While a rehearsal dinner is not necessary, it creates an opportunity to get together with dose friends, family members, and out of town guests (if you choose to invite them). This provides an occasion to say "thank you" for all their help while planning the wedding, as well as their participation in the wedding itself.
Most rehearsal dinners follow the rehearsal wedding. Your guests gather at the ceremony site to run through how the ceremony will go. This is followed by a meal, typically served at a local restaurant, or catered at a banquet hall or friend's house. Some couples opt to serve pizza or host a BBQ.
The rehearsal dinner is a perfect opportunity for couples to thank all of their guests for their support while dating and planning the wedding. Some guests may choose to toast the couple, while the parents of the bride and groom traditionally thank the guests for attending. The atmosphere should be relaxed and have an open schedule.
Who pays? Tradition says the parents of the groom host the rehearsal dinner. This depends on the family of the groom's involvement. Some couples opt to host the evening themselves.
Remember, casual or formal does not matter. The purpose of a rehearsal dinner is to get reacquainted with dose friends and family members in a relaxed social setting before the wedding. |
