I'm doing all the planning for my wedding myself. While making the guest list on theknot.com, I noticed that you can select a person and pick all of the parties that they're invited to.
Engagement Party
Shower
Bachelor
Bachelorette
Rehearsal Dinner
Sunday Brunch
I hadn't even thought about any of that. What's a must-do and what's not? Sunday Brunch? What the...? Engagement Party? People have those?
Can somebody break it all down for me and help? Haha.
2007-03-23 07:20:56 · 12 answers · asked by ? 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
most people do the bachelorette party and bashelor party. Then they have a rehearsal dinner. All the other stuff dont worry about. But the best man is suppose to plan the bachelor party and the maid of honor is suppose to do the bachelorette party. Your main thing is the wedding itself and the rehearsal dinner.
2007-03-23 07:30:07 · answer #1 · answered by j 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Engament Party:
The purpose of the E.P. is for both families to be acquainted. Inmediate family members and a FEW close friends are invited at the E.P. The couple annouces the engagement, show off the ring, announce the wedding date and the bridal party. No gifts are expected to be recived. A toast and appetizers are served. This is not a necesary or obligatory affair.
Bridal shower: Your MIL, BMs or a frienr coworker organize this gathering. This is mostly a woman party. Normally, there are "themes" for a bridal shower (kitchen, limgerie, bathroom etc). and small, practical, personal, sentimental, even handmade gifts are given to the bride. There is NO registry for the shower. Bride's to be open the presents in front of the guests. Normally, games are played during the party. Drinks and appetizers are served. Youc an have one or more of those, but not the same people should be invited. You do not throw a Bridal shower for yourself, someone offers to host one for you. Mid- Afternoon affair.
Bachelor and bachelorette party. The groom/bridal party host and pay for those, They should be done at least a week BEFORE the wedding (not the night before the wedding). Night affair, normally, alcoholic drinks are served and is done outside a residence.
Rehearsal dinner. This is done the night before the wedding,. The complete bridal party (FOB< MOB, FOG, MOG, BM, MOH, GM, Bm;s, Ring bearer, flower girls) go to the church and they rehearse the entrance of the bridal party .After the fact, the GROOM's family pay or the rehearsal dinner, which is normally at a restauramt and they pay for the meals and drinks of the entire wedding party, (to include ring bearer and flower girl parents). A groom,s cake is sometimes offered. The groom and the bride offer gifts to the bridal party in appretiation for their participation on the wedding. This affair is not necesary if you don;t have a chucrh reception or don't really have a big wedding entourage.
Sunday brunch. After the wedding and honey moon. This is optional. Honestly, I've never seen one done.
I hope this helps
Congrats and good luck
Good luck
2007-03-23 07:34:18 · answer #2 · answered by Blunt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I was in a friend's wedding who had all of the above.
The Engagment Party was thrown for her by some friends where she lives (Chicago) and was just a really small get-together. Most people do not have one.
The Bridal Shower is done the majority of the time unless the bride does not want one. It is usually hosted by the maid of honor.
The Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties are done most of the time, but anymore they are more laid back, just a chance for all the guys (Bachelor Party) or girls (Bachelorette Party) to get together and talk, eat, laugh, drink, go to an even that's fun for you like sports or music or crafts or something.
The Rehearsal Dinner would follow your wedding rehearsal if you choose to have it. It is normally hosted by the groom's parents and held at a restaurant.
The Sunday Brunch is nice for destination weddings where everyone is still in town with nothing to do the next morning before they head home. If you're having your wedding close to where you and everyone else lives, this is not normally done.
Have fun planning!
2007-03-23 07:39:19 · answer #3 · answered by jennyss 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not have to have all of these parties! Especially if you are getting married soon they take up to much time and money...plus think about your guest they have to buy you a gift for each one then the wedding gift will not be so good. Not that that matters so much but save them some money.
Engagement party and sunday brunch are not a must do!
Showers are a great way to get the aunts grandmas and friends together
Bachelor/Bachelorette is not a must but I really wish I would have had a bachelorette party since my husband had a bachelor party...I still hear about it.
Rehearsal dinner is a great way to say thank you to all that have helped you bridal party to pastor. This is also the people you are usually closest to wedding party family etc.
I also used the knot as a great source it really can help.
If you need decoration ideas and are doing that yourself go to your local craft store to think of ideas...and it will be much more inexpensive than hiring someone to do it.
Also if you see expensive things that you like remember you can always make it or find it cheaper...from cakes to flowers.
Best Wishes to you Both!
2007-03-23 07:34:03 · answer #4 · answered by tasgunter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone has engagement parties; someone throws it for you. It's just a time for close family to meet the couple and the wedding party. Usually at one of the parent's homes, just for drinks and snacks, and a chance to talk.
Someone may host a wedding shower for you. I think these are most fun when they are casual, again at someone's home, with games, food, opening gifts, and lots of laughter.
Not everyone has bachelor/ette parties either. Usually for the younger friends, often thrown by bridesmaids.
