While both a welcome party and rehearsal dinner extend the wedding celebrations to more than one day, they do vary in their purpose and guest list. A welcome party is a pre-wedding event typically open to all wedding guests. This is a fun social gathering that kicks off the wedding weekend celebrations.
When do you have a welcome party at a wedding?
Usually, the welcome party is held the night before the wedding, directly after a rehearsal dinner (which is usually limited to family members and the wedding party). If you go this route, you might have a cocktail hour or dessert bar at the same restaurant as the rehearsal dinner or a nearby venue afterward.
What is a welcome party?
The welcome party is a chance to literally welcome your guests to your wedding and give them a taste of what's in store. It tends to be more informal, ranging from a cocktail reception at your favorite bar to a backyard barbecue.
What is the difference between a rehearsal dinner and welcome reception?
The rehearsal dinner is generally a more formal, sit-down affair and has traditionally been held for the wedding party and immediate family, although sometimes out of town guests are included as well. The welcome reception typically is a light fare event, sometimes with hors d’oeuvres and a limited bar, and sometimes it’s desserts only.
Is a welcome reception right for your destination wedding?
Welcome receptions have become more popular as destination weddings have continued to boom. While it can be impractical to host a traditional rehearsal dinner and invite all of your out of town guests (i.e. all of your guests), a welcome reception gives you another option.
Who is invited to a wedding welcome party?
A wedding welcome party is a gathering that's usually held the evening before the wedding. Most couples who host one choose to do it immediately after the rehearsal dinner. They'll then invite everyone who attended the rehearsal dinner, friends and family from out of town, and anyone else they'd like to relax with.
Do you have to do a welcome party for wedding?
"A welcome party isn't super necessary if your wedding is local and so are most of the guests," says Julie Savage, the creative director at Strawberry Milk Events. But if you have room in the budget and would like another opportunity to spend time with your loved ones, go for it.
What do you call the dinner the night before a wedding?
Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner was given the night before the wedding by the parents of the groom.
What do you serve at a welcome reception?
"If the wedding is a formal plated dinner think about stations, family-style, or a buffet." If the welcome fête is following a rehearsal dinner, serve one-bite hors d'oeuvres or sweets for a dessert reception and have them passed around on trays or arranged on an accessible buffet.
Who pays for out-of-town guests at a wedding?
Out-of-town guests are expected to pay for their own lodging, unless they are members of the wedding party.
How do you arrange a welcome party?
9 Wonderful Welcome Home Party IdeasOrder catering from their favorite local restaurant. ... Serve a special cake. ... Invite everyone they know and love. ... Host the party in a special Peerspace venue. ... Ask everyone to dress up. ... Welcome them with the perfect playlist. ... Host a toast to the guest of honor. ... Go all out with the decorations.More items...•
Who pays for dinner night before wedding?
Traditionally, the groom's parents are the hosts of the rehearsal dinner, since the bride's family customarily pays for the wedding. But given the more relaxed standards of modern times, other relatives, close friends, or even the couple themselves can plan and pay for the event.
How much money should the groom's parents give?
“We suggest no less than $100, but prefer $350 or more since that is an average fee for most wedding musicians when compared to others involved with the ceremony.” Another cost the groom's family takes care of is the officiant's lodging.
Who pays for a rehearsal dinner?
Both the groom's parents traditionally organize (and pay for) the rehearsal dinner. This can range in size from a small occasion for members of the wedding party only to a grand soiree (never to outdo the wedding, of course) that includes half or more of the wedding guests.
How do you serve welcome drinks?
Offer your folks a perfect chilled Welcome Drink, so that it will instantly energize them and set the mood right for the party....Here are a few choices you can evaluate and decide on a perfect set of Welcome Drinks to please your guests.Crushes. ... Mojitos. ... Smoothies. ... Cold coffee / Iced Tea. ... Go Desi.
What do you say in a wedding welcome speech?
I am (name). Please take your seats so we can officially welcome our guests of honor.” “Friends and Family of the _____ and _____, welcome and thank you for being here on this important day. We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between _____ and _____, by joining them in marriage.”
What is the timeline for a wedding?
A Traditional Wedding Weekend Timeline: Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding and Brunch. A Friday evening rehearsal dinner, a Saturday evening wedding with an early evening start time, and a morning-after Sunday brunch is one of the most common timelines for a wedding.
When should a welcome party start?
When should a welcome party take place? Generally, the welcome party will take place the day before the wedding. Very occasionally it may be held two days before the wedding.
Is a post wedding brunch necessary?
While it's by no means necessary, the post-wedding brunch is a nice way to thank guests for coming (and traveling) to your big day.
When should you have a Welcome Baby party?
