Welcome party vs day after brunch

As a regular guest I prefer the welcome party. Everyone is in high spirits and excited for the event and it's lots of fun "pre-partying" with everyone!

As a member of the wedding party, I prefer the thank you/farewell brunch. You have so much to do/so many responsibilities when you're in the WP, so it's awesome having that time to relax and unwind with everyone once it's all over.

Both, but if I had to pick, a brunch. If we are coming from out of town, we might otherwise come in late on a Friday, after work. Alternatively, we could make a long weekend out of it and possibly get to do other things in the area, or perhaps see friends or relatives in the area. A next day brunch is nice as long as it's not held too late in the day and it's often right there in the hotel so it's convenient. There's often more chance to actually socialize as well.

I’ve never been to either one. I guess I’d prefer the welcome party because to me the bride and groom are supposed to leave after the wedding and not stick around for more parties!

Both are fun, though if I had to pick one, probably the welcome party! Everyone is typically cheerful and ready to start celebrating, as opposed to being hungover or tired the day after the wedding. If it's a wedding where I don't know very many people, the welcome party is also a nice way to meet other guests ahead of the wedding.

We're going for the thank you brunch, as I have my mother booked to head to Vegas a few days before us (and leave before us as well, the morning after the wedding). The hotel has an amazing brunch with all you can drink rosé (her favorite) that opens at 7am, so I hope to treat her well before moving onto the minimoon stage of our getaway.

I prefer attending a wedding as a regular guest rather than being part of the wedding party. As a guest, I can enjoy the celebration without any responsibilities or duties. It's more relaxed, and I have the freedom to mingle and socialize with other guests. Plus, I can fully enjoy the ceremony and reception without having to worry about any particular roles or tasks.