Not everyone has a rehearsal dinner, either. Most times a rehearsal is after supper the evening before the wedding, so someone can host a party - with appies and drinks.
Sunday brunch - most people have a gift opening the next day, either at a parent's home or in a small room at the hotel where the reception was held. It's usually around 11 to 1 or something, often with simple foods and desserts.
2007-03-24 00:37:14 · answer #5 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people go wild with all these parties! If you have an engagement party, it should be shortly after you get engaged, and is usually hosted by someone close to the couple.
The shower is old hat-invitees are the women you're closer to and is usually thrown by the bridal party.
Bachelor/ette parties are typically thrown by best man, MOH, and would vary based usually, it seems, on the age of hte bride/groom. I asked my fiance if he was interested in a strip club party, but he said no, if he wants to see a nude woman, he's got me (whatever). We're going as a couple for a night away with some friends to some vineyards a few hours from home.
Rehearsal dinner-if you're having a rehearsal the night before the wedding, it's expected you'll feed everyone.
sunday brunch--a nice get-together for close family/friends if they spend the night at the same hotel before everyone goes home.
2007-03-23 08:20:09 · answer #6 · answered by melouofs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None if it is a MUST do. I can't remember the last engagement party I've been to, to be honest with you.
The engagement party is to celebrate...well, the engagement. Generally hosted by parents of the bride, however the grooms parents may host one too, but it's considered polite to allow the brides family to host first.
Bridal showers are planned usually by the maid/matron of honor and bridesmaids. The shower is specifically to "shower" the bride with gifts.
Bachelor and Bachelorette parties are given for the bride and groom to "celebrate" their last remaining day as a single person. Most that I've seen involve large amounts of alcohol. ;-)
The rehearsal dinner is generally hosted by the groom's family, and is held after the wedding rehearsal for members of the wedding party, and any close family who has travelled from out of town.
Sunday brunch can be all sorts of things...since most weddings are on Saturday nights, someone (and it can be anyone) will host the remaining people in town for brunch, sometimes the bride and groom come, sometimes they don't. I've even been to one where they opened gifts there.
Hope this all helped.
2007-03-23 07:35:23 · answer #7 · answered by basketcase88 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here is my own take on these. The engagement party is dependent on if someone else throws it for you, it is NOT a must have but some brides think they're nice.
The shower, again, up to you and/or your family. I'm not having one.
Bachelor/bachelorette parties. We are having ours together, we're taking everyone to a baseball game to goof off for an afternoon.
Rehearsal dinner, this is your must have.
Sunday Brunch or day after brunch. I think that is the stupidest thing anyone ever came up with. I better be long gone the day after and if anyone wants to go grab lunch with someone else then have at it. I will be sipping drinks on a beach thank you very much.
2007-03-23 09:13:06 · answer #8 · answered by kauai_lvr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunday brunch has become a popular "extra" party to prolong the wedding celebration. Basically, someone (usually the grooms family) will host a brunch the day after the wedding. It's mostly for the out of town guests who are staying at the hotel. Kind of a final send off. My future in-laws are hosting a brunch for us at the hotel where a lot of people are staying at for the wedding. It's certainly not a required party, bit a nice way to say thank you to everyone who spent so much on traveling to the wedding.
2007-03-23 07:43:53 · answer #9 · answered by MelB 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just got married so here it is:
First, it is all optional. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It is up to you and your fiancee only to decode what is a must.
Engagement party - I skipped that. Go to the bar and have drinks with your best friends. That's enough, I think.
Shower - I had that. that's when you maid of honor 9or anyone else who is female) organizes a mid-day weekend luncheon type of a thing where you eat small plates and cookies and drink tea. :) You also play silly games and get gifts from everyone. Only women attend.
Bachelor and bachelorette party - this I recommend. He goes with his male friend and you go with your girlfriends. You can go as close to a local bar, os as far as Las Vegas, but the point is to get to drink and party. People often go to strip clubs.
rehearsal dinner - his mother should pay for this. It is a dinner before the wedding day where you first practice the wedding, then you all go and eat. Can be fun.
Sunday brunch - no idea what this is but it sounds boring :)
2007-03-23 07:34:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not need to have all those parties. The knot has them there to make your life easier if you do.
The engagement party usually happens a couple weeks after you announce your engagement, and someone throws it for you.
Your bridal shower takes place about 6 weeks before the wedding. It is considered tacky for you, your mom or you siblings to throw it. My bridesmaids threw mine. Its fun you have food, cake, play games. My friends bought my a sah that said bride to be. Your not suppossed to put your wedding registry info with your wedding invites so I put them with my shower invites.
Bachelor/bachelorette are obvious, and again your bm's should take care of that.
Rehearsal dinner you should do, it can be simple though, I had everyone come over to my husband and mine's new place and we had a BBQ.
Sunday brunch you can do if you have a lot of people from out of town the day after your wedding, but its not a requirement.
2007-03-23 11:51:41 · answer #11 · answered by Janice O 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