Calling all 413 brides.....Jack & Jill party

What is a jack and jill party?

In the 413 (Springfield area) Jack & Jill party is held where tickets are sold to go. There is usually a buffet of sorts, a larger door prize is given away to a lucky guest, there are prize raffles with tickets to be purchased, and also a 50/50 raffle. Guests who come are usually everyone and anyone that the bride and groom know (not necessarily someone that would be invited to the wedding). There is usually a great DJ to help dance the night away!

So they pay to come to this party? Is the description below right?

Jack and Jill Fundraiser

More recently, the Jack and Jill party has been used as an event to raise money for the couple’s wedding expenses. Today many couples pay for their own weddings rather than receiving a budget from the bride’s parents. The maid of honor and best man (or some other family/friend) organizes the event and all proceeds go towards the wedding (or honeymoon) budget. In some cases, the bride and groom organize the event themselves.

Examples: A casino night, a sports tournament (golf, foozball), or a poker tournament. Other options: guests pay a flat fee for drink tickets and a chance to win door prizes at a bar or organizers put a package together for an outing (refreshments, chartered bus, tickets to a concert or game) and build in a profit margin. Popular games for fundraisers are: casino-style games (with play money and prizes for the biggest winners), 50-50 draws, and coin tosses. Wine lotteries can also raise a lot of money

Haven't heard of that before. Personally, I'd never ask my friends to pay to come to a party I was throwing aside from the fact that its beyond rude to invite someone to a pre-wedding activity that will not be invited to the wedding. Tacky.

Rachel...that is the definition of a Jack & Jill party. Lianne...this is sort of a tradition up here in the Yankee 413 area code north. Sorry if this offends you and you think its tacky. That is why I was employing the advice of the Mass 413 brides, they usually understand what I am talking about.

Kudos to Rachel for trying to understand the concept, rather than jump to the "that's tacky" approach. While it may seem rude and tacky to those of us who have never heard or experienced such an event, it's customary and traditional for some cultures.

Jennifer, I found these sites with a little information:

http://www.torontobrides.com/questions/answer52.php

http://www.ehow.com/how_7806613_plan-jack-jill-wedding-shower.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/44935/jack_and_jill_party_planning_attending.html

This is interesting to say the least. We don't do them in the South at all, and this is why I had never heard of it. How much does one usually make off these parties, if you don't mind me asking?

Jack and Jill's usually take the place of the Bridal Shower, its a form of a Bridal shower that includes the groom and yes people pay to go and food and drinks are offered to the guests for free. and the money goes towards your wedding.

Kristyn--thanks doll! Not my place to judge.. I think all weddings are interesting.. and what is considered a social norm for some is not the same for all. (and secretly I am jealous for not having one of these myself!! hahaha)

I know, right?! I want a Jack and Jill's - maybe I can revert back to my college days and call it a kegger or something and charge for cups LOL?!

Your zebra theme would totally rock at a Jack and Jill party!!

What does everyone wear to these parties?

We had a Jack and Jill Stag- it was $25 a ticket. Hey it's just as much (if not MORE) if you went out to a bar/club paid for drinks with a DJ and ordered dinner!!!! We provided open bar AND food AND a DJ. EVERYONE had a BLAST! And raved of how they can't wait for the wedding, since the stag was a "preview" LOL haha ... Some areas are known some aren't ...

BTW I'm your neighbor!! I'm in CT

I have been bartending for about 12 years now and people that I usually would be serving drinks to keep saying 'let me know when the Jack & Jill is so I can get a few tickets'. The ones I have been to have been a complete blast! My FH & I are paying for the wedding by ourselves and the money raised will help so much...I just need a little bit of suggestions from the 413 brides on the appropriate timeline! Thank you to Rachel & Kristin for the not judging!

Jack & Jill's are pretty popular here in Canada, I actually didn't know they had them in the States at all. I will not be holding one and have never been to one so I can't help too much. I think most are done in place of the shower instead of the engagement but if you want to have one in place of the engagement party I think that would be fine. And I've never heard of a low-key one! I think most are pretty rowdy with a lot of drinking and eating and dancing!

OMG-- that sounds like a great time Maria!! I would pay to go to a friends party... if it was really fun. I paid to go to a friend's wedding once, so that is not too different. They had a small affair on the riverwalk in San Antonio, and asked that we all buy our own dinners at the restaurant they had picked out.

Sounds like a party just asking for money!
I don't like the fact that these people are (as you said)" everyone and anyone that the bride and groom know (not necessarily someone that would be invited to the wedding)." is tacky, so these people are helping to pay for something that they may or may not be invited to!.... And people think me having a "cash bar" is tacky?????

Personally, I've never heard of this and in my area it would probably be considered tacky. But if you come from an area where these are the norm and no one gets offended by it, then go for it.

I believe these are popular in some areas of Canada, not where I'm from though. I'd advise against inviting people who won't be invited to the wedding.

These are VERY popular in Canada. Most people love them and they are a lot of fun. It's like a carnival for grown-ups. Basically you have tons of games, prizes, booze, food and music. All your friends and family come and spend money to help you with your wedding. Many people come who aren't even coming to wedding or they buy tickets but never actually show up. We advertise them in the newspaper and everything.