6 Months thru Wedding Day

Weddings have become synonymous with "party" and these days that means an average of 16-months worth of festivities. Brides and grooms are reinventing everything from the wedding shower to the post-wedding brunch and using each event as an opportunity to throw many unforgettable parties. BRIDE'S magazine traveled coast to coast to uncover everything from a Brazilian bikini show to the much more modest museum soiree.

Bridal Showers:

• Henna Parties --
  At Moroccan-themed teas, a henna artist decorates everyone's hands, feet and bellies.

• Instructional Classes --
  Knitting, pottery painting, flower arranging and jewelry design combine bridal showers with a lesson or two.

• Fashion Advice --
  A Brazilian bikini boutique in Seattle holds private fashion shows for brides and their friends. Between sips of champagne, participants learn how to match personal style to body type.

Bachelorette Party:

• On The Road --
  Brides-to-be are heading out to destination parties, whether a weekend in Las Vegas or three days sunning in South Beach. New Orleans and even the more exotic Iceland are popular spots.

• Group Adventures --
  Women are flocking to fitness ranches for rafting, tubing and hiking, turning to the great outdoors for the last "hurrah."

• Hummer Parties --
  Off-road driving on wooded trails are all the rage at coed showers.

Rehearsal Dinner:

• Cook-It-Yourself --
  Breaking bread (and breaking the ice) with each other's family is easy to accomplish when making dinner together at a cook-it-yourself restaurant.

• Home Movies --
  Brides and grooms are renting a small cineplex to showguests home movies and serve popcorn and other treats.

• Galleries Galore --
  Couples are choosing specialty museums and galleries for an instant theme -- guest dine amid dinosaurs, Indian artifacts or contemporary art -- no decorating needed!

Post-Wedding Party:

• Evening Games --
  After the reception is officially over, couples are scheduling billiards, darts and even midnight croquet by torchlight.

• Private Lounges --
  While the reception is in full swing, a private lounge -- complete with ottomans, comfy couches, a dj, and even a convection oven for baking warm cookies -- gets set up in another area of the hotel, a party space, or an adjacent tent.

Day-After Brunch:

• Wishful Thinking --
  Celebrity event producer Colin Cowie once staged a brunch on a Mexican beach adjacent to a turtle hatchery; each guest released a baby turtle into the ocean with a wish for the newly married couple.

Then vs. Now
Every part of the wedding has changed over the last few years, even the big day itself:
 

	THEN	NOW
The Cake	Vanilla, vanilla, vanilla, with lemon filling	Chocolate marble cheesecake with espresso ganache
The Cocktail	Apple martini	Apple mojito
The Reception Site	Country club	Foreign country
The First Dance	"Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross	"Dangerously in Love" by Beyoncé.
The Candy Favor	Red M&Ms	Turquoise M&Ms
The Hawaiian-Inspired Course:	Pupu platter.	Grilled MahiMahi

Source: Bride's Magazine
 

Single Directions, founded by Andrew Whaling in 2000, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving relationships. The Center sponsors the Seminars for Singles program, plus other educational a

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