Planning the Rehearsal Dinner

Your rehearsal dinner can be just as special as the wedding day. It is a time to come together in an informal fashion with friends and family members to celebrate the love between you and your partner. Guests can enjoy quiet, intimate moments with the bride and groom before the wonderful frenzy of the wedding day. Read the following information to help plan for your wedding rehearsal dinner.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #1 - What is a rehearsal dinner?

The dinner follows the ceremony rehearsal. Traditionally, the dinner is hosted by the parents of the groom. It is an occasion to wish love to the couple, enjoy the surroundings of family and friends, and thank both sets of parents for their help in the wedding preparation process.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #2 - Who's invited?

The wedding party and immediate family attend the wedding rehearsal dinner. Additional guests can be invited at your discretion. The budget and location of the dinner may influence the number of invites.

You may want to keep the affair intimate. Alternatively, the rehearsal dinner can be a great time for members of both families to meet in an informal setting. If contributing factors allow, you may want to make the dinner as big as possible.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #3 - Send invites

Most likely, only a certain number of guests will attend the rehearsal dinner. This can make things confusing when sending wedding invitations. Send separate invitations for the wedding rehearsal dinner. Send the invites as early as possible - do not wait past four weeks before the date.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #4 - Incorporating the photographer/videographer

Think about inviting your wedding photographer, wedding videographer, or both to the dinner. The professional can get an idea of "who is who" and a better feeling for the relationships between particular guests and the couple. In addition, they may learn the personalities of family members; they can use this knowledge to orchestrate poses or look for candid photo opportunities.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #5 - Safe seating

Many families have members that can start trouble. It may be a wise decision to formulate a seating chart. This way, squabbles and distractions can be avoided.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #6 - And the toast award goes to...

Who should speak at the rehearsal dinner? The rehearsal dinner is a great time to encourage stories, memories, and sentiments. There is no stone-written law about the toast; all are welcome to offer their heart-felt words to the ears of those in attendance.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Tip #7 - When is the dinner?

Many times, the rehearsal dinner is the night before the wedding; but, this could be a hectic time depending on the plans for the following day. One of the major issues to consider is the possibility of having remote guests in attendance; there may be a limited time that they are in town. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner falls somewhere in the few days preceding the wedding.

Planning a dinner on a weeknight may save you money. In addition, dinner spots may have less of a crowd during the week, so the possibility dining at your leisure is more likely.