Congratulations on your engagement! This is a special time in your life that should be celebrated with your loved ones. One way to celebrate is by hosting pre-wedding events. Here are some pre-wedding celebrations and events that are typically considered, along with who traditionally plans them for the couple!
Engagement Party: An engagement party is a great way to celebrate your engagement with your closest family and friends. This event is usually hosted by the bride's parents, but it can also be hosted by the couple themselves or anyone else who wants to throw them a party. The engagement party can be as formal or as casual as you want it to be. It can be a dinner party, a cocktail party, or even a backyard barbecue.
Wedding Shower: We would love to start by saying that this category has evolved SO much over the years, and we couldn't be happier for them to be far more inclusive for all couples. "Bridal shower" events in the past have been very much all the same in the sense that it is hosted by a mom or mother figure on the bride's side (family or friends). It was typically hosted as a "female-only" party as well. However, these have obviously evolved a lot over the last few decades for couples. We now see joint parties being hosted for couples, as well as some no longer being dubbed as "female only", with all parts of families gathering to celebrate together. This is typically a chance for the couple to celebrate with their loved ones and receive gifts that will help start their new life with their partner. The wedding shower can be held at a restaurant, a private home or other event space!
Bachelor/Bachelorette Party: The bachelor/bachelorette party is a chance for the bride or groom to celebrate their last days of singledom with their friends. This event is usually organized by the best man or maid of honour, but it can also be organized by anyone else in the wedding party. The party can be a night out on the town, a spa day, a weekend getaway, or even a day at a theme park.
Rehearsal Dinner: The rehearsal dinner is held the night before the wedding and is a chance for the wedding party to get together and rehearse the wedding ceremony. It is usually hosted by the groom's parents, but it can also be hosted by the couple themselves or anyone else who wants to throw them a dinner party. The rehearsal dinner can be a formal sit-down dinner or a casual buffet, or even just an evening sipping cocktails and mock-tails.
In conclusion, pre-wedding celebrations and events are a great way to celebrate your engagement and spend time with your loved ones! From the engagement party to the rehearsal dinner, there are many events to consider hosting. Who plans these events traditionally depends on the event and the family's traditions, but these days, it's becoming more common for the couple to take charge and plan these events themselves. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it reflects your personalities as a couple and that you have fun!