While these traditional ceremonies which precede a wedding aren’t mutually exclusive, often times you’ll find a couple doing one or the other, with the majority of people deciding upon a bachelor party and bridal shower.
These conventions each have something to offer to a couple and their family and friends, so the decision on what you do can be difficult. A wedding rehearsal can be ideal for when your two families aren’t close and don’t really know each other. It can give them an opportunity to get acquainted before the wedding, helping you to avoid any awkward silences during the special day. While a bachelor night and bridal shower can also do this, it isn’t quite so effective.
Bachelor parties and bridal showers can be a great way for a couple to de-stress after they’ve finished planning the wedding, hopefully putting them in a better position to enjoy the actual wedding. As it is usually the one area of the occasion when they aren’t involved in the planning, there should be very little stress for them.