Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Knoxville | T&K Photography

You’re here because it dawned on you… When it comes to wedding planning, you’re actually planning more than one event. 

But how many pre-wedding events are there? 

And how many do you need to have?

Well, we’re exploring all the pre-wedding event options and explaining every post-engagement, pre-wedding celebration soiree.

Do you need to celebrate them all? Absolutely not. As you read through, focus on the ones that resonate.

Ready? Let’s get this party going! 

The Engagement Party

 Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Las Vegas | Lianna Marie

Who wouldn’t love the chance to gather with close family and friends and raise a glass to your engagement? 

The engagement party is a warm and fuzzy way to kick off the wedding festivities. You’re gathering loved ones together to revel in the excitement and anticipation of your big day.

The bride’s family typically hosts and pays for the engagement party. It's usually celebrated at someone's house or in a restaurant, depending on the guest list size (and their comfort level with entertaining).

What do people usually wear to an engagement party? Usually, it’s a semi-formal outfit. Think sundresses paired with wedges (or flats) or jeans with a blouse and heels. 

The vibe is up to you.

The Bridal Shower  

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Raleigh | Photogjulianna

This event is all about you! 

It’s a party thrown by the maid-of-honor and bridesmaids. All close female friends and family members invited to the wedding receive an invite to this event.

It’s similar to a baby shower, except you also get to sip champagne. 

The tone and dress code are semi-formal. This event can be at any time of day, but we love a good brunch or garden party! 

Mimosas, egg bites, and mini waffles with fresh whipped cream and strawberries? Yum! 

Learn everything you need to know about bridal showers in our post: Who Pays for the Bridal Shower? (and Other Bridal Shower FAQs).

The Couple’s Shower (AKA: Wedding Shower) 

Some couples ditch the exclusivity of the bridal shower and throw a couple’s shower instead. True to its name, it’s like a bridal shower, except everyone can come.

Gather close friends and family members on the wedding guest list, get the music going, the champagne flowing, and have fun.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen usually work together to organize this event. They may arrange anything from a casual backyard barbeque to a more formal dinner party style event.

Go with whatever feels more fun, more you.

The Bachelorette Party

 Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Baltimore | Sarah Brookhart

How to describe… OK. 

Most people are familiar with some of the more common shenanigans involved. Some of the — ahem — more risqué practices commonly associated with bachelorette and bachelor parties nowadays are relics from the 1960s when people began pushing sexual boundaries.

Your bachelorette party doesn’t have to be a wild, raunchy Vegas-style gathering unless you want it to be, of course!

The bachelorette party is the handiwork of the bridal party, uniting as one to plan an unforgettable night for the bride-to-be. The bridesmaids get an invite and — depending on her comfort level and what’s in store — the mother-of-the-bride.

Traditionally, the bridal party chips in to pay for the expenses and surprises in store.

For some, it’s a night of heels and cute dresses spent laughing together on a lively dance floor with plenty of rosé.  For others, it’s a sleepover-style event. Perhaps it’s at an Airbnb along a lake, with games, face masks, and relaxation (also rosé).

The bachelorette party could even be a bridesmaid luncheon. 

Truly, the vibe of the bachelorette party varies, depending on the group. No matter what, it’s a time spent laughing and having fun together. 

The Rehearsal Dinner

The wedding rehearsal dinner is like the Christmas Eve of the actual wedding day. 

It’s a gathering that follows after practicing your nuptials, and the guest count is basically anyone involved in the wedding. It usually involves close family members, the wedding party, and the officiant.

If you’re following tradition, the groom’s parents typically pay for the rehearsal dinner.

The attire is semi-formal, and the event can be held at a restaurant near the wedding venue or hosted at someone’s home. 

It’s the perfect opportunity to gather with everyone you love and share the excitement and anticipation the night before the wedding ceremony — the main event.

Related: The Complete Wedding Rehearsal Checklist to Help You Plan Your Dinner

The Welcome Party 

The welcome party is all about celebrating and showing love to your out-of-town guests. You’re connecting with loved ones who’ve traveled to witness your big day.

Some couples issue open invitations to all wedding guests, while others keep the welcome party intimate. You could limit guests to immediate family and close friends.

An event like the welcome party is also an excellent way to kick off wedding weekend festivities for a couple having a destination wedding. 

After everyone has arrived and is getting acclimated — swapping out shoes and pavement for flip-flops and sand — the welcome party is a warm and joyous gathering of everyone there to celebrate.

It’s not an overly formal to-do. It’s more about getting together to toast, share memories, and wish the couple well.

Anyone can host the welcome party–even you.

The After-Party

 Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Sacramento | Madison Lauren

Because why stop celebrating? 

A wedding after-party is the perfect way to wind down and spend extra time connecting with your guests.

Your wedding day will pass by in a blur, and you won’t get much time to connect with your guests deeply. 

The after-party is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the groom’s family you haven’t spent much time with yet. And, perhaps, you can thank the best man for not cursing too much in his speech.

The after-party gives you that extra time with those you love and stretches the celebration a smidge further. There’s no need to get all dolled up again unless you want to. A casual, low-key jeans and a T-shirt event is perfect. 

A backyard BBQ or potluck fits the bill, as does a gathering at your favorite brewery.

Your wedding is a colossal event and something you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life. Regarding pre-wedding parties, don’t feel like you need to hold back!

Indulge in all the opportunities to toast, laugh, and celebrate this incredible moment. Sink deep into the meaning and time spent with people you adore. All those immediate family members and cherished friends will be thrilled to support and celebrate you.