The Ultimate Guide to Pre-Wedding Parties

Woohoo!!! Congratulations on your engagement! As you embark on this incredible journey toward your wedding day, you’ll find that there are numerous opportunities to celebrate with your Wedding VIPs leading up to the big day. From intimate gatherings to lively parties, each event offers a unique opportunity to make memories and cherish the moments before you say “I do.” In this guide, we’ll explore the exciting pre-wedding parties at your fingertips as you prepare to marry the love of your life.

Note: None of these parties are required in order to become married. They’re just fun ways to celebrate leading up to the big day. You can do any/all/none of them to make your engagement experience completely unique. And any one of these “events” can legit mean “virgin margaritas with your besties at your favorite Mexican restaurant”.

Pre-Wedding Parties

1. Engagement Party:

The first (and most popular) of the pre-wedding parties is usually the Engagement Party. For some couples, this is where they announce their engagement to their family and friends. Imagine collecting all your favorite people together for a backyard bbq or fun dinner out, then getting to surprise them all with the news of your engagement! Exciting, right? (We love surprises obviously!). Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a lavish affair, an engagement party is a chance to share the news of your upcoming wedding in person with those most important to you. Of course, you can also opt out of the engagement party and announce your engagement to everyone via social media. If that’s more your jam, we highly recommend texting your loved ones first to avoid the social media drama. 😉

2. Bridal Shower:

Traditionally the bridal shower was to help the new bride (or couple) prepare to move in together and start their marriage off on the right foot. Female friends and family would get together to pamper the bride-to-be, gift her housewares and textiles (clothes, bedding, etc.), and offer their advice for her marriage. Now the bridal shower is more about showering the couple with love, and while there are still gifts, there are also games, activities and delicious food to eat. For many couples who’ve already lived together or both have their own households to combine after the marriage, the bridal shower can be another excuse to get your favorite girlfriends together and spend some time sharing marriage tips, bonding and enjoying each other’s company.

3. Couples Shower:

For those who prefer to celebrate together, a couples shower offers the perfect opportunity for both partners to come together with friends and family for a joint celebration. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue, a themed party, or a casual gathering, a couples shower allows you to celebrate your love and upcoming marriage as a team. This is also a great one of the pre-wedding parties that lets the guys celebrate a bit more too!

4. Bachelorette Party:

Prepare for a night (or weekend) of fun and festivities with your closest girlfriends at your bachelorette party. Whether you opt for a low-key gathering or an epic adventure, a bachelorette party is all about celebrating your last days as a single woman in style. From spa days and wine tastings to dance parties and destination getaways, the possibilities are endless for creating unforgettable memories with your bride tribe.

5. Bachelor Party:

Meanwhile, your partner will likely be celebrating his last days as a bachelor with a bachelor party of his own. Whether it’s a weekend getaway with the guys or a night out on the town, a bachelor party is a chance for the groom-to-be to bond with his closest friends and create memories to last a lifetime.

6. Rehearsal Dinner:

Rehearsal Dinners are my favorite of the pre-wedding parties. The night before your wedding, you’ll gather with your favorite people and your VIPs to finalize the ceremony logistics and have a wonderful meal together before the madness of your wedding day. While you’ll definitely see everyone at the wedding, you’ll likely have minimal quality time together. So this is your chance to relax, unwind, and express gratitude to those who have supported you throughout your wedding planning journey.

7. Pre-Wedding Brunch:

This is another of our favorite things, and we highly recommend doing a full or simplified version of the prewedding brunch. For those who want a more traditional day, where you won’t see your spouse until the first look or the walk down the aisle, you can split where the girls all go one way and the guys all go the other. Simple breakfast platters/buffet at the Airbnb while you get your hair and makeup done counts. It’s a final chance to share a meal, exchange words of encouragement, and soak in the excitement before the whirlwind of the day begins. Plus, it provides an opportunity to fuel up for the festivities ahead!

8. Welcome Party:

If you have out-of-town guests attending your wedding, consider hosting a welcome party to kick off the celebration. Whether it’s a casual gathering at a local hotspot or a themed event at your wedding venue, a welcome party allows guests to mingle, get acquainted, and build anticipation for the main event. If this is your jam, we highly recommend hosting your rehearsal dinner earlier in the day, and the welcome party later that night. Typically, both pre-wedding parties will take place on the same day, so this is the best option for scheduling.

9. Farewell Brunch:

Unless you’re leaving immediately on your honeymoon, you have the option to include a farewell brunch. This is a great opportunity to personally thank those out of town guests you weren’t able to spend time with, and to give your friends and family a final thank you for their love and support during your engagement. Plus it’s fun to spend some time reminiscing before you leave on your first married adventure together.

Of course, none of these events are required in any way shape or form. You can pick and choose your favorites, or completely forgo all of them. Your engagement experience is unique to you. Maybe you choose to host a family BBQ over the summer and call it your informal couple’s shower. Or you decide to skip the bachelorette and just go get ice cream. Whatever you do, soak in the love, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime as you prepare to start your life together. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after!