Planning your rehearsal dinner
Planning your wedding requires more than just making preparations for the wedding ceremony, alone. As a matter of fact, there are some events that must take place before the actual wedding day. Many couples choose to organize an engagement party shortly after committing and most organize a rehearsal dinner one or two days before the wedding day. The bride can also choose to organize a bridesmaid lunch for her friends. For the sake of this article, we will focus on the rehearsal dinner. Organizing a rehearsal dinner is an important occasion in which the couple will recognize their wedding party for their hard work and dedication. In this event, the bride usually presents gifts to her maid and maid of honor, while the groom gives his ring bearer and the godparents a small token of appreciation.
Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner takes place one or two nights before the wedding and follows the final rehearsal of the wedding for the bridal party. The host usually organizes a dinner and the bride and groom are expected to prepare a brief presentation of thank-you speeches, acknowledgments, groomsmen and bridesmaids’ gifts, as well as gifts for the other members of the bridal party. Unlike the rehearsal dinners of the past, now, there is no rule about what should happen at a rehearsal dinner. In fact, some couples do not serve dinner at all. Some may choose to serve meals with fingers, ice cream, cocktails or desserts.
The rehearsal dinner does not have to last long, especially if it is scheduled the night before the wedding. It is important that the bridal party have a good night’s sleep and make last minute preparations before the big day. If the bride has chosen to give them spa services or bridal salons as bridesmaids’ gifts on the morning of the wedding, they should get home at a reasonable hour. Male members of the bridal party may choose to give the groom a bachelor party after the rehearsal dinner is over. In this case, the couple must plan accordingly so that the bachelor party does not take place too late at night.
In general, the purpose of the rehearsal dinner is to celebrate the performance of the bridal party during the planning phase of the wedding. The bride and groom are expected to say a few words of gratitude, followed by a presentation of gifts. The bride may have chosen to present her bridesmaids ‘gifts at the bridesmaids’ luncheon. In this case, she must still recognize the hard work of her bridesmaids and mention the fact that they already received their gifts.