| The wedding day has been replaced by the wedding | | | | to line up an activity to entertain their out-of-town |
| weekend, which includes a jam packed schedule of | | | | guests on Friday who will not be attending the |
| activities. Some are fairly standard (the rehearsal | | | | rehearsal. A sight-seeing tour or trip to a local |
| dinner), while others are definitely popular, but optional | | | | attraction like a vineyard would be a good choice. |
| (the golf tournament). This is a guide to get you started | | | | Friday night is the traditional time for the rehearsal |
| on planning a weekend of wedding events. | | | | dinner. The customary guest list includes the bride and |
| For a Saturday wedding, the wedding weekend will | | | | groom, their immediate families, the wedding party with |
| likely begin on a Thursday. This is the ideal time for the | | | | their spouses, and the officiant and his or her spouse. |
| bride to host a ladies' luncheon, a lunch which she gives | | | | Adding out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner |
| to show her appreciation for her bridesmaids. The | | | | guest list is optional, but very thoughtful. In recent years, |
| guest list is small for this event: the bride, the | | | | some couples have opted to host a wedding |
| bridesmaids, the flower girl, and the mothers of the | | | | welcome dinner instead of a rehearsal dinner. The |
| bride and groom. During the luncheon, the bride will give | | | | difference is that the welcome dinner is open to |
| out the pearl earrings, or whatever gift she selected | | | | everyone, which can make a lot of sense if a large |
| for her bridesmaids. The ladies' luncheon is typically | | | | percentage of your wedding guests will be |
| held in a nice restaurant, since the last thing the bride | | | | out-of-towners. The rehearsal dinner or welcome |
| needs to be doing the week of her wedding is cooking | | | | dinner can be as formal or informal as you like. You |
| and hosting a party at her house! | | | | could rent a yacht and serve a five star meal or have |
| Once upon a time, the first party of the wedding | | | | a picnic in a neighborhood park; there is no right or |
| weekend was the rehearsal dinner the night before | | | | wrong. The only rule of thumb is that you don't want to |
| the main event, but many couples are now choosing to | | | | have a rehearsal dinner which is more lavish than the |
| have informal Thursday night gatherings as well. They | | | | wedding reception! |
| are generally pretty loose affairs, with any wedding | | | | On Saturday will come the wedding ceremony and |
| guests who are already in town welcome to attend. | | | | reception, of course, but that is not all. For ceremonies |
| Relaxed dinners like barbeques and clam bakes work | | | | with a 4pm start time or later, it has become very |
| particularly well for the Thursday night party. If you are | | | | popular to arrange a group activity to keep people |
| not up for organizing anything, just book a private room | | | | entertained before the wedding. The golf tournament is |
| in a family style restaurant and spread the word that | | | | a particular favorite, although you could choose any |
| all are welcome to join the bride and groom for dinner. | | | | activities which you think your friends and family would |
| Friday is when things really ramp up. A trip to the | | | | enjoy. The comes the wedding itself, which is of |
| beauty salon is usually the first order of business for | | | | course, the main event of the weekend. |
| the ladies in the wedding. This can be a really fun time | | | | The final thing to add to your wedding weekend is a |
| for the bride, her bridesmaids, and the moms to bond | | | | post-wedding brunch on Sunday morning. This is |
| over manis and pedis (and maybe a few Champagne | | | | always a fun and relaxed event, where guests can |
| cocktails, if the spa is really posh!). If you did not host a | | | | see the newlyweds one more time before they head |
| ladies' luncheon, this would be the perfect time to | | | | off on their honeymoon. It is often convenient to host |
| present your bridesmaids with a pair of pearl earrings | | | | the post-wedding brunch in the restaurant at the hotel |
| or other token of your appreciation. After that, you can | | | | where the majority of the guests will be staying, |
| leave some free time or get the group together for | | | | though it could also be in someone's home. The brunch |
| lunch somewhere fun. Friday afternoon is the usual | | | | does not need to be fancy, especially if it is in your |
| time for the wedding rehearsal, and it is important that | | | | home. It is really just a great way to cap off a |
| all hands are on deck for this event. Some couples like | | | | wonderful weekend of wedding fun. |