Celebrating an Important Occasion: 9 Types of Wedding-Related Events and Everything You Need to Know About Them
Weddings are very difficult to plan because there are so many details to coordinate. For this reason, it is important to research as much information as possible when planning your special day. That said, there are many potential events that surround weddings, which leave many brides and grooms confused about what they are obligated to do for their guests and to keep with tradition. Be sure to consider what kind of theme you are looking to have for your wedding so that you are able to ascertain which events you would like to choose for your upcoming wedding. To learn more about 9 types of wedding-related events, review the information below:
9 Types of Wedding-Related Events and Everything You Need to Know About Them
Deciding the right number of events to include in your wedding celebration is something that is important not only to your memories of the event, but also your budget. If you don’t know what you will be planning for your wedding, there will be many last-minute costs that may pop up unexpectedly and be quite substantial. Consider planning these 9 wedding-related events for your upcoming nuptials:
Catering at Your Wedding Reception
Catering is one of the most important investments you will make during your wedding. This is particularly true of your wedding reception. Some venues do not offer high quality catering, or you may be having rehearsal dinners or other events where you need catering. Before meeting with a catering company, it is wise to have an idea of what kind of meals you would like so that you can remain consistent with the theme of your wedding. This also includes what kind of wine, champagne or cocktails you would like to serve for your guests. Remember that each hour of distribution of alcohol or additional food courses will increase the cost you are paying per person. Companies such as Villa Russo Catering are ideal to organize and customize the exact menu you would like to utilize for a price that is within your budget. Another benefit of working with these kind of catering companies is that you will be able to try various dishes that will be served on your menu in advance and verify that they are the quality and price point that you are looking for.
Wedding Ceremony
YYour wedding ceremony has many different options depending on whether you are going to get married in a religious place or have your ceremony in one place. Make sure that you plan your wedding ceremony personally tailored to what you and your significant other wants and not what others expect of you. If you are religious, then decorate where you are getting married in a consistent theme with the other events of your wedding. This way, it will be very memorable for you to enjoy. Make sure you also consider the transportation between your wedding ceremony and where you will be holding your reception. It can be helpful to arrange a transport to help your guests get to the other site with ease and then arrange for a transportation back to a central location if your reception is in a remote locale. Transport is great because it helps your guests who many not be familiar with the area to find the location of your various wedding-related events.
Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties are a rite of passage in weddings for both the bride and groom to have one crazy last evening of partying before they tie the knot. These events can usually happen on a Thursday before a Saturday wedding or a Friday before a Sunday wedding. Having these parties on an evening that is not before the day of the wedding is best so that the traditional wedding send offs can happen that are very fun for both the bridesmaids and groomsmen to host. Ask local bars or restaurants for special packages for these events because it will cut down your overall cost.
Bridal Shower
A bridal shower can happen a few months before the wedding happens where the bridesmaids or mother of the bride will organize a gathering that is typically only with women to celebrate her upcoming wedding. Gifts from these events can be photo albums, décor for the home or things of this kind of style. This event usually happens in the afternoon where tea and cakes are served to guests along with Champagne for a classy and sophisticated afternoon.
Engagement Party
An Engagement Party is a wonderful occasion for you to celebrate your recent engagement and begin the exciting process of planning your wedding. This party should happen right after you have been engaged and usually involves cocktails and small passed foods to your guests. You can decide whether to make the party informal or formal; however, it can be exciting to through a more formal party to celebrate an exciting event such as an engagement.
Bridesmaid/Groomsmen Luncheon
Usually, a Bridesmaid/Groomsmen luncheon occurs the day after the wedding. Many times, you can negotiate the hotel that is hosting the wedding party to include this in the paid fees. It can be a great idea to have champagne and a custom brunch menu at these parties to continue the wedding celebrations before the guests have to fly home after the event.
Rehearsal Dinner
The Rehearsal Dinner typically happens the night before the wedding and is for the wedding party and close family members involved in the ceremony. It is important to have a practice of the wedding ceremony itself and then to have the dinner planned to treat your guests to a nice meal and cocktails, wine or champagne. It is custom at times for the groom’s family to pay for the rehearsal dinner to contribute to the wedding and take some of the financial burden off of the bride’s family. Some weddings have an event after the rehearsal dinner for the other guests, particularly if it is a destination wedding.
Welcome Party
If you are planning a destination wedding, you may consider having a welcome party the first evening your guests arrive. A great idea is to have a wine tasting with small plates. This is particularly true if your group of guests have not seen each other for an extended period of time. A welcome party is a wonderful way to start the wedding celebration on the right foot.
Cultural Excursions
Depending on where you decide to have your wedding, there may be a potential to have cultural activities to provide your guests with a memorable experience. It is becoming quite common to have destination weddings where your guests will end up turning your wedding into their vacation. For this reason, planning cultural excursions for your guests that would like to get to know the city or town where you are getting married is an excellent idea.
Do You Need a Wedding Planner?
Planning a wedding can be a very stressful task. This is particularly true if you are having a larger wedding that is a destination wedding. Due to the multitude of events that are involved in weddings, it can be useful to have a wedding planner to assist you with the logistics to ensure that each event is well planned out and runs efficiently. Many couples that don’t work with wedding planners end up regretting it since they have to spend more time during their weddings being worried. Wedding planners will be able to take away unnecessary stress and allow couples to enjoy their special day along with the additional celebrations they may opt for such as: rehearsal dinners, bachelor/bachelorette parties, luncheons or cultural activities.
Final Remarks
There are many different events surrounding weddings. This is particularly true if you have opted for a destination wedding. If your guests have to travel a long way, then it is important to have many different events for them to enjoy while they are taking time to enjoy your special day. By extending the wedding activities to three or four full days, it enables your guests to get to know one another at a welcome party and then travel through the various events of the wedding together. In terms of the events that are months before the events, try to keep those local so that you can ensure maximum attendance on events such as engagement parties and bridal showers. Regardless of which events you decide to host for your wedding, it is important to have your catering events organized well so that you can ensure that you have enough food and beverages for your guests. Having professional catering will reduce additional stress for you as well. Investing in a wedding planner can be a wise choice to be sure that every single detail in your wedding is accounted for. By doing your research and planning effectively, you will be able to have a wonderful wedding day that you and your significant other will remember for many years to come.