The party takes place after the baby arrives instead of before. This is a neat idea if there are lots of relatives and friends who want to visit your new arrival. Everyone can get a glimpse of the newborn and welcome her home.
What do you say in a wedding welcome speech?
I am (name). Please take your seats so we can officially welcome our guests of honor.” “Friends and Family of the _____ and _____, welcome and thank you for being here on this important day. We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between _____ and _____, by joining them in marriage.”
What is the welcome party at a wedding?
While the welcome party will undoubtedly be an exciting kickoff event for the wedding festivities, remember that it's only the beginning of a very eventful schedule. "Always have an exit strategy so you can get a good night’s sleep before the wedding," advises Landon. "Hair and makeup will be knocking on your door bright and early, and we want you to look and feel your best."
What is the first step in planning a wedding welcome party?
"The first step in planning a wedding welcome party is to find out what impression the couple wants to lead with for their guests, " says Landon. "The direction may be dictated by cultural elements, what you love, hate, dream, etc. That’s where we start." Make sure the welcome party represents who you are as a couple. It’s the first introduction to the weekend and sets the tone for the celebration.
Who throws a welcome party?
"Traditionally, the groom’s family is responsible for the welcome party and/or rehearsal dinner before the wedding," explains Landon. "However, full-weekend celebrations have become more popular resulting in families combining forces to host and celebrate the whole weekend as a united group."
Who gets invited to a welcome party?
Though there's no set rule to follow when deciding whom to invite, couples hosting a destination wedding, where everyone will have to travel, often choose to include the entire group as a warm gesture of gratitude. For hometown events, it's common to limit the guest list to out-of-towners. "If you are a more low-key couple, then invite your families and bridal party to an intimate dinner then move on to a bar or more lively location with friends and extended guests," suggests Landon. "You should choose a different location for the two, so you don’t have an awkward overlap should the dinner run long."
How do you invite guests?
If all of the wedding guests are also invited to the welcome party, the information can be included on the wedding website or as an insert within the invitation suite along with any other details pertaining to pre-wedding events. However, Landon advises sending separate invitations or event-card inserts if there will be a private dinner for some and a welcome party for others.
Why do we have a welcome party?
"The welcome party serves the purpose of breaking the conversational ice so that the wedding day will feel more like a warm meeting of friends, " explains Landon. Once you have a clear idea of how many people will be attending the welcome event, you can settle on a location that can accommodate that occupancy.
When to finalize welcome party?
Finalize the date of the welcome party as soon as you set the wedding date. "That will help put into motion other items needing to be planned, such as stationery, hotel room blocks, transportation, and budgeting for catering and décor," says Landon.
What is a welcome party?
The welcome party is a chance to literally welcome your guests to your wedding and give them a taste of what's in store. It tends to be more informal, ranging from a cocktail reception at your favorite bar to a backyard barbecue.
What is rehearsal dinner?
The rehearsal dinner is usually a smaller, more intimate gathering of the bridal party and close relatives, which makes sense since it typically follows a ceremony rehearsal. During dinner, friends and family gather to offer heartfelt toasts and share a delicious meal.
Who gets invited to each event?
Generally speaking, you'll want to open up the welcome party to all of your invited guests, especially if it's a destination wedding. If the budget is tight, consider planning a more relaxed event. "The newest trend in welcome parties is a dessert party," says Gretchen Culver, owner of Rocket Science Events. "For couples who love sweets this is a great way to have fun with desserts and have a wide variety of treats from cupcakes to cookies to candy." The rehearsal dinner has a smaller guest list-you'll invite the bridal party and their dates, your immediate families, and any out-of-towners, so long as it's not a destination wedding, in which case everyone would be traveling.
What to do after a wedding rehearsal?
After your wedding rehearsal, you'll invite the key players to celebrate the upcoming ceremony, and you'll be able to spend time with everyone who's helped make the day possible. This is also a good time to thank your parents and wedding party for all they've done. The event doesn't need to be over-the-top. After visiting your ceremony venue, plan ...
Is a welcome party necessary for a wedding?
It really depends on your event and budget. " A welcome party isn't super necessary if your wedding is local and so are most of the guests," says Julie Savage, the creative director at Strawberry Milk Events. But if you have room in the budget and would like another opportunity to spend time with your loved ones, go for it.
WHY HAVE A WEDDING WELCOME PARTY?
As mentioned above, a welcome party is a way to celebrate with traveling guests before your wedding.
HOW IS A WELCOME PARTY DIFFERENT FROM A REHEARSAL DINNER?
One question you may be asking yourself is if a welcome party is any different from a rehearsal dinner. The short answer is, yes.
