Engagement Party Invites before Save the Dates

My parents have been friends with several couples for years and it's tradition that all of our families get together and celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve as a group.  All of the kids are around the same age and we've gotten closer as we've gotten older and can all relate to each other.  I think all of us look forward to Christmas Eve because its one of the few times we're all together.  And we're all booze hounds, which always makes for an entertaining & fun night!

Three of the "Christmas Eve Kids" are getting married in the next year, and our parents decided to throw us a one big engagement party.  I love this idea - the more the merrier!   But because one of the couples is getting married in October, the party's going to be really soon and I'm positive the invitations for this party are going to go out before our save the dates.  All of the people invited know B & I are engaged (at least I hope?) so I don't think its a big deal.  But I still wonder if its "weird".

I checked with Ms. Emily Post herself and found: "Engagement parties are most often held soon after the couple becomes engaged.  It's a chance for the families to announce the happy news and for relatives and friends to meet and congratulate the couple."  So I think we're straight.  And thank god - there's no way we could get our act together and get save the dates out in the next two weeks! 

Woohoo!  Looking forward to getting our party on with the Christmas Eve crew!

We're ENGAGED!

Ahhhhhh!   I still can't believe we're actually engaged!

B and I have been together "officially" for about six years and have lived together for the last two.   I knew at some point we'd eventually get engaged but B TOTALLY caught be off guard.   We had just come home from one of B's little league games (he was coaching, not playing!).  I was tackling some of our week old laundry when B called me into the bedroom.  The first thing I saw was our dog with a ribbon around his neck.  Although it should have, the ribbon didn't make me suspicious at all!  Instead I thought B was just playing around with the dog and asked, "what are you doing to the poor dog?"  Next thing I know, B is down on one knee pulling a gorgeous ring off the dog's neck and asking me to marry him.  It was amazing and I started sobbing immediately - so much so that B had to ask if I was okay, poor guy :)


B had planned an amazing weekend in Charleston, so we threw together a few things and hopped in the car.  I knew my mom was right down the street getting her "hair did" and I figured she'd kill me if we skipped town without showing her the ring, so we popped into the salon to surprise her, foils and all.  I think she probably wanted to kill me for telling her I got engaged in the middle of the salon, but she got over it and started crying and we all celebrated all over.

After we said goodbye to Mama T, we headed down to Charleston (with Tim in tow of course!).  B had booked a room at the Vendue, a super luxe pet-friendly hotel in historic downtown Charleston.  When we arrived not only was there champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, but a custom dog bowl and special treats for Tim. 

After we celebrated on the hotel's rooftop bar, we headed to Magnolia's - by far one of the best restaurants in the city.  We had the most amazing meal, but our appetizers were SO good and so huge that we could hardly finish our entrees.  I guess that's a great problem to have.

The next day we headed out to explore the city, with to-go cup mimosas in hand.  We had SO much fun walking around!   We capped off the day watching the Blue Angels then headed home for more celebrating with my parents.

It was the perfect weekend and certainly memorable.  I think the best part was knowing I'm going to get to marry such a caring, thoughtful person.  I can't wait to be a Pope!