The stress of planning a wedding is already enough to deal with. Then, you remember that there are pre-wedding parties that need to be planned, too!
Today, we’re going to go through some of the most popular ones. We’ll talk about what they are, who typically hosts them, and when they are held. Hopefully this can relieve some of your stress!
Pre-Wedding Parties to Consider
Here are some of the most popular pre-wedding parties that you may want to consider planning as a part of your engagement period!
Engagement party
An engagement party is typically one of the first pre-wedding parties that takes place. This is an event that many couples don’t have. In fact, according to WeddingWire, only 26 percent of couples have an engagement party!
However, engagement parties can be great for couples who are planning to have a long engagement or if you just want some extra time to officially celebrate the engagement with your loved ones.
Engagement parties typically take place about three months after you get engaged. Don’t forget to give guests about a month beforehand to send out invitations!
Who is invited to an engagement party? They are typically reserved for the couples’ closest family members and friends, as they are usually an intimate affair. It will most likely be hosted by one of the families… some couples are even thrown two engagement parties, one by each side! However, it can also be hosted by other relatives or close friends.
Bridal shower or couples shower
Bridal showers are a moment that most brides look forward to long before even getting engaged! However, many couples are choosing to forgo the traditional bridal shower concept and having a couples shower instead.
Traditionally, a bridal shower is a female-only event the involves a meal for all of the guests, some games, and finishes with the bride opening her gifts in front of the guests.
Nowadays, some couples are choosing to have a couples shower instead, where both spouses-to-be are in attendance, along with guests of all genders that will be invited to the wedding! The concept is typically the same: food, games, and gift opening.
Usually, either the bridal party (maid of honor and bridesmaids) or the mother of the bride hosts the shower. However, this varies, especially with couples showers being thrown into the mix!
Bachelorette and bachelor parties
Bachelor and bachelorette parties are a festivity that everyone in the wedding party looks forward to during the wedding planning process.
They are traditionally known as a “wild night out” for the bride, groom, and their friends. However, not every bachelor/bachelorette party has to be this way!
Bachelor and bachelorette parties usually occur about a month or two before the wedding. Bachelorette parties tend to include the bride, bridal party, and other extremely close friends that may not be in the bridal party. Some brides even choose to include their mother! Bachelor parties usually include the groom, groomsmen, and other extremely close friends that aren’t in the wedding party. Some may include fathers as well.
These don’t have to include a night full of clubs and bar hopping, although they certainly can if that’s what you want! You can make these anything you want to — a fancy dinner, axe throwing, a relaxing weekend at the spa… the possibilities are endless! Some spouses-to-be choose to go all out and make it a destination trip over a long weekend.
It really doesn’t matter what you choose to do for your bachelor or bachelorette party, as long as it is someone that the guest-of-honor will love! Nowadays, some couples even choose to do a joint bachelor & bachelorette party.
Rehearsal dinner
Finally, one of the final pre-wedding parties is the rehearsal dinner. This takes place immediately (or very shortly) following the rehearsal of the wedding. So, this will often be the day before the wedding, but can take place any day within a week before the wedding.
The rehearsal dinner is, traditionally, hosted by the groom’s family. However, many weddings nowadays don’t necessarily follow tradition, so it can be whatever works for you! It can even be you and your partner if that is what makes the most sense for you.
Typically, the rehearsal dinner is attended by close family members, members of the wedding party, and any other close friends that may not be a part of the wedding party. The officiant is usually invited, as well. However, some couples choose to go all out and invite all guests that are invited to the wedding — especially if you are having a destination wedding or if you have a lot of out-of-town guests.
Have any questions about some of the pre-wedding parties and how to plan them? Feel free to contact us here! We would love to help you out.