If you have to rehearse the ceremony, you might as well rehearse the reception too, right? The rehearsal dinner is typically hosted by the groom's parents, and it's a great way to relax and spend time with the bride and groom's family and inner circle before the big day. Here are our top 5 tips for hosting a great rehearsal dinner.
1. Choose a location near the ceremony venue.
Your family and bridal party have likely traveled and taken off work already to attend the rehearsal, so try not to make them spend the evening in the car going from location to location.
2. Don't serve the same menu as the reception.
You don't want your guests to have to eat the same thing two nights in a row, and you don't want to try and upstage the reception either. Be sure your menu selections are unique...and be creative! Rehearsal dinners can be a great opportunity to be more casual - food trucks, BBQs and crawfish broils are all equally great options...especially if they're your favorites!
3. Make it personal.
The rehearsal dinner is a great time to add those little touches that are special to the happy couple and help tell their story. For this rehearsal dinner, I loved that we were able to add pictures of both the bride and groom to each table. And all of the hand lettered signs were made by the groom's talented sister!
4. Thank your family and bridal party.
This is a great opportunity for you to thank your bridesmaids, groomsmen and family who have helped you throughout your engagement process. Toasts and words of appreciation are always great, as well as giving out any gifts you may have prepared for them. It's a great way to let them know you're grateful for all of their support!
5. Open the mic.
Your reception is going to be packed with lots of special moments and it's likely there won't be enough time for everyone to share just how happy they are for you. The rehearsal dinner is a great time to give your close family and friends time to share sentiments about the two of you, so that you can save plenty of time at the reception for the Best Man and Maid of Honor toasts.
Most importantly, relax and enjoy these last few moments together before the hustle and bustle of your big day!
