Rehearsal Dinner
Planning for your wedding isn’t entirely about your wedding day but it usually also includes a very enjoyable tradition – the rehearsal dinner. It’s really a dinner with toasts and speeches, many of which are spontaneous. This article will mention the important guidelines that would help you in planning this wonderful tradition.
This tradition has been part of a wedding for centuries. “Back in the day”, some guests would travel for days to attend a wedding. The guests would be treated to a special meal with many of the other guests who attend the wedding.
This tradition continues and has evolved into a celebration with speeches and an opportunity to meet and get to know one another more informally. However, it can be a formal event depending on the wishes of the couple. The purpose is the same, which is to show hospitality to the family members, wedding party, and guests coming in from other parts of the country or the world.
The wedding rehearsal dinner usually happens the day before the wedding ceremony and reception. The guest list usually includes both family members, the wedding party, and any guests from out of town.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER When Planning your Rehearsal Dinner
WHO WILL PAY?
Traditionally, it’s hosted by the groom’s parents. However, it’s best to have an open discussion about your vision for the rehearsal dinner as well as your vision for the ceremony and wedding reception. This, of course, would include the cost of your special marital weekend.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO INVITE YOUR GUESTS?
This is not as formal and strict as the actual wedding invitations. It could be an informal printed invitation, or it could be an online invite or a phone call to your guests. The key factors in an invitation should include the name and address of the venue, the time of the rehearsal dinner, dress code, menu & RSVP contact information.
WHEN DO YOU INFORM YOUR GUESTS?
Letting your guests know the date of the rehearsal dinner in a timely manner is important and shows consideration. Guests should be informed four to eight weeks prior to the rehearsal dinner.
WHERE SHOULD THE REHEARSAL DINNER TAKE PLACE?
Proximity is important, so the rehearsal dinner should take place at or near the hotel or one of the hotels where your guests are staying. If it’s to take place at a venue that isn’t at the hotel/hotels where the guests are staying, it would be appropriate to provide directions to the venue. However, these days a bus could be chartered, or if the guests have rented a vehicle, Waze or Google Maps can easily be used.
HOW FORMAL SHOULD THE REHEARSAL DINNER BE?
Depending on your budget and wishes, the rehearsal dinner could be informal or formal. Even if you’re having a black-tie wedding reception, you could still have an informal rehearsal dinner. There are really no rules.
THE PLANNING OF A WEDDING REHEARSAL
DECIDE WHO WILL HOST THE REHEARSAL DINNER
Traditionally the groom’s parents take care of the cost, but sometimes both parents split the bill, and there are times when the couple pay for the rehearsal dinner.
PICK A LOCATION
There are some very favorable options that will most likely appeal to you. There could be a favorite restaurant or a restaurant that has sentimental value. It could take place at a family home or back yard or at a country club.
CREATE A GUEST LIST
This list needs to include the wedding party, as well as out of town guests and close relatives and friends of the families. If the list becomes too long, perhaps just have cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and desserts could be served or displayed.
CONSIDER THE START AND END TIME
If your wedding reception is on a Saturday, most rehearsal dinners would be on a Friday. Since many people would be working on Fridays, the rehearsal dinner usually begins between 6:30 and 7:30.
If your wedding reception is on a Sunday, the rehearsal dinner still could be on a Friday, but it also could be held on a Saturday. It could even be a brunch on Saturday. If you’re having a Friday wedding, you could have the rehearsal dinner the night before or the previous week on a Friday or Saturday.
THINK ABOUT THE MENU
It’s important to decide on the menu early in the process so you can make sure that you and your guests get what you would like. The longer you wait, the more chance that the caterer will be booked for your date.
Your out of town guests would probably enjoy the food that is local to your area, such as Maine lobster, Philly Cheese steak or New York style Pizza, for example. You have many choices, but keep in mind, your invited guests are there for you, so the food is certainly secondary.
PICK AN EMCEE
Customarily, the host of the rehearsal dinner will welcome the guests. The couple usually also thank their guests formally sometime during the end of the evening. The emcee will oversee the toasts and speeches. Many of the speeches will be a combination of roasting and toasting, so a good sense of humor comes in handy.
GIFTS FOR THE WEDDING PARTY
The rehearsal dinner is the time to present gifts to the wedding party. This could take place near the end of the celebration when you give your thank you speech. Conferring and coordinating with the emcee in terms of when this takes place as well as the speeches will help things move seamlessly.
CONCLUSION
You and your partner have worked so hard in planning your rehearsal dinner, you deserve to enjoy this special evening with your loved ones. Hopefully, this article will help in making your rehearsal dinner everything you want it to be!