Would you go to a friends engagement party on the day of your birthday?

Combine both. I went away for my 50th birthday but came home on the Saturday evening so that I could go to a friend's hen day on the Sunday. So rather than going away Thurs to Sun, I went away Wed to Sat.

As others have said, you can also go away a different weekend,

Possibly the same kick you get out of pulling one comment in disagreement and trying to cause an argument from it?

Nope. I book mine off work every year. I’m not working on my birthday 😂

Some employers actually give people the day off for their birthday as a freebie too.

You can find it hilarious if you wish.

Why the need to mock others for how they feel about it? You get a kick out of it?

I went to my friend's wedding on the day of my 21st birthday back in the day when one's 21st was still a big deal. No problem. I had my party a week later and my birthday was toasted at my friend's reception. It is only a birthday and it happens every year whereas an engagement/wedding is, hopefully, a once in a lifetime thing.

Definitely go! I went to a family wedding on my birthday last year and it was amazing! I saw loads more family than I would have done otherwise and I had loads of drinks bought for me!

I’d go - you get to have two nice events to look forward to. No brainer.

Surely around five out of seven birthdays for anyone of working age are spent mostly at work anyway?

Why not have a meal with your partner for your birthday and go to the party?

If birthdays are really that important for you and your BF then stick to your plan. You've already explained why you can't attend the engagement party. There will be other parties for the bride and groom before the wedding that you can attend and celebrate the happy couple.

I literally have gone to a friend’s engagement party on my birthday. I’m also in my thirties. I didn’t hesitate to accept. Engagement is (hopefully) once in a lifetime, I’ve had loads of birthdays and hopefully will have many more! To me, it really isn’t a big deal doing “my” celebration on a different day. Although I’m not huge on birthdays personally.

I think you should do whatever makes you feel happiest. Which seems to be not going to the party but doing something special with your boyfriend. Lots of people saying it's childish to celebrate your birthday, but I think it's your birthday, your reasons, so do what you want. Luckily I'm not too bothered about birthdays - this year I was away from home and got only two texts in the morning saying happy birthday. All the friends I remember every year forgot or didn't bother.

I went to my friend’s 50th on my birthday (we have the same birthday). I loved it as it was something different and I loved sharing it with her. Do you think you’ll have a better time with your boyfriend? Can’t you do something during the day? I wouldn’t turn it down if you want to go just because it clashes but you have a good excuse if you don’t want to go!
As an adult I don’t have high expectations of my birthday and that’s fine. But I have a birthday very near Xmas so I guess I am more used to little fuss.

You have a Birthday every year, this is hopefully a once in a lifetime event for your friend. Why does your celebrations have to be on your actual Birthday? Why not book your Birthday celebrations the weekend before or after & celebrate your friends engagement with her. You sound quite childish wanting the day to be all about you. I'd hate it if my friends were that shallow.

I want my birthday to be about me! How old are you ffs. Didn't realise people still did birthdays as grownups.

As a fully functional adult, I'm aware that the day of my birthday is really not 'all about me'. I grew out of that by the time I was about 17.

So yeah, you are being very immature and showing everyone this with your 'all about me' comment 🤦‍♀️

At 33, you need to grow up to be honest.

You sound a bit precious about your birthday.

Hopefully you'll have many more birthdays but your friend'll not have another engagement. Just go and enjoy it

Yep, you want your adult 33 year old birthday to be all about you?

I've had 62 Xmas day birthdays. I've spent 'every' single birthday with family, and/or the MIL. Never had a party on the day, never been out with friends on the day, never had a mini break with DP, usually get wished a rushed 'happy birthday' about 12-30. Everyone eats, drinks too much and is knackered by 21-00, lucky to get as much as a birthday cuddle on the actual day. Fingers-crossed someone invites me to a party on my next birthday.

I think it's perfectly acceptable to want to have your birthday celebration on your actual birthday and have the day be all about you.
You could still get your friends a little gift and card.

On the one hand, you sound like a child. Celebrating on your birthday is only good enough?!!

we spent my husband’s 50th at a wedding.

because we love the bloke getting married.

if you don’t love your friend, don’t go.

I find engagement parties a bit of a nonsense so I’d be avoiding that whether it was my birthday or not.

I'd go even if it was a big one... why lose out on two excuses for a great party! Who gives a shit if your party isn't on your actual birthdate - are you secretly a 7 year old?

I think this is a bit odd.

It's not like a "Big' birthday.... my 50th fell on a week day so I worked and went to a sports club that we volunteer at in the evening. Everyone was super nice to me and it was a normal evening but a bit more jolly.... with some cake.

Then I had birthday shenanigans over the following weekend.

If someone was having a party and I had time to nudge my plans I would enjoy having the best of all the occasions.

This year my birthday again falls on a week day, so I will work.... then at the next weekend one of my adult kids has something important happening, so I might even nudge my birthday treats out by two weeks..... because I'm a total grown up and I want to enjoy a bit of everything... and it is within my power to do so....

I'd go - engagement party is (hopefully) once in a lifetime, birthday is every year. FWIW I am very big on celebrating my birthday, but happy to make an exception.

Thank goodness your birthday isn’t Christmas Day, like mines! I literally have no birthday that day 🤣🤣🤣

I’m with your sister. Also, it depends how much your friend means to you.