The Rehearsal

Below are some of our favorite ideas for the rehearsal - we'll be adding more
ideas soon.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Every wedding needs a rehearsal, and a rehearsal dinner immediately following is the perfect time to see that everyone involved in the wedding gets
acquainted. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is hosted by the groom's parents. Not only does this take some the party-planning pressure off of the bride and her parents, but it helps the groom's family feel more involved.

The rehearsal dinner should be intimate enough to serve as a relaxing icebreaker. You will want to invite all those who attend the rehearsal itself; the members of the wedding party, their spouses and dates, children in the wedding party and their parents, the officiant and his spouse, your immediate families and their spouses or dates, and close friends or relatives who are participating in the ceremony.

The rehearsal dinner should be fun and lively - but there's no need to upstage or even attempt to equal the wedding itself. The most popular options include an at-home party with a home-cooked or catered meal, a restaurant with a private room, or a catering hall. The meal may be a sit-down or a buffet, but guests should have a chance to mingle and get to know each other at some point.

Unlike a wedding reception which revolves around a DJ, or live band and dancing, the rehearsal dinner focuses on reminiscing about the bride and groom's past. Generally cocktails and hors d'oeuvres are served first, and the couple and their immediate families should make a point of introducing guests to each other.

Following the main course, dessert is served and the toasts begin. It's customary for the best man to start off by toasting the couple, and the groom's father may follow. At that point, everyone else can join in the fun, including the bride and groom, who will probably want to toast their parents as well.

Afterwards the couple may present their gifts to the wedding party as thanks for taking part in such an important event. They may also present gifts to their parents and each other at this time.

At the end of the evening, the bride and groom should depart separately, not to see each other again until they arrive at the altar.