5 Pre Wedding Parties and 1 Post Wedding Celebration You Don't Want to Forget to Plan

If you’re a newly engaged couple planning your big day, there are many pre and post wedding celebrations to consider! Your wedding day is a special event where all your loved ones come from near and far to celebrate your love. But in order to spend time with your guests and truly make the most out of celebrating your marriage, there are 5 pre wedding parties and one post wedding party you don’t want to forget to plan. Keep reading for party planning tips for an unforgettable wedding season.

5 Pre Wedding Parties (and 1 Post Wedding Party) Planning Tips

Over the years, weddings have evolved from a one-day event to a weekend extravaganza, with pre wedding parties held up to a year in advance! This is because your loved ones want to celebrate you and this exciting new chapter in your life as much as they can. The movement from a single-day wedding to a wedding weekend allows time for you to mingle with your guests and enjoy their presence in many capacities rather than feeling pressured to do it all in one day. As you plan your wedding, consider these pre wedding parties (and post wedding party) and learn when and how to host them.

1. Engagement Party

What is it, and why have it?

One of the first pre wedding parties couples tend to plan is an engagement party. Celebrating this exciting new step in a relationship can be done through a casual backyard bar-b-que or a meal at a nice restaurant. Some families and friends even throw surprise engagement parties immediately following the popping of “the question.”

When is it?

The engagement party is one of the first pre wedding parties and is often scheduled at the beginning of the wedding planning process. Couples typically throw this party two to four months after their engagement, depending on how long of an engagement they plan to have.

Tips for planning it:

• ● Determine who is hosting the engagement party and what pieces of the planning you and your partner are responsible for
• ● Invite those in your closest circle and only people who you’ll likely invite to the wedding
• ● Send out invitations–whether through the mail or a group text–and be sure to include all the information your guests will need to RSVP
• ● Plan the meal and any activities that will take place during your engagement party
• ● Decide what to wear as you formally celebrate your engagement for the first time

2. Couple’s (or Bridal) Shower

What is it, and why have it?

While this next pre wedding party is traditionally for the bride, more progressive couples have thrown a couple’s shower or wedding shower instead. Either way, this pre wedding party is all about showing the newly engaged couple with gifts for their lives together as a married couple.

When is it?

A bridal or couple’s shower typically takes place a month or two before the wedding. This gives the guests time to look over the wedding registry and purchase a perfect gift for the couple’s new life together.

Tips for planning it:

• ● The maid of honor or other wedding party members typically plan this event
• ● Determine a date, location, and guest list based on the couple’s closest friends
• ● If desired, pick a theme for this pre wedding party and buy fun decorations to match
• ● Plan the food, drinks, and activities to take place at the wedding shower
• ● Make a fun playlist to match your theme and keep the vibes high during your event

3. Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

What is it, and why have it?

This pre wedding party is typically a thrilling event that allows the bride or groom to have a fun weekend away with their wedding party and other close friends. Traditionally advertised as “one last night of partying as a single person,” you get to decide the vibe and activities for your event.

When is it?

While there is some flexibility in planning these fun pre wedding parties, couples typically aim for somewhere between one and four months before the wedding. If it is a weekend trip, the event is usually held further away from the wedding date, so guests don’t have to make multiple travel plans in a short period of time. Other couples have their bachelor and bachelorette parties one night during the week before the wedding if many of their guests are from out of state.

Tips for planning it:

• ● Plan dates and start booking weeks in advance to make sure you get your desired accommodations
• ● Invite your wedding party and any other close friends you’d like to celebrate with
• ● Create an itinerary of your weekend away, so guests know what to expect
• ● Schedule some downtime so you can have a few intimate moments hanging out with your closest friends
• ● Prepare party favors for your guests to thank them for spending the weekend with you

4. Wedding Welcome Party

What is it, and why have it?

This pre wedding party is a great way to welcome guests to your wedding weekend and spend extra time with out-of-town friends. Wedding welcome parties are typically casual events in the form of a park bar-b-que or gathering at a brewery.

When is it?

A wedding welcome party takes place a couple of days before the wedding ceremony. As a less formal event, most couples plan a batch of time where guests can come and go as they please and get settled if they are coming from out of town.

Tips for planning it:

• ● Book a venue or make a reservation in advance so that you have lots of space
• ● Add this event to your wedding itinerary and wedding website
• ● Make sure food and drinks are available throughout your event
• ● Choose a location where you can mingle and interact with your guests
• ● If guests are allowed to bring kids, make sure there are activities to keep them entertained

5. Rehearsal Dinner

What is it, and why have it?

The rehearsal dinner is an important event to have before the wedding day. It’s a time to rehearse the wedding procession and fine-tune the details of the big day, followed by a dinner. This pre wedding party is typically for those who play an integral role in the wedding ceremony or reception. It is a way to honor their hard work and commitment to your wedding with a nice meal.

When is it?

Rehearsal dinners are held the night before the wedding as they provide the opportunity to make any final changes before the big day. Some couples have an early rehearsal dinner with VIP guests, followed by a welcome party with all wedding guests. Others plan these events on two different days.

Tips for planning it:

• ● Make sure you have access to your venue to do a final run-through with your wedding party and wedding planner
• ● Make reservations at a nice restaurant to spend the evening with your wedding party and thank them for being a part of your big day
• ● Determine the attire for your rehearsal dinner and ensure that those in attendance come prepared
• ● Make a small itinerary or list of things to run through during the rehearsal to make sure you don’t miss anything and also that you’ll be on time for the dinner
• ● Prepare a toast to thank your wedding party and allow time for other toasts to be made as well

6. Post-Wedding Send-off Brunch

What is it, and why have it?

The post-wedding send-off brunch is a newer tradition but is loved by many newlyweds and their guests. This event is a fun way for the couple to spend time with friends and family and reminisce about the wedding night before. It can be a lovely way to end a wonderful weekend.

When is it?

This post wedding party is held in the late morning the day after the wedding. It’s typically a casual event that gives guests a chance to say their goodbyes before heading home.

Tips for planning it:

• ● Decide if you want to host this event at someone’s home or a restaurant and make reservations
• ● Choose which guests you wish to invite to this more intimate event
• ● Plan a menu and ensure it accommodates any dietary restrictions
• ● Have your wedding party help set up and stay after to clean up as well
• ● Enjoy your time looking at photos and reminiscing on your favorite moments of your wedding with your loved ones

Plan All Your Pre Wedding Parties and Post Celebrations with SPC

Whether you want to incorporate all of these pre wedding parties into your big day or just want to add one or two, SPC is here to help! We can plan every wedding-related event to ensure a perfect marriage celebration from start to finish. Contact SPC to start planning all your pre and post wedding celebrations today!