Wedding Planning

As far as social events go, there are not many that can beat a wedding. The wedding reception actually, is when all of the real fun starts. But let us remember the parties that come before the wedding. The engagement party, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the wedding shower and the rehearsal dinner. These pre-wedding parties will be good fun, too. Here's a look at each:

The Engagement Party

A fantastic means to declare the forthcoming wedding is by an engagement party. Traditionally, the parents of the bride give this event a month more or less, after the couple announces their engagement. But, there aren't any set rules and they could be held at home, at a eating place, or anyplace the host chooses.

Engagement parties are generally intimate social occasions of a casual nature. Their aim is to allow bride and groom a chance to meet one another's family members and close friends. When the couple's parents live far apart, it is common for the bridegroom's family to have a second engagement party. Usually gifts are not given. Invitations may be hand-written or even verbal. If you want to plan for food, include an RSVP.

The Bachelor/Bachelorette Party

The stereotyped bachelor party comprises of a wild evening of boozing and strippers is yielding to more coordinated events. Though still rather popular, these parties are being superseded by guys assembling to watch a major sporting event either live or on TV, or to spend a week-end together skiing or angling, or even by having a poker tournament.

Traditionally held the evening prior to the wedding, this also is altering and these parties are being organised earlier, for reasons that do not need to be explained. For a long time, the wedding shower was the 'bride's party.' Bachelorette parties are a relative newbie to the wedding scene and they too are organised by the bridal party. All the same; these parties can be even as wild as the bachelor parties. And they could also involve a easy, unwinding day at the spa.

The Wedding Shower

Wedding showers are fantastic social events planned to give the soon-to-be couple the things they will require when they move into their new house together. It is as well a way to add to a bride's trousseau. Most of today's wedding showers are themed, and may be anything from a recipe shower to a bivouacking shower in which the presents would include things the couple would use their camping adventures.

Wedding showers need to be held several weeks prior to the wedding date and just those guests who've been invited to the wedding need to be invited to the shower. Some women are fortunate and finish up having more than one wedding shower.

Rehearsal Dinner

This is a time to stay relaxed and get prepared for the wedding day that lies ahead. Rehearsal dinners are usually for the bridal party only and they are held straightaway after the wedding rehearsal. They are held early so everyone can rest up and they are commonly held at the home of the bride or groom's parent or at a restaurant.