If you are new the bride-to-be circle, knowing what kind of events and parties go into this special season of your life may be a gray zone for you. You may be asking the question who plans the various different events? What are the different events? When do these events take place? Below, is a mapped out guide to who, what, where, and when these special events are to occur throughout your wedding season.
The Engagement Party
The Engagement Party usually occurs within 1-3 month of engagement. This party is traditionally hosted by either the parents of the bride or the parents of the groom.A common trend currently, is incorporating this celebration on the same day as the proposal. When this is done, it is usually done as a surprise to the new bride-to-be. The bride and grooms close friends and family will be waiting not far from where the proposal happened, waiting for her announcement of the news and letting the bride-to-be show off her ring and glow in the excitement of it all.
The Bridal Shower
The bridal shower is usually hosted by those closest to the bride; her maid of honor, her sister(s), mother, aunt, the list could go on. This party usually takes place closer to the wedding, 2 months – 2 weeks prior. This is an opportunity to allow all the important women in the brides life to gather and “shower” the bride in gifts. These gifts usually include anything from sentimental items, to houseware, to recipes. Anything that will help or guide her into the this new and exciting season of her life where she will take on the role of a wife.
Bachelor Party & Bachelorette
The bachelor and bachelorette parties are hosted a week before the wedding and is usually exclusive to the bridal parties with maybe the addition of a few close friends who may not be in the bridal party. The Bachelor and Bachelorette are two different parties, hosted at the same time. The groomsmen through the bachelor party for the groom, and the bridesmaids through a bachelorette party for the bride. These parties are to celebrate the few remaining days the bride and groom have with their closest friends as unwed individuals. Usually drinking, dancing, and lingerie are components of these celebrations.
Welcome Party
The welcome party is usually thrown when couples are having a destination wedding or they have many friends and family traveling far distances to be there. The welcome party is usually hosted by the parents of the couple and is thrown two nights before the wedding. The welcome party is usually set up as a dinner or cocktail party. The invite is extended to all guests of the wedding.
Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner is hosted by the grooms parents the night before the wedding, directly following the wedding rehearsal the day before the wedding. Typically, only the wedding party and immediate family attend the rehearsal dinner. However, for destination weddings, where guests of the wedding are already there, the invitation can be extended to all wedding guests.
Reception Party
The reception is right after the wedding ceremony on the day of the wedding. This party is usually paid for by the brides parents. All guests of the wedding attend. This is the largest celebration of all and includes, speeches, toasts, dinner, desert, dancing, gifts, games, and a fin “send-off” for the bride and groom as they leave at the end of the night and ride off into their future together.
Day After Brunch
The day after brunch is for the guests who have traveled a long distance to attend the wedding or all of the guests at a destination wedding. This gathering gives them a chance to say their goodbyes to friends and family after an exciting a weekend of celebration. This party is hosted by whoever hosted the ceremony and reception parties. The day after brunch last just a few hours the morning after the wedding and signifies as an end to the wedding season and festivities.
