The celebration not only begins with the ceremony and ends with the reception.  There are several parties that can take place before and after the "main event."

PRE-WEDDING PARTIES

• Bachelorette Boogie.  While the Groom is having his get together, the Bride and her attendants can have a night out on the town, too.  Start out with drinks and a meal of hor d'ouevres at a favorite gathering place.  Move on to a comedy club or your favorite dance club.
   
• Bridal Party Mixer.  Both sets of parents, bridal party members (with spouses/significant others), parents of the flower girl and ring bearer, as well as any other special attendants are invited to a bridal party mixer. This is a great way to introduce everyone to each other.
   
• Bridesmaids' Luncheon.  Take time to thank your bridesmaids for their help by inviting them to a festive lunch at a restaurant.  Place small nosegays or tiny candles in holders at each place setting to brighten the table.  Allow each guest to order from the menu (you pick up the tab).  Make arrangements ahead of time to have a specially decorated cake delivered to the table for dessert.  As the lunch draws to an end, go around the table and thank each woman individually.  As you do so, present her with a beautifully wrapped thank-you gift.
   
• Couple Showers.  These are becoming very popular.  Some themes may include the following:
     ▫ Barbecue
     ▫ Bed and Bath
     ▫ Entertainment
     ▫ Fitness
     ▫ Four Seasons
     ▫ Gardening
     ▫ Gift Certificates
     ▫ Gourmet
     ▫ Home Office 
     ▫ Honeymoon
     ▫ Ornament
     ▫ Stock the Bar
   

• Friday Night Fiesta.  Keep the atmosphere informal by setting up a tostada bar where guests can help themselves to the fixings for tortillas, enchiladas and refried beans.  After dinner, blindfold the kids, give them a broom handle, and let them swing away at the piñata.

• Inviting Made Easy.  Invite your friends to an invitation work party.  Be sure to have plenty of stamps and an envelope moistener for sealing envelopes.  Form an assembly line.  Have those with the best handwriting address the envelopes in black ink.  Have the others do the stuffing, sealing, and stamping.  Make sure someone checks the finished invitations against the list to be sure you don't leave anyone out.

• Mother-of-the Bride Shower.  Your mother might feel somewhat left out during the hustle and bustle of the weeks and days preceding the ceremony.  Why not give her a survival kit to help her make it through the big day?  Invite some of her friends over for a Saturday luncheon.  Explain that guests should bring gifts to help "Mary survive the wedding" - then give the date, place, and time for the shower.  Create a pleasant atmosphere by setting a simple but pretty table.  Food can be simple.  Gifts can be funny, such as a lacy handkerchief and a bottle of aspirins.

• Saturday Softball Tournament.  Whip up some team spirit as you introduce the Groom's relatives to the Bride's relatives at a wedding weekend softball tournament between your two "teams."  Have t-shirts made for each team.  Use white shirts for the Bride's, colored shirts (the bridal colors) for the Groom's.  Have the names of the Bride and Groom and the wedding date printed on the front.  Decorate the baseball diamond backstop with balloons and streamers and signs that say, "family name of Bride and family name of Groom Wedding Softball Tournament."  You may want to provide cheerleaders' pom-poms (in the bridal colors) for family members who are too young to play ball or simply don't want to jog around the bases.  Set out ice-filled coolers of soft drinks and water so players and spectators can refresh themselves.  Start the game around 10am when everyone has lots of energy.  When the game is over, have lunch at a nearby picnic area.

• The Wedding Day Breakfast.  The wedding breakfast is most often hosted by a friend or neighbor of the Bride, in honor of all those who have come from out-of-town.  This breakfast is a wonderful way to occupy and entertain guests who may feel in need of a warm welcome.  Neither the Bride, nor the Groom and families are expected to attend the wedding breakfast, although it is certainly proper, if they choose to do so.  The menu may be simple or extravagant.  This is also a good time to give a run down of scheduled events, which surround the day.  Proper arrival time at the church for photographs, transportation arrangements, childcare concerns and any number of other questions can be answered at this time.  Out-of-town guests will especially appreciate this wake-up call.  Invite them to breakfast with a handwritten note tucked in with the wedding invitation.  (Since the Groom, by tradition, is not supposed to see the Bride before the wedding, perhaps his family could hold a similar, separate breakfast for travelers from his side of the family).  Take time to relax with your guests.  Be sure to give equal time to every guest.

• Wedding Planning Party.  This is a good opportunity to bring the parents together.  During dinner, talk about the particulars: (1) what time will the ceremony take place, (2) how many attendants there will be, (3) will the fathers wear tuxedos, (4) who will pay for the reception and (5) when will the rehearsal be.

• Wedding Weekend.  More and more families are joining the trend toward savoring the days around the wedding, stretching the celebration out beyond the day of the ceremony to become a celebration of the family.  Although most weddings take place on Saturday, it's not uncommon for a family to come together on Friday night, spend Saturday together, and attend the wedding on Sunday.

• Wedding Weekend Sightseeing Tour.  Pack all your out-of-town guests into a van or tour bus and show them your area's points of interest.  Do the driving yourself, or arrange an excursion with a professional tour guide.  In many cities, you can take tours with a set itinerary, or you can take a tour custom-tailored to the interests of your group.

POST-WEDDING PARTIES

• Day After Picnic.  Relax now with an informal picnic in a nearby park.  Choose a park that has playground equipment for little ones and a baseball diamond for older athletes.  If you're feeling tired, have the picnic catered, or have guests bring their favorite potluck dishes.  This is an opportunity for the Bride and Groom to recount the excitement of their wedding.  It also gives friends and family a chance to take last minute photos, reflect on the events of the past few days and send the pair off on their honeymoon.

• Gift Opening Party.  Gift opening parties can be held in your home, at the home of the Bride's parents, or at the home of a member of the Groom's family.  Open your packages and be sure to have someone record the gifts and names of the givers so you can promptly send your thank you notes.

• View the Gifts Wedding Brunch.  Invite your guests to attend a post-wedding brunch at your home or at the home of your parents, and put the gifts on display.  Make sure the cards are with the gifts.  Serve a continental breakfast of fresh juice, rolls, and coffee, or offer your guests a feast of quiche, croissants, and fresh fruit.  Strawberries and champagne may also be served.

• Wedding Wind Down Party.  If your out-of-town guests are staying at a hotel with pool facilities, or if you happen to have a pool in your backyard, wind down slowly with a pool party.  This type of party not only gives out-of-towners something to do, but it is a great way to get the clan together. 

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