Congratulations! The long-awaited question was popped, and now you’re engaged—what a blissful feeling. However, there’s more to getting married than the ceremony and reception. When you begin planning, you may find that getting married is a whole affair. It’s easy to forget about pre-wedding events and festivities because the big day might be the only thing on your mind.
But don’t worry, there are no rules or requirements for how many of these pre-wedding events you include in your itinerary; after all, this is a celebration for and about you and your partner. Continue reading our quick guide to the most popular pre-wedding festivities to learn everything you need to know about these events and when to incorporate them into your timeline.
The Engagement Party
Show off your ring! Engagement parties help kick off your pre-wedding festivities with flowing champagne and kind words from close family and friends. This event allows your families to get to know each other better before other events.
Engagement parties typically happen a couple of months after being engaged, around the same time you and your partner pick a wedding venue. There aren’t many rules to this event—an engagement party can range from formal to casual and is usually set at someone’s house or a restaurant.
The Couple-Shower
Shower the soon-to-be wedded couple with gifts, laughter, advice, and tasty foods. The couple-shower is a fun pre-wedding celebration that allows the couple to celebrate their upcoming wedding date with friends. Couple-showers are usually daytime events designed for gift giving and wedding-related games—such as couple-related photo challenges, bingo, and name that song. Show your guests appreciation for all their love and support by gifting them couple-shower gifts that are sentimental and special.
Typically, couple-showers are hosted two-to-six months before the wedding to keep spirits up without overwhelming yourself with multiple wedding events at one time. This is also the perfect time to set up your registry, so your shower and wedding guests will know what you all need for your new life together.
The Bachelor and Bachelorette Party
The infamous bachelor and bachelorette parties celebrate the soon-to-be-wedded couple hosted by both wedding parties. Although these parties are typically celebrated separately, they often entail the same festivities. Have a wild night out on the town or a relaxing weekend getaway. This is a great time to bond with your friends before the wedding. Your bachelor or bachelorette party is a time to let loose and have fun before heading down the aisle.
While most rom-coms set bachelor and bachelorette parties the day before the wedding, we recommend having your party one-to-four months before your big day. By setting your party this far off, you can prevent mishaps.
The Couple-Brunch or Luncheon
As the big day gets closer, you may realize how much planning and preparation it takes to ensure that you and your partner have a perfect day. We suggest hosting a brunch or luncheon to thank the members of your wedding party who have helped you guys along the way. This event is fairly low-key and casual but intimate, allowing those who helped to have a moment of rest and pampering.
The Rehearsal Dinner
With 24-hours left until your wedding, hosting a rehearsal dinner can be the perfect time for families to bond and mingle with each other before the big day. After working hard at your wedding rehearsal, everyone will gather again to celebrate you and your partner before watching the two of you walk down the aisle and return to their respective routines. During this dinner, your nearest and dearest will often give speeches and advice wishing you and your partner a lovely marriage.
Take a deep breath; the planning will go more smoothly than you think. As stated before, each wedding is tailormade to the couple, so if you and your partner aren’t feeling some of these popular pre-wedding festivities, it’s okay! The main priority is to spend loving moments with loving people.
