Congratulations, you're getting married! Now, it's time to celebrate. Traditionally, there are a host of parties - including the engagement party and the bridal shower - that lead up to the wedding day. While the pre-wedding parties haven't changed much - couples are still having them, but with a modern spin - what has changed is the main event itself. What was once the Big Day has evolved into a longer affair.
"It's a trend to make it a weekend event, especially if guests are from around the country," says Elaine DeLuca, owner of Exquisite Events, a Hempstead-based event planning company.
The wedding weekend is usually kicked off on the Friday night before the wedding with a rehearsal dinner. In the past, this was an intimate meal for the immediate family and the bridal party and often included an actual walk-through of the ceremony. Today, many couples are opting to expand this event to include out-of-town guests and in some instances a large portion of the entire guest list. The affair can be an elaborate sit-down dinner at a favorite restaurant, complete with speeches and a "roast" of the couple, or dinner for a select group of guests at the local country club followed by a cocktail party by the pool for a larger list of invitees. As for the rehearsal, even though it's called a "rehearsal" dinner, there's no longer a need to rehearse that night. In fact, these days many rehearsals are done just a few hours before the wedding ceremony, if at all.
On the day of the wedding, while you're getting coifed and primped, your guests can spend the day getting to know one another better at any number of organized events. According to Michelle Flore, owner of Flore Events in Valley Stream, popular outings include trips to New York City and cruises around Manhattan. There's nothing like team sports to bond a group, so you could try a trip to a Yankees or Mets game or host canoe races on the Hudson. You could also get your families to mingle right here at a BBQ on one of the area's more than 100 miles of beach, on a trip to see the famous Montauk Lighthouse, or on a tour of one Long Island's many wineries. Whatever the activity, there's a group gathering that's sure to bring your families closer together - at least for the afternoon. On Sunday, they've all met and now you're married. But the party isn't over yet. The latest way to seal the deal is with a post-wedding breakfast. Whether it's a catered, sitdown affair at a banquet hall or a grab-and-go buffet in the hotel lobby before catching flights home, guests will appreciate the chance to see the couple off before the honeymoon and say goodbye to their new friends and relatives.With so many parties, this may sound like just too much to plan, but many wedding coordinators offer packages that include planning for the entire weekend. Which means you can sit back, relax and enjoy it all.