Whether you are hosting a huge wedding weekend or a small and intimate ceremony, you might be planning on having a rehearsal dinner with your family and closest friends. Here’s everything you need to know about the rehearsal dinner and tips for planning one.
What is the Rehearsal Dinner?
Traditionally, this formal dinner would be held on the evening before the ceremony. When it comes to who goes to the rehearsal dinner, traditionally you would invite the most important people at your wedding including your bridal party and immediate family members. If you’re thinking about who goes to the rehearsal dinner while creating your invitations, then you can find out more at Greenvelope. Along with more wedding planning and rehearsal dinner planning information, you can also use Greenvelope for unique invites, wedding favor cards, thank you cards and more.
Rehearsal Dinner Etiquette
Since it is your wedding day, it’s up to you to plan and host your rehearsal dinner any way that you like. However, many couples may wonder what the expected etiquette is for this event. Keep reading to find out more and get some answers to the most commonly asked questions.
When is the Rehearsal Dinner?
For a traditional wedding, the rehearsal dinner is typically hosted the night before the wedding ceremony, directly after your rehearsal ceremony. If you are not having a rehearsal for your wedding, then you may still want to hold a dinner with your immediate family and bridal party the night before the wedding. However, if this is not practical for you, then you can hold it on any evening in the days leading up to your wedding. Some couples prefer to host the rehearsal dinner a few days before the wedding, as there’s already a lot going on the day before.
Who Hosts the Rehearsal Dinner?
Traditionally, the bride’s family would host the wedding, and the rehearsal dinner would be hosted by the groom’s family. However, these days many couples don’t stick to these traditions and the rehearsal dinner can be hosted by whoever is up for it. You might want to host it yourself along with your partner, or both sets of parents might want to host. Siblings and friends can also host your rehearsal dinner too.
Who Pays for the Dinner?
If you’re sticking to traditions with everything then the groom’s family would traditionally cover the cost of the rehearsal dinner, as the bride’s family would be paying for the wedding. However, weddings are becoming increasingly expensive these days as you’ll probably know if you are in the process of planning one, so the rehearsal dinner might be something that a few different parties chip in to pay, or anybody can offer to cover the cost of it. Generally, whoever is going to host the dinner will also pay for it.
Tips for Planning Your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
Now that you know a bit more about rehearsal dinners and the etiquette, it’s time to start planning yours. There are lots of things to consider, but the main things to keep in mind include:
Decide on the Host
While the groom’s parents are the traditional hosts for the rehearsal dinner, you can plan yours based on what works best for you, your relatives, and your overall budget. If the groom’s parents are paying a lot towards the wedding, for example, then the bride’s parents might offer to host the rehearsal dinner. Or maybe you are paying for your own wedding, and somebody in your bridal party might offer to host the dinner. Ultimately there’s no right or wrong host, and some weddings have different people who come together to host the rehearsal dinner with everybody chipping in to cover the cost.
Decide on a Budget
Once you know who is going to host and pay for the rehearsal dinner, determine a budget for it. If there is a smaller budget, you might want to consider inviting fewer people and having a smaller gathering, or choosing a setting that’s going to be cheaper like a barbeque or a potluck; remember that the rehearsal dinner doesn’t have to be super fancy.
Choose a Venue
When searching for venues, it’s important to think about your budget and the location where you are getting married. If you have booked a large wedding venue with a restaurant on site, for example, then this might be the perfect place for your rehearsal dinner. You could also go to your favorite restaurant, or even host the dinner at your home or that of a family member.
Plan Your Guest List
Immediate family and the wedding party will usually be invited to the rehearsal dinner along with plus ones. However, there’s no need to stick firmly to these rules if you want to invite somebody else and have the budget. Some couples even open the rehearsal dinner up to everybody, so think about your budget and who you want to see there.
Plan a Good Time
Typically, the rehearsal dinner is held the night before the ceremony, after the rehearsal for the ceremony if you are doing one. If you’re going to have a wedding ceremony rehearsal the day before you get married, then consider when your ceremony rehearsal will end and think about how long it will take to get to the venue to figure out a time. Alternatively, you can hold a rehearsal dinner a few days before your wedding if you prefer. If you’re not having a ceremony rehearsal, then simply pick a date and time that works best for you and your guests.
When to Start Planning
Just like most other aspects of your wedding, it’s a good idea to start planning your rehearsal dinner in advance to make sure things go smoothly. Most couples will decide on a host and book a venue around nine to twelve months before. Finalize your menu and guest list around six months before and send invitations out for your rehearsal dinner around one to two months in advance.
Traditionally, a rehearsal dinner would be a chance for the most important wedding guests to get to together the night before the big day. However, it’s up to you as a couple, and you can tweak this event to your preferences any way that you like.
