House Party confusion!

brooke.anne

So Saturday, I got a card in the mail from one of my oldest friends. It's a picture of us on the front and then on the inside it says, 

Brooke, My wedding day would not be "Picture Perfect" without you...

Will you do me the honor of being a member of my house party?

I replied yes, but I have no idea what a "house party" is. My mom and one of my other friends didn't know either and I googled it and got a couple variations of what it is! 

Are they common? What are "house parties"? 

fallbride1109

I googled it and here is what I found.  I think generally it's just a step below wedding party.  It could also be that she will be a bride on a budget and will need help with decorating, DIY, etc.

This is a group of women whom you are close with and would liked to have asked to be in the wedding party. These women can still play contributing roles in your wedding without feeling left out or their feelings hurt. Here’s how it goes: the house party you select will help the maid of honor plan and execute the bridal shower, as well as the bachelorette party. The house party can be quite handy, as they can run errands for the maid of honor or the bride directly making for a much-needed relief in the stress department. The house party is generally in charge of the decorations for the church and the reception, thus making it easier for the maid of honor to tend to more pressing matters with the bride. This group of women is usually kept busy by the maid of honor, as they deal with the smaller details that still cannot go overlooked for the big day.

http://www.kissmegoodnight.com/wedding-tips/wedding-house-party.shtml
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080403115800AA4AiRd

brooke.anne

I'm sure it's not a budget problem, they are pretty well off. I am thinking it's more of an "I want you to be a part of my wedding but don't have any more room left in my bridal party" sorta thing. 

fallbride1109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_house-party-confusion?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:138d4617-b275-4ed2-b0a3-02f639e2ca54Post:c6931f39-c8ff-4df5-87ea-289a66ff243e">Re: House Party confusion!</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm sure it's not a budget problem, they are pretty well off. I am thinking it's more of an "I want you to be a part of my wedding but don't have any more room left in my bridal party" sorta thing. 
Posted by brooke.anne[/QUOTE]
Ok then, yeah, that's probably it.  She couldn't have everyone in the BP, but wanted you to have a place in the wedding somehow.

Tiffany618

Could just be that she wants you to be a guest book attendant, female usher, etc. maybe?

juliebug1997

My house party was my MOH's sister (she watched the guest book and the present table), my brother, SIL, her husband, BIL and his current GL.  The last five were the people who brought down the gifts to be blessed (communion). 

DFWIndian

I thought it might be a fancier way of saying wedding party, but I seem to be completely wrong in my thinking! Good luck and tell us what you find out.

brooke.anne

That's what I thought too, at first. Well thanks for all the input and I will let y'all know!

mseale

I had a House Party, but it was b/c DH has a BFF that is a chick, and she annoys me (to this day reminds me of how well she knows him, just trying to prove that she knew him first, thus better than me).  He wanted her involved in the wedding, and I didn't want her to be a groomsman, so I said lets have her in the house party.  I ended up asking my cousing to be in it as well to involve her.  I didn't ask for any other wedding help from them, but I had them coordinate guest's signing the guest book and passing out programs before the ushers sat them.

I've been in a house party before too.  That was a longtime friend that has 5 sisters, so they were her bridesmaids.  Her house party was friends that she didn't have room for in the bridal party, but she wanted us involved.

InfamousQBert

in my experience, the house party is sort of the female equivalent of the ushers. they hand out the programs, attend the guestbook, etc. usually means no official dress, but you will get a corsage and be included in SOME of the wedding party events/expectations. i don't think it would hurt at all to just ask your friend what it means, especially since it seems like there are different definitions.