Planning a wedding comes with a lengthy to-do list. From floral arrangements and venues to invitations and everything in between, brides and grooms have a lot on their plate. Add a rehearsal dinner to the mix and such an event can become yet another item on a never-ending to-do list.
Like a traditional wedding day, it’s also a task that comes with plenty of etiquette demands. If you’re ready to learn the ins and outs of the rehearsal dinner, keep reading to learn exactly what you need to know.
Who is Invited?
Your rehearsal dinner is a chance to run through plans for your big day and let your wedding party know their role. It’s also a fun and exciting prelude to your wedding day. But let your guest list run out of control, and the budget for your rehearsal dinner can quickly rival the wedding itself.
Instead, make sure you understand who should and should not get an invite. Those who should be a part of your rehearsal dinner include the:
- Bride and groom’s immediate families
- Bridal party (as well as their plus-ones)
- Wedding officiant
If you have guests traveling in from out of town, or you’re hosting a destination wedding and will be meeting them in an exotic locale, tradition calls for inviting extended family and the rest of your guests to your rehearsal dinner as well.
Don’t leave your friends and family guessing about whether they’re invited to your rehearsal dinner. Instead, include a card in your wedding invitations that provides all the information. Just make sure to add this note only to the invitees.
When Should You Have It?
Did you know more than 70 percent of all couples get married on a Saturday? If this is the case for your upcoming nuptials, traditionally your rehearsal dinner would fall on the night before your big day. This ensures everything is fresh in your bridal party’s mind.
However, weddings on Fridays, Sundays, and even other days of the week are becoming increasingly popular. Your guests likely already have to make arrangements to schedule time off work or to travel for your wedding. For that reason, it’s better to host your rehearsal dinner the weekend before your actual wedding. Of course, as with your guest list, this tradition will change if you opt for a destination wedding.
Where Should You Host It?
Where you host your rehearsal dinner is entirely up to you — and perhaps the groom’s parents if you’re following tradition and they’re footing the bill. If that’s the case, they may choose the venue and the menu, which helps take a load off the shoulders of the couple as they plan the details of their wedding.
If you’re hosting your own rehearsal dinner or helping to choose a venue, you first need to decide on a style. While a sit-down meal in a private area of a restaurant is often traditional, a backyard picnic or a laid-back meal is also a great choice. Not only can this help save some money, but it’s also a great chance for everyone to relax before the big day.
Planning the Perfect Rehearsal Dinner
Don’t let your confusion get in the way of planning the perfect rehearsal dinner. From nailing the guest list to picking the right venue and date, finalizing the details of your rehearsal dinner is closer than you might think!
