Wedding Events Beyond The Big Day: Before & After Event Ideas  

If you’ve attended a wedding, you’re probably aware that there is more to it than just the big day.

(Or big days if you have been lucky enough to attend a multi-day wedding.)

Let’s look at some of the typical events you might be lucky enough to attend as part of a wedding.

The bridal shower

Like a baby shower, a bridal shower is all about the atmosphere.

Think relaxed and sophisticated.

You’re there to celebrate the bride and literally shower her (or him) with gifts.

Could be a high tea at a fancy city hotel.

Often, it includes a spa treatment for the party, followed by champagne.

If you are lucky enough to be invited, you might meet grandmothers, female friends of the bride, and closer family friends.

A stately, enjoyable and hopefully low-risk event that will see you home in time for dinner.

The hen’s party

The definition of a hen’s party is to celebrate the last night of freedom before marriage.

Which is of course, why they are so rarely on the last night before marriage.

Because whilst the bridal party might be all cake and coffee, the atmosphere of the hen’s party is usually a little livelier and wilder.

Think dinner, though not on the couch.

Dancing, drinking, risqué games and entertainment.

Grandmothers are unlikely; younger and more adventurous friends are much more likely.

The risks are dialled up though, too, quite arguably, is the fun.

The bachelor party

Whole movies have been made about buck’s parties in Vegas!

Though as outrageous as some interpretations are, a bachelor or bucks party truly vary.

A nice meal in a restaurant with some big red wines to celebrate the bachelor.

Drinking and bar hopping is also popular.

Some bachelors opt for daytime activities such as going to live sports with their party, hiking, fishing or maybe spending the day together by the pool and BBQ.

If you’ve attended a bucks party, you may have gone paintballing, go-karting, or on a golf trip.

Of course, there are the weekend “getaways” where boys can be boys, and well, we’re only telling you what we’ve seen in the movies.

The risk factors involved will depend on the planned activities, though our general advice is to keep hydrated, whatever is planned!

Drinks before the wedding

We love this concept, and it is becoming more and more popular, especially for a wedding out of town.

Drinks the afternoon prior to the wedding.

The different participants and parties have a chance to meet and mingle – a cutting of the ice, if you will.

Generally, not a wild affair, though nobody wants to wake up the next morning with a headache, right?

The recovery breakfast

Again, very popular with out-of-town weddings, the recovery breakfast is the chance to swap stories and possibly recover from too few waters the night before.

Bacon and egg rolls, fruit smoothies and if so inclined, possibly a glass of bubbly.

This is a chance to say thank you, say your goodbyes, and head home to collect the dog or the kids.

Or the airport if you’re the lucky couple jetting off to Bali for a week!

Does wedding insurance cover these common, wedding-adjacent events?

In summary, no: wedding insurance does not cover these common wedding-adjacent events.

Unless an event is an official part of the wedding, it is not covered by wedding insurance.

Multi-day weddings are covered by wedding insurance, though multi-day wedding celebrations are considered the official wedding.

Positively, the cost and risk of common events such as the bridal shower are reasonably low.

Plan events that keep participants out of trouble and mitigate your risks.

Allowing you to cruise to your special day, fully insured we hope.

Have fun!