They asked ... and you said YES! PRE-WEDDING PARTIES Congrats! You’ve just said “yes” and an- nounced your upcoming nuptials, and now your friends and family are already plan- ning celebratory parties. Whether the cel- ebrations commence with an engagement party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or bachelor/bachelorette party, find comfort in the fact that you won’t be putting much work into planning these early events! If you want to steer your loved ones in the right direction when party planning, let these pre-wedding party Q&A’s assist you. Engagement Party vs. Bridal Shower Should I have an engagement party or a bridal shower? Typically, an engagement party is thrown a few weeks after the proposal while the bridal shower is planned for two to three months be- fore the wedding date. Therefore, if you have a short engagement — a year or less — consid- er only throwing one party or the other. An engagement party is a fabulous way to share the excitement of your pending marriage with friends and family, and is the perfect time to introduce family members to your fiancé. Gifts are not required, though some guests may gift the couple with cash. A bridal shower is typically celebrated and organized by female friends and family members and is a gift-giv- ing occasion. It may suit your engagement to throw both parties, whereas some couples may choose to forgo an engagement party and just announce their union through social me- dia or word-of-mouth. Who plans the parties? The planning guidelines are lenient when it comes to location and hosting responsibili- ties. Traditionally, the bride’s parents organize the engagement party; these days, however, anyone close to the family — like a relative or friend — can assume the role. For the bridal shower, generally the bridal party — led by the Maid-of-Honor — plans and execute the day’s events. The Rehearsal When does the ceremony rehearsal and dinner take place? The ceremony rehearsal traditionally takes place the day before the wedding. You can host the meal prior to or after the ceremony rehearsal, or you can hold both on an entirely different day. Who should we invite? Everyone involved in the ceremony should attend the rehearsal including: bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, flower girl and ring bearer, Officiant, readers, and Musicians. It’s considerate to invite the spouse or significant other of each attendant, also. Regarding the dinner, the guest list can be as simple as including your immediate family, the wedding party, and their significant others, though it’s becoming more popular to make it a larger event for out-of-town guests. If you prefer an intimate gathering but don’t want to exclude other guests, consider hosting the re- hearsal dinner two nights before the wedding day and having a welcome party for out-of- town guests the night before. 40 | TODAY’S BRIDE READ MORE AT TODAYSBRIDE.COM