Rehearsal Dinner Planning Tips
Your wedding rehearsal is time set aside the day before your wedding (or sometimes a few days before, depending on your schedule) for you and your bridal party to practice the motions for your actual wedding day, and is often followed by a meal. It may sound a little crazy to be planning an event that takes place right before your wedding, but with these tips, you’ll have it easily figured out and be ready to go for your big day.
The biggest piece of advice I have regarding your rehearsal dinner is to keep the guest list small. This isn’t a pre-wedding party, so don’t feel like you need to invite your whole family and all your friends. That’s what the actual wedding is for! At the rehearsal itself, all you need is anyone that will be physically taking part in the wedding: bridal party, parents and/or grandparents, flower girls and boys, officiant, and, of course, your planner. That’s it! Too many people at a rehearsal can be overwhelming and confusing, so keeping this list small will help you in the long run. For the meal portion, if you choose to have one, you can always branch out a little to include other immediate family members or close friends, but again, this time is traditionally set aside for just people in the wedding, so it’s okay to keep the guest list small.
Feel free to think outside the box and plan a meal different from what your wedding will be. For example, if your wedding is a formal affair, consider something fun like tacos or a family style meal that you wouldn’t be able to host for a large guest count. You can also get creative with a theme or decorations that may be a departure from what your wedding will be. Don’t feel like you have to stay on color scheme or have similar floral arrangements for your rehearsal, since it is a separate event and can be whatever you want it to be. At the same time, you don’t want to upstage your wedding, so if you’re planning a more casual wedding day, try opting for a brunch or cocktail party instead of a sit-down fancy dinner.
While the most important takeaway about your rehearsal dinner is that it is an opportunity to practice for your wedding day, it’s also a chance to bond with your bridal party and close family before the official festivities are underway. Rehearsal dinners can be extremely special and are a great chance for people to give speeches, tell stories, or even play some newlywed games. Whatever you’re planning, it’s bound to be an amazing evening full of love and fun that will set the stage for your wedding day.