Plan with Your Wedding Party in a Relaxed Setting

Out-of-towners have flown in from all over, your family has gathered to send you down the aisle, and your wedding party is in much need of some stress-free down time. So, before the rice is thrown and the cake is cut, a rehearsal dinner is a must in order to organize the next day’s events and to welcome those who are close to you.

What’s there to rehearse?
If you want your wedding day to be as hassle-free as possible, the rehearsal dinner is your best friend. It’s a time to work out all of the kinks, like who walks down the aisle with whom, at what pace and when. You and your husband-to-be will practice where you stand, review what you will be saying and go over all of the details and logistics of the ceremony.

Another guest list? More invitations?
The rehearsal is just meant to be a time for the wedding party to practice their part in your big show. Having additional family members and friends may only confuse the situation and cause setbacks in the schedule.

Who you invite depends on who’s in your wedding. It won't require invitations to be sent unless you have a very large wedding party, or if they will have to travel a great distance. In such cases, an informal emailed reminder is no less appropriate than a proper invitation.

The attire.
Although the dress code depends on the setting, you'll want everyone to remember that this is a wedding! you're planning and celebrating, so no one should look like they're heading to the beach.  Instead of jeans and sneakers, a step down from cocktail attire is the best way to go. You may want to remind those invited of this, or if you are sending invitations, specify the attire. “Dinner Chic,” is a good way of phrasing it, or “Dinner Attire.”

And the host is…
Yes, a rehearsal dinner is another expense. Traditionally, the groom’s parents hosted it because the bride’s parents had been footing the bill for the wedding. However, every wedding is different, no two families alike, and those traditions are no longer necessarily expected. So, you may feel like giving the dinner as a thank you to both sets of parents for all of their time, effort and support.