10 Essential Wedding Events to Include in Your Planning Timeline

Deciding to marry your partner often means you're signing up for more than just a wedding ceremony and reception. For some couples, it's kind of like signing up for 10 different parties, all designed to celebrate this important occasion with different people and in different ways.

While each party is undeniably exciting, hosting a handful of events is no easy task. Understand who in your life—your parents, your partner's parents, your friends, or yourself—is typically responsible for organizing each event, follow our planning checklist for timeline and task guidance, and get inspired to add your own personal elements into every celebration, from your engagement party to your day-after brunch, with this comprehensive guide.

Engagement Party

Typically hosted by either the parents of the bride or the parents of the groom, this party should take place within one to three months of the engagement. Invitations are often extended to immediate family and a small group of friends, as all guests of the engagement party will also be invited to the wedding.

Dress Shopping

Wedding dress shopping has become a meaningful and celebratory experience for many brides. Inviting the bridal party or close family members to weigh in on potential picks is now a fun and cherished tradition. Make the moment even more special by toasting with a bottle of champagne once the bride says "yes" to the dress. For many brides, it's not just about the dress but creating lasting memories with the people they love.

Bridal Shower or Couples' Shower

Hosted closer to the wedding date—usually around two months to two weeks prior—the bridal shower celebrates the bride and showers her with gifts. These days, there are no specific guidelines regarding who should host this event, but close friends and family of the bride typically throw this soirée. Many couples are now opting to celebrate with a couples' shower, though they should not host this themselves.

Bachelor Party and Bachelorette Party

Usually hosted by the groomsmen and the bridesmaids respectively, the bachelor party and bachelorette party take place at least one week prior to the wedding. The guest list typically includes members of the couple's wedding party and any additional close friends and siblings.

Bridesmaid Luncheon and Groomsmen Luncheon

Usually held in the afternoon the day before the ceremony, the bridesmaids and groomsmen luncheons are typically the first major event of a wedding weekend. The bride and her bridesmaids, as well as the groom and his groomsmen, attend a brunch or luncheon. The midday events usually take place on the same day, but in different locations. Traditionally, the wedding party hosted these celebrations, but most modern couples are opting to cover these costs in light of the myriad expenses the wedding party has already covered.

Welcome Party

For couples hosting a weekend-long wedding, especially a destination wedding, the weekend's festivities kick off with a welcome party. This is typically set up as a cocktail party that all wedding guests are invited to attend. The welcome party is hosted by the couple or by their parents, either the night before (or two nights before) the wedding.

Rehearsal Dinner

Traditionally hosted by the groom's parents (though just as often hosted by the couple), the rehearsal dinner takes place one or two nights prior to the wedding. For local weddings, rehearsal dinner invitations may only include the wedding party and immediate family. For destination weddings, the intimate environment usually means the invitation can be extended to all wedding guests. This event provides a great opportunity for toasts and speeches.

Wedding Ceremony and Reception

The wedding ceremony and reception can be hosted by anyone—the couple, one set of parents, or both sets of parents. Most often, invitations are extended to all guests for both events, but wedding ceremonies held in a place of worship may provide an exception depending on capacity limitations.

After-Party

With so many venues closing early due to noise restrictions, the wedding after-party has become a popular event following most weddings. Hosted by the bride and groom or the wedding party, this post-reception continuation of the evening is usually open to all wedding guests to attend, but is more popular among the younger crowd of friends.

Day-After Brunch

Especially popular for destination weddings, a brunch hosted the day after the wedding offers a chance for guests to say goodbye after a weekend of revelry. Usually set up as a buffet-style meal in which guests can come and go as they please, this event takes place over several hours and is fairly informal. The brunch may be hosted by whoever hosted the wedding, with invitations extended to all wedding guests.