What Is A Wedding Welcome Party? Do We Have To Have One?
By Amanda Zack, Lantern Room Creative
Wedding traditions are shifting as more and more couples focus on curating a weekend-long experience for their guests. To do so, many choose to plan additional events to make the most of everyone's time, especially those who travel. And while the wedding rehearsal dinner is a customary event, it typically includes only the immediate family, wedding party, and officiant.
That’s why it has become common for couples to host a welcome party, making the festivities more inclusive for all of your guests. If you're searching for a fun way to set the tone for a memorable weekend, here's a beginner's guide to wedding welcome parties.
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from British Tea Themed Wedding Welcome Party
Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
What is a wedding welcome party?
A welcome party is a pre-wedding affair that kicks off the weekend's festivities. Like the rehearsal dinner, it's a casual gathering that allows family and friends to mingle, get reacquainted, and unwind before the special day. But, unlike a rehearsal dinner, the welcome party is open for everyone to attend.
If you're planning a destination wedding, a welcome party is a perfect opportunity to enhance the guest experience and immerse them in the local culture and cuisine. It also allows you to connect with everyone since you'll get pulled in every direction during the reception!
However, if parties aren't your style, consider planning a welcome excursion instead. For instance, what better way to celebrate than over a group wine tasting or while sailing along the coast? Get creative and choose a fun activity everyone will enjoy!
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from British Tea Themed Wedding Welcome Party
When should the welcome party happen?
The welcome party typically follows the rehearsal dinner, which is often held the day before the wedding. However, there are no rules set in stone, so you could also host it a welcome party several days before the wedding. If a welcome affair is in the cards, consider when your guests will be arriving in town and when you're hosting the rehearsal dinner. Having a set wedding itinerary will maintain a seamless flow for your celebrations!
(Let’s Get Rehearsed Editor’s Note: For more advice on welcome party timing, check out ‘Does The Rehearsal Dinner Have To Be The Night Before The Wedding?’ and our article on how to plan the perfect wedding rehearsal brunch.)
Key tips for planning a welcome party
Establish your budget early: A pre-set budget will ensure no surprising fees arise to break the bank. Keep this event's guest count, location, and intentions in mind as you allocate funds. For example, do you want a luxurious experience or a low-key picnic? Take time to determine these factors with your significant other.
Cuisine: Since the welcome party typically follows the rehearsal dinner, you can keep the menu light with food trucks, hors d'oeuvres, or DIY food stations. For instance, a taco bar is a fun option that adds an interactive element to the event!
Set reasonable hours: The last thing you want is exhausted (or hungover) guests. Set hours that allow everyone time to mingle and get plenty of beauty sleep. If you're hosting a cash bar, communicate this in advance by adding a note to your wedding invitations and specifying the time for last call.
Welcome party invites: Wondering how to share this event with guests? Easy – add an insert card to your wedding invitations! You can also update guests through your wedding website to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Determine the location: The setting for your welcome event is flexible, but try to stay local and keep guests close to other festivities. Inquire about your venue's wedding package to see if you can host the affair at your event space.
Select a theme: Since it's a casual welcome party, you can lean into fun themes that reflect you and your partner! It’s an excellent opportunity to try something entirely different from your overall wedding theme. And the options are endless, whether you host an evening pool party or a lounge picnic celebration.
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from British Tea Themed Wedding Welcome Party
Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
So, do you need to have a welcome party?
While welcome parties are a fun addition for everyone involved, they are not mandatory. Couples may forgo a welcome party due to financial constraints or because they want to simplify their wedding plans.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed Editor’s Note: For some great tips on budget, check out ‘Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Budget: How Much & Who Pays?’ and our 6 great tips to save money on your wedding rehearsal dinner.)
If you fall into this category, consider adding a list of favorite restaurants and activities in the area to your wedding website so guests can explore and entertain themselves before the big day!
With all that said, welcome parties are an excellent way to set the tone for your celebrations and create memories with your loved ones. So if you can add it to the itinerary, it's certainly worth it!
If you’re planning a rehearsal dinner, don’t miss some of these must-read resources:
About Let’s Get Rehearsed!
Welcome to stress-free and easy wedding rehearsal dinner planning and ideas! Let’s Get Rehearsed is the best, most helpful planning and inspiration resource for all things wedding rehearsal dinners, wedding welcome parties, and the night before the wedding celebrations. If you’re in rehearsal dinner planning mode or looking for unique ideas, check out our real rehearsal dinner and welcome party photos, rehearsal dinner ideas and inspiration, advice for planning a wedding rehearsal dinner, and a rehearsal dinner printable and download shop.
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Let’s Get Rehearsed is all about getting you rehearsed before the wedding, so you can get to the celebration!
Amanda Zack is the owner of Lantern Room Creative, a boutique copywriting agency that specializes in brand messaging and digital marketing solutions for creatives and wedding professionals.