Jessica Simpson’s pre-wedding celebration was a "family-friendly affair."
The 33-year-old star, who is set to marry fiancé Eric Johnson at the San Ysidro Ranch near Santa Barbara, California today (05.07.14), held a special Independence Day barbecue to mark the US holiday on Friday (04.07.14), as she was worried her guests would be upset to miss the occasion.
The couple’s wedding planner, Mindy Weiss told PEOPLE.com the festivities had "a carnival feel," adding: "Jessica didn’t want her guests to miss out on the 4th of July. That’s who they are. Their No. 1 concern is for their guests coming all this way for the wedding."
The stars-and-stripes themed event, which came one day after an intimate rehearsal dinner took place at the same hotel, was a family-friendly affair with games to entertain children, and guests dined on a Southern-inspired buffet, including lobster dogs, corn fritters. Smoked barbecue baby back ribs, fried chicken, mac and cheese and potato salad, before tucking into a pie bar with slices of key lime, peach and coconut cream pie, while being entertained by a jazz blues band.
Before the party, the ‘With You’ hitmaker, who has daughter Maxwell, two, and son Ace, 12 months, with Eric, slipped into a swimsuit and spent a few hours soaking up the sun by the pool with her younger sister and bridesmaid Ashlee Simpson, 29.
The former ‘Newlyweds’ star, who was previously married to Nick Lachey, is expected to walk down the aisle in a pale pink Marchesa gown in a "rustic chic" ceremony at 4pm local time.
The blonde beauty got engaged to former NFL star and Yale graduate Eric, 34, in November 2010 after seven months of dating, but they previously postponed their wedding twice due to Jessica’s pregnancies.
Jessica Simpson hosts ‘family-friendly’ party
