The engagement party and wedding day are two major events that every couple dreams of. However, is there anything in between? Some engagements last between months and years, so it seems restrictive to avoid having any celebration during this period.
Events leading up to a wedding can help set the mood and get the party started long before the wedding day. They can also serve as an additional rehearsal to ensure everything runs smoothly. Here’s what you need to know about this.
Bridal shower
While this event usually takes place several weeks before the wedding, there’s no rule of how early you can/should start. The bridal shower is usually organized on the bride’s side of the family, and it’s meant to celebrate the bride. It usually involves a mixed-gender group, although an all-female gathering isn’t unorthodox.
The peak of the event is gift-giving. Every guest should bring a present for the bride, usually something they’ll use in their married life. More often than not, there are a lot of joke-based gifts. On the other hand, these could be important minor household items, which the bride may ask for in agreement with her guests.
Generally, this is a small family event where the bride can spend time with her loved ones before the wedding. This event is supposed to help her create lasting memories, so photographs are mandatory. Just make sure that the background/backdrop is scenic enough.
So, to organize a successful bridal shower, you should at least:
- Set a theme
- Come up with bridal shower games
Everything else is not exclusive to the bridal shower organization. You must still set a budget, pick a date, and send invitations.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties
The bachelor/bachelorette party is probably the one pre-wedding event that you’ve already planned to throw. Now, whether you’re planning a boy’s night out or looking for classy bachelorette party ideas, there’s so much preparation for you to do.
The biggest problem is that there are many scenarios where the bride and the groom aren’t involved in party planning. After all, this is supposed to be an event thrown by the best man or the bridesmaids. Still, consulting the bride or the groom is vital. The last thing you want is to interfere with the rest of the wedding plans. We know what Hollywood and cable TV are trying to sell you but throwing a party is never worth it, causing an argument between a bride and a groom.
So, always ask your friend’s future partner for a blessing.
Then, set a date and prepare all the accommodation, reservation, and transportation arrangements. The last part is especially important because no one deserves to be a designated driver on such a wild night out.
Just because you’re pre-arranging some things, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a few surprises up your sleeve.
Finally, capture all the memories and don’t forget to have fun.
Welcome party
If you’re celebrating a wedding in a remote location, it’s not uncommon for your guests to arrive days before the wedding. Why not make a welcome party on a date when you expect most of them to arrive?
The key thing you need to do is pick an appropriate venue. Since it’s all about the location, you should pick a place that reflects the local ambiance and vibe. Even better, you must choose a place with a vibe similar to your wedding venue. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same; it’s enough if it just thematically fits this arrangement. This way, the event will serve as an introduction.
Another great idea would be to use welcome gifts. You can prepare welcome gifts or even outfit some welcome bags. This doesn’t have to be anything too expensive or extravagant. It’s just something to give your guests a bit more joy. It’s one more thing that they will remember you by.
Since people are just arriving, informing them of the best way to get to the location might be a good idea. It’s also smart not to pick them up (or expect them to arrive) straight from the airport. Instead, let them put their bags in their rooms, refresh and then come to the meeting.
Wedding brunch
pre-wedding events
A wedding brunch is usually thrown to help people from two sides of the family to get to know each other better. It’s a casual and intimate event; however, this doesn’t mean it’s easy to organize or will just play out spontaneously.
You need a venue that can accommodate enough guests, the right menu, and even the right decoration. Even the choice of music can set the mood or serve as an ice-breaker. It’s not uncommon for more affluent families to hire a live musician for a wedding brunch.
The most important of all is the seating plan. The main activity will be communication since this is an intimate seating event. Here, you can only sit near the people who are closest to you. You also want the seating to be as comfortable as possible. After all, they’ll be seated there for a while.
Now, when it comes to the time of day when you plan it, you can go for a daytime celebration or an evening event. Remember that this will set the mood and ambiance, so you must choose carefully. Also, you should note people in time for them to organize.
Wrap up
Organizing these pre-wedding events is the best way to get everyone on board with your wedding. This way, you’ll help your friends and family members get more familiar with each other in a party setting and just “build up the hype” before the main event.
Another great thing about organizing these events is that it helps you better organize your wedding (the main event). For instance, if you make a mistake while printing your bridal shower invitations, it’s not as big of a deal. Now you are aware of one more potential mistake, and you definitely won’t make it again. In a way, it’s an exercise of your organizational abilities.
