone together, especially if everyone lives in different areas! More and more you see people making a whole weekend out of it instead of just one night. That can sure bump up the expenses.
 

If you are the one planning the weekend, be sure to take into account every one's financial situation.  Sure you want to do everything you can and buy all the fun stuff, but it's better to prioritize the things you really want to do. Focus on a few personalized touches and fun activities for everyone!
 

It is such a special time for a bride with her girlfriends. I couldn't imagine looking back and not having a fun filled weekend with all my girls! Brides definitely understand the commitment and appreciate all the effort! As with a bridal shower, enjoy all of your hard work and have fun!

 

XO,

Brittney