Create a Hospitality Suite
"Welcome your guests with a hospitality suite in the hotel complete with snacks, drinks, and any first aid or travel items they may have forgotten to pack! It's a great way to greet your guests as they arrive and a wonderful place for friends and family to meet up during down time throughout your wedding weekend."— Melissa Porter, Managing Partner and Wedding Planner, Asheville Event Co.
Opt for an Experience
"In lieu of a big welcome party, consider taking your guests on a wine tour to give them a taste of the local culture. Especially if you have guests traveling for your celebration, this is a nice, causal way to welcome everyone to your wedding weekend." —Kaitlyn Hostetler, Event Planner & Director of Marketing, Evoke
Start with a Toast
"Greet guests upon check in with a bubbly bar to get everyone excited about the weekend ahead."— Tessa Brand, Owner, Tessa Lyn Events
Have a Game Night
"Keep it simple by making it a game night! Bocce Ball, bag toss, and horseshoes with burgers and beers will be well-received. It's a fun, easy, relaxing way to kick-off the weekend." —Andi Dyal, Founder/Principal Consultant, Anjé Soirees
Plan a Casual Bar Night
"If your wedding is taking place at a relatively central location to where your guests are staying or live, consider a post- rehearsal dinner soirée at the hotel's bar, restaurant, or a nearby favorite haunt where guests can casually come and go as they please during a specific time frame.
Make Sure It's Meaningful
"From an oyster roast or to an après ski cocktail party, welcome your guests in style by connecting over an activity that is meaningful to you as a couple." —Britt Cole and Francie Dorman, Founders, 42 North
Throw a Drinks and Dessert Party
"Turn your welcome party into 'drinks and dessert' for your guests. Create a custom dessert display of the bride and groom's favorite treats, which allows your guests to indulge while learning more about the two of you." —Heather Sherrill, Production Manager, Aster & Park Events
What is a welcome reception?
According to Ashley Stork of Magnolia Vine Events, “A welcome reception is a chance to host all out of town guests, and any other guests you may want to include to welcome them to your wedding weekend.”.
Why do weddings have rehearsal dinners?
According to Leah Weinberg, Owner & Creative Director of Color Pop Events, “The benefit of hosting a rehearsal dinner and a welcome reception is that you get to spend more time with your nearest and dearest. The wedding day is going to be incredibly hectic, so having a more relaxed event the night before will give couples the chance to mingle and catch up with guests who they may not have a lot of time to talk to on the wedding day.” The biggest con is the added cost. Remember that it is always rude to invite guests to an event and then require them to pay for their own food and beverages.
What is included in a wedding?
Traditionally, weddings included a rehearsal dinner, a ceremony and reception. More recently, couples have added various cocktail parties and even post-wedding brunches. One popular add on event these days is the welcome reception.
Is a welcome reception a destination wedding?
Welcome receptions have become more popular as destination weddings have continued to boom. While it can be impractical to host a traditional rehearsal dinner and invite all of your out of town guests (i.e. all of your guests), a welcome reception gives you another option. You might choose to hold a big welcome reception and a limited rehearsal dinner for just your wedding party and immediate family. Or, you could hold the welcome reception before the rehearsal for everyone and a big rehearsal dinner after the rehearsal. Any combination that works to achieve your wedding goals works.
Can you have a reception before a wedding?
You might choose to hold a big welcome reception and a limited rehearsal dinner for just your wedding party and immediate family. Or, you could hold the welcome reception before the rehearsal for everyone and a big rehearsal dinner after the rehearsal . Any combination that works to achieve your wedding goals works.
What is a wedding welcome speech?
Wedding Welcoming Speeches: Tips, Samples And Advice. Being mandated with the duty to give wedding welcoming speeches is an honor. It means you share a stronger bond with the couple than many others present. But the anxiety and subtle confusion that comes with giving a welcome speech almost take out the fun.
Who gives the welcome speech at a wedding?
This is because although the bride’s father is traditionally the host, things are changing. The maid of honor, the best man, the groom himself, very close buddies, and anyone, can give the introduction to wedding welcoming speeches. And you’ll find beautifully crafted speech samples online.
How Do You Start A Welcome Speech?
Wedding introduction speeches can make even the boldest person nervous. So nervous that you either forget your lines or don’t know how to start. Below are a few tips to help you start great wedding welcoming speeches.
Who gives the toast at a wedding reception?
Also, it’s common knowledge that all things being equal, the bride’s parents are the hosts. In this case, the father of the bride gives the toast immediately for the guests to take their seats. The father of the bride appreciates the guests by giving them ...
Is there a one size fits all welcome speech?
There’s really no ‘one size fits all’ to delivering welcome wedding speeches. But there are some “holy grails” that must never be quite neglected. Follow these tips and you’d deliver a welcome wedding speech no one will forget.
