There is the bridal showers; bachelor party for the groom to be and a bachelorette party for the bride to be. There is generally a Wedding Rehearsal a few days before the wedding and a dinner party afterward and the engaged couple are there; both sets of parents (perhaps grandparents or someone special in the family) Maid or Matron of Honor; Bridesmaids (flower girl or ring bearer and their parents if there is a flower girl or ring bearer.) You are probably thinking of the Wedding Rehearsal and dinner.
Wedding receptions can be held after the wedding especially in the case of the couple either choosing to elope at the last minute or if the couple had a destination wedding that not all their guests...
I have seen the wedding gifted on the wedding day, however, one of my friends got it as a gift while proposing, so she started wearing it before the wedding. I would say it depends on you how you...