With weddings come parties and social gatherings to celebrate the upcoming nuptials. Your friends and family are excited for your next adventure and are more than happy to celebrate with you. Use these pre-wedding parties and gatherings to take your mind off all the constant planning and enjoy yourself.
1. Parties, Parties, Parties!
Traditionally there are five social gatherings that are customary for the bride-to-be: engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, bridal luncheon and the rehearsal dinner. All of the parties are a great way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials and each is for a different reason.
2. Engagement Party
The first event is your engagement party. That’s when you formally announce to your friends and family that you are getting married. The beauty of that party is, even though they are thought of as traditional, you can make your social gathering as unique as you like. It isn’t a structured event so you can exercise your creative flair! Not only that, you can have a party for just the bridal party to celebrate when all the planning has been done and the last thing on the to-do list has been checked off.
Planning the party can be as big or as little as you want it to be. You can have a lavish night on the town, dressed to the nines or a less wild night in. You can’t go wrong with all your closest friends sharing snacks, frozen vodka pops, stories and laughter. Regardless of which type of celebration you choose to have, the beauty is, it’s your choice.
3. Bridal Party
About a month before the wedding, the bridal party throws the bride-to-be her shower. Typically, only wedding attendees are invited to this event full of food, fun and showering the bride with gifts.
4. Bachelorette Party
The bachelorette party, again planned by the bridal party, is a celebration of the end of being a singleton. This can be as wild and wacky as you like. Don’t forget, the point is to bid farewell to crazy nights out with the girls. What better way to do that than to have just one more?
5. Bridal Luncheon
Although by no means a required gathering, some brides choose to hold a bridal luncheon. This is intended for attendance by the bridal party only to thank them for their dedication and hard work. This is a time to slow down and enjoy each others’ company without discussing any pressing issues. It would be a great time to enjoy a treatment at the spa before heading home for some champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
6. Rehearsal Dinner
The last social event before the big day is the rehearsal dinner. Just like it sounds, this is a time for the wedding party to prepare for the following day and it immediately follows the rehearsal. Not only is this an opportunity for the families of both the bride and groom to break the ice and become acquainted, it’s also a chance for the family of the bride and groom to spend some quality time with them before the whirlwind day ahead.
The rehearsal dinner is typically reserved for the members of the wedding party and their partners. It’s a nice gesture, if resources allow, to also invite any out-of-town guests to join in. It is also a great opportunity to present the members of the wedding party with their gifts. Consider presenting the gifts with a short and personal toast, thanking them for their help and participation as well as showing appreciation for all they’ve done.
Traditions are not hard and fast rules that you have to follow to the letter. This is your big day and the memories you’re creating. Don’t be afraid to tailor them to showcase your personality.
Article Submitted By Community Writer