How to Plan a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

The rehearsal dinner is one of the most intimate components of preparing for your big day. This article will give you tips on how to prepare a great rehearsal dinner, including who you should invite, and where to have it.

The purpose of a rehearsal dinner is to give the bride and groom's families a chance to get better acquainted with one another. Individuals in your wedding party will also have an opportunity to get to know each other better at this dinner. You will have a chance to have more intimate and long conversations at the rehearsal dinner, something you probably won't have a chance to do at the wedding reception. Finally, the dinner is another way to show your attendants and family members how much you appreciate all the help they've given you in planning your wedding.

Usually the rehearsal dinner is held immediately following the wedding rehearsal, which happens the night before the wedding. Traditionally, the groom's parents pay for this dinner, but it is likely that you will be expected to pay for all or part of the dinner in the present time.

It is also tradition that the groom's parents plan the rehearsal dinner, but again, you might be expected to plan the dinner yourself. Talk to the groom's mother to see if she wants to plan the dinner. If she does, it is one less thing you will need to worry about. If she doesn't, planning a rehearsal dinner doesn't have to be super-stressful.

You should send out less formal invitations to join you at the rehearsal dinner a few days after you have sent the wedding invitations. The bride and groom usually invite their families, wedding attendants, the flower girl and ring bearer (and their parents), and their officiant to join them at the rehearsal dinner.

Where you have your dinner is up to you. Use some common sense in choosing a location for your dinner. If you choose to have your dinner at a restaurant, make sure the restaurant has vegetarian options available. A restaurant with a wide selection of options is ideal.

Alternatively, you might choose to hold your dinner in a room at your local church. If you choose this option, you could make or order dinner to be served.