Planning Pre-Wedding Parties - Cashmere, Wool and Silk directory

These days, many weddings are really weekend long events, rather than a single afternoon. There are numerous types of activities which a bride and groom may wish to plan, from the standard rehearsal dinner, to after parties, to golf outings. Take a look at this list of pre-wedding events and decide which ones to include in your own wedding weekend.

For some couples, the wedding fun actually begins a couple of days before they say their �I dos� when friends and family start to roll into town. Thursday afternoon before a Saturday wedding can be a good time to start the scheduled festivities. That would be a good time for the bride to host a ladies' luncheon in honor of her bridesmaids and the mothers of the bride and groom. It is usually a tea or lunchtime affair which the bride throws in a cute little restaurant or inn to thank all the women who have helped her with her wedding. This is a good time to give the bridesmaids their gifts (wedding jewelry is the favorite), and to present any special pieces of jewelry which the bride and groom have selected for their mothers as wedding presents.

Thursday afternoon is also a great time for some pre-wedding pampering for all the ladies in the wedding. A few hours at the spa getting manis, pedis, and massages is sure to get everyone feeling relaxed and ready for the big day. Just skip the facial, as it is too close to the wedding, should there be a bad reaction. This would also be a good time for the groom to spend some bonding time with his attendants. No, we are not talking bachelor party (it is best to get that out of the way several weeks before the wedding day), but something like a golf outing would be a great idea.

Of course, the day before the wedding is the usual time to hold the wedding rehearsal, followed by the rehearsal. Before the rehearsal, the bride should also take some time that morning to make sure that she has everything she will need for her wedding awaiting her at the place where she plans to dress for the wedding (if possible). This would include everything from her gown, bridal veil, wedding jewelry, shoes, and undergarments to makeup and her going away outfit. By the way, if a large percentage of your guest list will be traveling in from another town for your wedding, it would be nice to opt for a wedding welcome party instead of a rehearsal dinner. The only difference is that all guests are welcome, instead of a select few. It is a nice gesture to all those who have gone to great effort to attend your wedding.

If you have a lively crowd attending your rehearsal dinner or wedding welcome party, you may wish to plan an after party. This is a great time for the younger guests to go out dancing and have a fun night together. The after party can take place at someone's home, a club, or a restaurant. Some after parties are spontaneous and others are pre-planned. If you do decide to throw a late night bash the evening before the wedding, there are two important tips to keep in mind. First of all, arrange for transportation to make sure that everyone makes it home safely, and second of all, the bride should probably sit this party out. You might be disappointed to miss out on the late night revelry, but you will sure be glad you got your beauty sleep when you wake up feeling refreshed on the morning of your wedding!

Finally, there is the wedding morning. When the ceremony does not begin until the late afternoon or evening, many couples plan activities for the early part of the day. Popular ideas include private yoga classes, golf outings, or sightseeing tours. Just be sure to end any wedding morning events in plenty of time for your guests to get changed and make it to the church on time! -- iS