All You Need To Know About Pre-Wedding Festivities
Weddings celebrate two people who have decided to spend their lives together. However, pre-wedding festivities set the stage for the grand occasion. From the engagement party to the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner, there is always an opportunity to bond with loved ones before the event. 78% of couples who married last year said they had at least a bachelorette party. Are you planning for your wedding? Here is all you need to know about pre-wedding festivities.
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Engagement party
The engagement party is often the official announcement party marking the beginning of the wedding journey. In many cases, it is held shortly after the proposal. The engagement party is an occasion for families and close friends to share in the couple’s joy. According to a 2018 survey on pre-wedding festivities, the engagement party is often where the couple meets each other’s wider family—the grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and so on. The engagement party usually takes on different forms, largely due to how much money is pumped into arranging the event. From simple with fun balloon arches to elegant and high-end, there is no end to how your engagement party can be held. While the budget may vary, certain traditions remain constant. For example, there are always congratulatory messages and toasting to the future, setting the tone for the upcoming events that climax with the wedding.
Bridal showers
It is believed that bridal showers originated in 16th-century Holland. It was viewed as an alternative to the traditional dowry system paid to a woman’s father before the marriage was granted. Over the years, this practice underwent many changes and has become the celebration many know it to be. The bridal shower is an intimate gathering to shower the woman with love and well wishes. It is also an occasion where attendants or a select few may present gifts to the bride-to-be. The event usually features heartfelt advice, games, and special treats to make it all the more special. The event has also become quite notorious for guests to present ‘naughty’ gifts to the bride-to-be, all in the name of humor and love. The event can be held anywhere, but many women prefer a bridal shower venue that offers comfort, safety, and enough space for all the memorable moments likely to happen.
Rehearsal dinner
The rehearsal dinner often takes place the night before the wedding. The relaxed event allows the couple, their respective families, and the wedding party to bond again before the event. As the name implies, it is an occasion to rehearse the next day’s activity and ensure that everybody understands their role on the wedding day. This intimate gathering can be a memorable one if it’s well-planned. The idea is to foster unity and, perhaps, to ease any last-minute bundle of nerves ahead of the crucial day. Some people believe that the rehearsal dinner must comprise light meals and finger foods to reduce or avoid the risk of a tummy upset. If possible, no alcohol must be served to get everyone ready and sharp for the next day.