Wedding traditions I : hens parties, stag parties and some other parties before the wedding.

September is here and want it or not it's time to go back to work, unfortunately, he he. Most of you will know that I'm getting married in October, and two weeks ago my friends organized me and my wife-to-be a really special party to somehow celebrate our last days as bachelor and bachelorette. It was a great weekend. We were made to dress as Hawaiians, but also as Leprechaun and Queen's guard (have a look).

Our friends wore green hats and bobby helmets. We did a bunch of activities including gymkhanas and paddle surfing. Anyway, to honour that weekend and our beloved friends, I think it is a pretty good idea to write a post about the parties organized for the bride and the groom prior to their wedding. Are you ready ?

In English these parties receive different names depending on the sex. :

1. Engagement party : It is a party organized and thrown by the bride's parents or by the future spouses themselves to celebrate their engagement and get the future guests of the wedding to know each other. Typically celebrated two or three months after the proposal, it involves careful organization and tons of money, of course. During this party it is customary to toast the well-being and prosperity of the future spouses. 

http://www.weddingpartyapp.com/blog/2014/07/28/7-steps-throw-engagement-party/

2. Bridal shower : This is a typical tradition in the US among other countries. Some weeks before the wedding, the bride's friends (normally females) are invited to an informal party at the bride's house, where all the guests are expected to hand their small gifts to the bride. This party is usually organized by one of the maid of honour or a close friend of the bride's. Similar to the baby shower, it is a party to celebrate the future wedding and hand in some gifts. 

From : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridal_shower

3. Stag party / stag night / bachelor's party : A party organized for the bridegroom (husband-to-be) is  This tradition receives many other names, such as stag night, stag weekend or buck's night. The male friends of the boyfriend attend a party shortly after his wedding (it usually lasts for a weekend). This party is usually organized by the bestman, usually the husband-to-be's best friend, and much like in Spain, the party includes binge alcohol, dressing up, dinners and shows, a bunch of different activities and why not some strippers. In short, the last night of freedom for the future husband. 

From : https://stagpartyljubljana.com/

4. Hens' night / hens party / bachelorette party : This is the counterpart for females. Where the English-speakers think of a hen, they do not only think of the animal, but they also think of chatty, gossipy women.  It normally includes a big dinner where the girls toast for the bride future happiness, but of course there are many other variants including strippers and naked butlers (in the UK). 

From : https://www.butlersinthebuff.com/uk/locations/east-anglia/

5. Hag party / Sten night: Hag is a blend word of the words : hen + stag. 'Sten' is the blend of stag + hen. A hag party is a modern variation of both the stag parties and hens' night, it is a joint celebration where both the bride and the bridegroom and their friends are present. This is the kind of party that my friends organized ! Since we're in the twenty-first century where there should be equality of sexes, what a better idea than to host a party for both the bride and bridegroom ? A hag party includes the same activities found in a stag party of hens' night but with males and females present. 

From : http://www.henit.ie/blog/fun-party-games-for-your-sten-night-or-hag-do

6. Bridesmaid luncheon : It is a pre-wedding ceremony hosted by the bride where she somehow thanks her future guests (normally females) for supporting her during the process of wedding planning. This party involves a girl's reunion and having some meal at a local restaurant or at the bride's home. 

From : http://www.mywedding.com/wedding-ideas/showers-parties/how-to-host-a-bridesmaid-luncheon/

Well, it seems that in the English-speaking countries like to fully enjoy themselves before the wedding ceremony, he he. If you are interested in learning more about weddings, fear not ! I'll be writing about wedding vocabulary and traditions sooner than you can imagine !