Do you give a "why" when declining an invitation?

[Backroads]

It depends on the situation whether I tell why or not, but I believe in more cases than not I'm not obligated to explain my reasons for not attending.

 

Reasons tend to sound like excuses to the wrong ears.  "No" is final.

[john doe]

If someone is getting in my grill about things like that I will resort to "Well, if you MUST know, due to our conflicting schedules I plan on having marital relations with my wife at that time. I'd be glad to come over when we're done if you like, but I'm not exactly sure what time that will be.Can I call you when we're through?" That usually is enough to get the person to back off.

[Latter Days Guy]

No.  This is not the purpose of an Engagement Party.

 

The Engagement Party has 2 main purposes:

1.)  Announce and Celebrate the engagement of 2 people.

2.)  Introduce families and friends of both sides because they're going to be families and friends by marriage soon.

 

A lot of times this is where the people asked to be in the wedding party first meet and get comfortable which makes the wedding preparations smoother.

 

Gifts are not usually expected in such parties.  A lot of times, these parties are not announced as Engagement Parties because it sprung as a suprise to some unsuspecting family...

 

So, I don't know how the gift-giving tradition of engagement parties came into play.  I've been to several of these and we never bring gifts.  There is a chance the engagement does not end in a wedding...

 

It's a lot different in the UK, engagement parties are a big thing.  Its kinda like where the engagement is officially announced to the extended family and friends and presents are expected!  Plus the wedding isn't usually close to the engagement either, my wife and I were engaged for 4 years before we got married!  

[Latter Days Guy]

Oh, just had another thought as well!  The engagement parties in the UK aren't usually near the actual engagement date either!  Ours was about six months after we got engaged!!  Plus if your family and your invited then it's generally accepted that you will attend, other than being on your death bed/ in another country at the time you go.  In fact we had family travel from all over the UK to attend.  

[Bini]

Let me better phrase, in this situation (can\'t speak for other people), I wouldn\'t be surprised if it were about gift count. I know her parents, especially her mother, and they\'re all about flash and living \"the good life\". Like I said, don\'t know the daughter, only her persona on FB which reflects her parents\' attitude. So that\'s where my speculation comes from. Again, not speaking for anyone else or their family - just mine and in this particular instance.

Yeh, I know engagement parties are huge in the UK. I\'ve seen some pretty extravagant ones on FB. She is not Brit but they are European (she is and her side), but he\'s American, so not sure if this is a cultural thing or not. Don\'t really care, we\'ve ignored the inquiry as to WHY we\'re not going, and that\'s that :)