We are in the era of the wedding weekend—a days-long celebration in which there are multiple events to attend. Enter: The wedding welcome party—an event that’s meant to kick-off the celebrations with a bang. It’s a moment that marks the start of all the festivities to come and brings together that perfectly curated guest list of your nearest and dearest for the first time. Best of all? Since this event doesn’t have a traditionally dictated structure like a reception or even a rehearsal dinner, couples can really tailor the party to their liking. This soirée might be the most informal of all wedding events—but it can also be one of the most fun.

The to-be-weds can host a themed event, bring in a live music performance, or even turn the celebration into a dance party. Hosting a destination wedding? Use the welcome party as an opportunity to introduce guests to the locale by showcasing the region’s cuisine or even renting out a popular destination in town for the festivities. The options are endless and yours to decide.

Want to know all the details about throwing a perfect wedding welcome party? Read on for expert tips and advice.

What Is a Wedding Welcome Party?

A wedding welcome party is a pre-wedding event that offers guests a chance to mix and mingle at the start of your celebrations. Often hosted one to two days ahead of your ceremony, this party is usually a less formal wedding event with food, drinks, and music. Since there are less traditions like ceremonies or speeches attached to this party, many couples can get creative with how they plan the event.

When to Host a Wedding Welcome Party

Your welcome party is a kickoff to celebrations, so it should occur at the beginning of the wedding weekend. However, it’s important to figure out how to time it alongside your rehearsal dinner. If all guests are attending both events, many couples choose to host the welcome party the first night and the rehearsal dinner the second. If only a select number of guests are invited to the rehearsal dinner, you may choose to host the intimate wedding event first so guests only invited to one don’t have to spend an extra night at your destination.

To limit the number of travel days for guests, some couples will schedule the rehearsal dinner on the same day as the welcome party and, occasionally, at the same venue. In this situation, event and wedding planner Marcy Blum says timing is crucial to ensure there is no overlap. “It can be very awkward if welcome party guests start to arrive and see the rehearsal dinner happening. They should be in separate and different spaces,” she shares. If a couple wants to book one location for the entire night, make sure to section off the rehearsal dinner to a private room at your venue. “If the rehearsal dinner is still happening or running late, we always send an emissary from the family, who is clearly in the inner circle, into the welcome party to be there to greet guests and host while waiting for the remaining rehearsal dinner party to join.”

Who Is Invited to the Wedding Welcome Party?

Welcome parties were originally designed to celebrate with and thank the guests who traveled to the wedding from out of town. However, times have changed. “People may think locals don’t have to be invited, but they’re mistaken,” explains Blum. While your wedding guests might not have to RSVP “yes” to the fête, they should definitely receive an invitation to this celebration. “The welcome party is a great icebreaker that sets the tone for the weekend,” notes Blum. “It’s the first time the guests are seeing each other [and] many guests may not know or only have heard about each other.” Think of it as a perfect forum for friend groups and family to connect so that they can freely let loose together on your reception dance floor.