Planning your wedding is a big deal, but you must also make arrangements for the smaller social affairs leading up to your big day. Your rehearsal with the dinner afterwards are also important, and the two combined make up the last major event you’ll attend before walking down the aisle and saying, “I do.” However, that’s no reason to stress out about putting the details in place for this get-together. Keep in mind some essential tips as you choose your theme, food, venue and other details.
When Should We Hold the Rehearsal Dinner?
Since most matrimonial celebrations are on Saturdays, rehearsals usually take place on Fridays during the early evening. Because of that, most rehearsal dinners start around 7 p.m. You might have a bit more leeway with a Sunday or holiday wedding, according to contributor Heather Lee from Brides. You can keep your rehearsal and dinner on Friday for your Sunday nuptials, or just plan the walkthrough and meal a couple of days before your event. If you have attendants, an officiant or family arriving later in the evening from out of town, consider a rehearsal breakfast instead.
How Formal Should Our Post-Rehearsal Meal Be?
Brides contributor Heather Lee recommends making your rehearsal dinner more casual and laidback than the wedding itself. Since you and your party are already dealing with all the trappings involved with your nuptial celebration, a rehearsal dinner with a low-key vibe is the perfect way to help everyone relax and unwind. To make planning simpler, you might choose a venue with open seating and opt for buffet or family-style service. You can also try incorporating a fun theme, like a backyard barbeque or a wine-and-cheese party.
So…What Happens at a Rehearsal Dinner?
The point of a rehearsal dinner is food, fun and fellowship. You and your sweetie are going to be the center of your guests’ attention on your wedding day, so you might not be able to spend a lot of social time with those closest to you. This meal is also a great opportunity for you to toast your parents, wedding party members and others who’ve played a part in helping you prep for the big event. Brides contributor Jaimie Mackey suggests scheduling other toasts during this dinner so that your wedding-day activities aren’t so jam packed. She also adds that this dinner is a great time for some good-natured roasting, if that’s your style. Finally, she notes that some couples choose to serve their groom’s cakes at their rehearsal meals instead of during their wedding receptions.
A Rehearsal Dinner Without the Rehearsal?
Some weddings may not require a practice session at all, according to Elizabeth Clayton from A Practical Wedding. If the only parties involved are you, your future spouse and your officiant, you likely won’t even need a walkthrough. This is also true if there’s only one straightforward entrance into your ceremony and your music doesn’t require specific detailed cues. In those cases, you can skip the rehearsal but you don’t have to forgo a casual get-together with the family and friends involved in your nuptials. Just plan the dinner the night before, as if you were having a rehearsal, and use it as an opportunity to kick back and spend time with those close to you before the big day.
Regardless of whether you hold a practice session for your wedding, the rehearsal dinner is a vital time for you and your closest associates to reconnect before you tie the knot. Planning it a day or two before allows some downtime as well as a final opportunity to go over essential details for the ceremony. Keeping your party casual and working in an enjoyable theme will help make this a memorable occasion.
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