Planning for a More Relaxed Atmosphere
Many brides say that the rehearsal dinner is one of the loveliest occasions leading up to their wedding day. Because the actual wedding day can be busy and overwhelming—and logistically, it’s not possible to have long and meaningful conversations with each guest—the rehearsal dinner presents an opportunity to enjoy the company of your family and friends in a more relaxed atmosphere. In some cases, this is the first opportunity for the parents or families of the bride and groom to meet each other. This often happens when they live in different states or countries. Here are a few tips for making the most of your rehearsal dinner.
Make a guest list.
Typically, the guest list should include the bride and groom's parents, siblings, grandparents, your bridesmaids and groomsmen, the flower girl and the ring bearer if you have them, and the priest or person conducting the ceremony (he or she may decline the invitation but it is still polite to offer). If you have a wedding planner or someone who has helped extensively with the process, it is nice to invite him or her to show your appreciation for the work they’ve done. Also, including out of town guests in the rehearsal dinner is a great opportunity to spend some time with them as there will be little time to do so in the days leading up to wedding—and then you’re likely off for the honeymoon!
Figure out who is hosting the dinner.
Traditionally it is the parents of the groom who host the rehearsal dinner, but this is not always the case. If the groom’s parents never mention the rehearsal dinner, they may be simply unaware of traditional etiquette. If you would like them to host the dinner, it is important to approach the subject with them to see if they would be interested. Otherwise, the bride and groom usually host. Remember that the rehearsal dinner does not need to be at a fancy restaurant: you could host a backyard barbeque, order pizza, or have the dinner at a restaurant that is reasonably priced. Look into those that offer discounted menus for such occasions.
Toasts.
The father of the groom speech usually begins the series of toasts, which should happen after the drinks are served and before the first course of the meal. It is a good idea to talk to the father of the groom to see if he would like to give a toast, and let him know when to do so. The best man and the maid of honor usually say something, as well as a few members of the bridal party. Let your bridesmaids and groomsmen know that they are welcome to give a toast so that they can think about what they’d like to say beforehand.
Give gifts to your bridal party to show your appreciation.
We all know that being in a wedding involves a lot of extra time and cost. The rehearsal dinner is the perfect situation to say thank you to your bridal party. For bridesmaids, a thank you gift could be something as simple as a candle, stationery, earrings, or a gift card.
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