Lots of terms get thrown around during the wedding planning process, but if you are a young bride, you may not have any first hand experience with many of them. People often wonder what the purpose is behind a rehearsal dinner, how to plan one, and what really goes on there. This is an overview of the whole rehearsal dinner process.
First the reason behind the rehearsal dinner: it is a small dinner party that gives the bride s and groom s families a chance to get to know one another in an informal setting before the wedding itself. Some will also say that the point of the rehearsal dinner is to keep tabs on the gentlemen in the wedding party to keep them out of trouble! The timing can vary somewhat, although the party is almost always the afternoon or evening before the wedding. It depends mostly on the time at which the rehearsal at the ceremony takes place. Some people will go directly from the rehearsal to the dinner, or they may decide to separate them by a few hours if it would make the party start at an awkward time of day.
Since the purpose of the rehearsal dinner is to allow time for the bride and groom s families to get to know each other better, you should definitely plan to invite parents, siblings, and grandparents from both sides. The wedding party is also always on the guest list, and some brides will choose that opportunity to present her attendants with their bridesmaid and flower girl gifts. (If a ladies luncheon will precede the wedding, give out your flower girl gifts and bridesmaid jewelry at that event instead.) Frequently, the more extended members of the couple s families will also be included in the wedding eve party, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. These days, it is not uncommon to also invite out of town guests, with the result that there are almost as many guests at the rehearsal dinner as the wedding reception.
One of the main events of a rehearsal dinner is the speeches. As the party is most often hosted by the groom s family, it is traditional for the groom s father to give some sort of toast. It does not need to be anything long, it is mostly a chance to welcome everyone, and to thank the out of town guests for making the trip. The groom s father will conclude his toast by saying a few kind words about the bride and groom and toasting to their future happiness.
At some rehearsal dinners, the groom s father may be the only one to speak, especially if the party is informal like a barbecue. When it is more of a seated dinner, others are welcome to add a brief speech of their own. Likely candidates include the father of the bride, the best man, and the bride and groom. While speeches can be very sentimental, they can also quickly become a bore, so keep them brief.
Beyond that, the wedding eve dinner is essentially a party like any other. Guests eat, drink, and mingle. They often end early so that everyone will be well rested for the wedding the next day. This has led to a custom where the younger guests often have an after party at a nightclub, bar, or home after dinner. Just so long as everyone is rested and raring to go the next day, this can be a fun way for the younger guests to get to know one another, which is after all, one of the purposes of a rehearsal dinner.
Author Resource:
Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, etiquette, and gift ideas. http://silverlandjewelry.com/
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