The ring is on, the news is out, and somebody in the family wants to throw a party. The first question is usually what kind. Engagement parties and couple’s showers get mixed up all the time, but they do different jobs and land at different points in the planning.
| Engagement party | Couple’s shower | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Traditionally within a few months of the engagement | Traditionally in the last couple of months before the wedding |
| Purpose | Celebrate the news; families meet | Celebrate the couple and help set up their home |
| Gifts | Traditionally not expected | Traditionally expected |
| Who hosts | Traditionally a parent or close family | Traditionally friends, the wedding party or family |
| Feel | Party: drinks, toasts, mingling | Party with gift time built in |
Customs vary by family and region, so treat these as starting points.
What is the difference?
An engagement party celebrates the news. It usually happens before the wedding details are set, and it is a chance for both families and friend groups to meet.
A couple’s shower is a co-ed wedding shower. It happens closer to the wedding. Instead of a bridal shower for the bride and her friends, both partners and both friend groups celebrate together.
Some couples have one, some have both, and some fold the two together. There is no wrong answer.
Plan the toasts
Both kinds of parties usually include a toast or two. Pick who speaks ahead of time, usually the hosts and maybe a parent from each side, and keep each toast short. Schedule them after most guests have arrived and have a drink in hand.
Expect a bigger guest list
Because both sides of the family and both friend groups are invited, these parties often run larger than a traditional bridal shower, with guests coming from Mandeville, Covington, Slidell and beyond. Count both lists before you call a venue.
At Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville, our Private Restaurant is a completely private space for up to approximately 100 guests, with its own entrance, restrooms, bar, front courtyard and covered patio. There is no formal guest minimum.
What it costs
Private Restaurant pricing works differently from our ballrooms and is more per-person driven, so your guest count and menu drive the total. A $500 deposit with a signed contract reserves your date.
Food and drinks
Co-ed parties tend to center on the bar, so decide early how you want it to work: an open bar, beer and wine only, or a signature cocktail for the couple. Uniformed security is required with an open bar, currently $220. Food comes from our kitchen, and outside commercially prepared desserts are welcome. See our event policies for the full bar and décor rules.
Photos
The Private Restaurant’s front courtyard and covered patio give you a spot for photos away from the crowd. Couples already booked for their wedding at Fleur de Lis can also arrange engagement photos at the venue with no venue charge, subject to coordination and availability.
Questions to ask any venue
- Is the space fully private, with its own entrance and restrooms?
- How many guests is the room comfortable for?
- What bar options are available, and is security required?
- Can we bring our own cake and desserts?
- Is there a good spot for photos?
Celebrate on the Northshore
Tours are normally available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday mornings, with virtual tours for family planning from out of town.
Call 985-626-9118 to check your date.
Related: Private Restaurant | Bridal Shower Guide | Baby Shower Guide | Plan an Event
