When should it happen? Typically, when a wedding is on a Saturday, the rehearsal is usually on late Friday afternoon or early evening. When it's all done, everyone heads over to the dinner for the rest of the evening.
But if your wedding is on a Friday or a Sunday, the timetable might be different; your Rehearsal Dinner might actually be a Rehearsal Breakfast or Lunch. It's all okay! The best way to determine the time is to talk to your officiant, and they will let you know when you'll have the rehearsal. Then just plan from there.
Where should I have it? That depends on what you're most comfortable with. It can be in an elegant restaurant, or a barbeque in the back yard. It doesn't really matter, as long as there is food served, and everyone gets to know one another.
Who pays for it? Traditionally, the groom's family paid for the rehearsal dinner, but in today's "anything goes" weddings, that's not always the case. I've heard of the bride's parents picking up the tab; the grandparents of the groom; or even the bride and groom themselves.
What happens at a rehearsal dinner? There are often toasts made, thank you speeches, and lots of love. But what you do at your dinner is entirely up to you. It's a great time to present your attendants with their gifts, and it's also a wonderful time to express your graditude to everyone who is playing such an important role in your big day.
Who should I invite? All of your wedding party, your parents, his parents, and any grandparents are a must. You can also invite out of town guests if you're getting married in your hometown. A good rule of thumb is that everyone in your wedding that you would purchase a bouquet, boutierre or corsage for should be at your rehearsal dinner.
Should I send invitations? That's entirely up to you. If you do, you don't have to get as fancy as your wedding invitations - just print something on the computer or buy some blank cards and fill them in. It's always a good idea to keep the lines of communication going, so sending an invite with the name and address of the ceremony site, the time and date of the rehearsal and dinner, and the dinner location (again, with address!) will keep everyone in the loop. It's also okay to e-mail or text it, but I'd recommend that you ask them to confirm with you that they got the information (by responding to the e-mail or text).
Anything else? It's a good idea to remind everyone what time and where they should be on the big day. Good and early is best - that way, if one of those unexpected problems pops up (like a traffic jam, a flat tire, etc.), there's still time to work around it.
And, as always, be kind and gracious. Sure, you'll be nervous and excited, and that will make it easy to snap or say things you don't mean, so be extra cautious with your words, don't have too much to drink, and enjoy your time with those folks that you love the best!
Planning a wedding is tricky! There's lots of ways to save money and avoid hassles! Give me a call or text and let's talk all about your wedding: 513-407-7165.
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