It's almost a year and not everybody knows that John and Betty are going out with each other. It was never an unknown affair with we friends but parents from both sides had no clue. Finally the happy couple decided to break the news to their parents and all others who did not know about their relationship. Moreover, it was time to get both the in-laws introduced to each other. Thus came the announcement for the engagement party.

Engagement generally happens when the couple agrees to get married and wants the whole world to know about it. It also refers to the time between the proposal and the marriage.

No marriage is complete without an engagement. Some feel that it is a modern invention and merely adds to the cost of the marriage. But history stands witness to this concept of engagement which has come down from ages. It is believed that the modern ceremony of engagement before marriage may have begun somewhere in the year 1215 at the Fourth Lateran council. This council was headed by Pope Innocent III. According to him, when somebody decides to get married, it should be announced in the church in front of all the people. This should be done by the priest. He made this a rule to make people aware of the couple getting married and they could come up with their impediments, if they had any. After all marriage was a social affair and the people had the right to open up to the church, if they felt there was something wrong in what was happening.

The ceremony of engagement mostly involves the exchanging of rings between the girl and the boy in the presence of their parents and relatives. Some say that the concept of a ring is also a modern one but here again there is the interference of age old history. The custom of exchanging rings dates back to the year 1477 where the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian-I gifted Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring as an engagement present.

The length of an engagement is never a decided one. Some may last for a day where as some of them may continue for days. Some of the couple celebrate their engagement from the time of their proposal to the time they get married. Among all this, mention may also be made of the long distance engagements. This is mostly for the long distance couples. So to say, the couple who stays far away from each other, mostly in two different countries. This is usually done because of some of the strict rules that some of the countries hold. Some countries require that+ there should be a relation between the resident's future spouse before immigration.

Usually the engagement party is hosted by the bride's parents but with rapid movement of time, there are lots of changes that have come over. The party could be either by the bride's family or the grooms parents could happily take over. Engagement parties are also sometimes organized jointly by both the families. As for the venue, there is very little to be bothered about all that. It could either be held at the restaurant or any other place thats holds a lot of importance to the couple. And if none of it works out, home is the best place for the engagement party. Some people also organize the engagement party in the form of a picnic at their favorite hiking spots.

Engagement does not necessarily have to be as elaborate as a wedding but some do organize it in a way almost as big as a wedding. It all depends upon the couple, their family and their financial condition.

The one difference that lies between a wedding party and an engagement party is that, the former involves all friends and family where as the latter is a more intimate affair in the presence of very important relatives. But times have changed and so have the customs. Whatever it may be, engagement is the time when the couple finally decides that they are firm on their decision of spending life with each other. Engagement is the joy of letting the world know of their decision.