All the months planning and the hours spent on the phone with your friends and families have cumulated to this. Your wedding day has arrived. But you have one last hurdle to get over first: the rehearsal dinner. So many brides can’t enjoy this time because of all the stress they are in. But this is the last night of your single life and you should take the time to make it the best night of your life. Well, so far....
Tradition says that the rehearsal dinner is planned and paid for by the groom’s parents. But today’s modern bride isn’t necessarily pinned down to that standard. It’s important to talk to both sides of the family and see what everyone is comfortable with. It’s also important to express your wishes and desires regardless of who is footing the bill.
It’s also proper to invite any out of town guests to the rehearsal dinner, but if you have a large amount, and they will all be in the day before the wedding, customs have become lax as to the protocol. Depending on your plans and budget, including those unfamiliar with their surroundings is always nice, but remember that you are already taking care of them for the wedding. Most people don’t expect it in today’s wedding world. Just play fair. If you invite some guests (not associated with the wedding party), you should invite everyone.
Your rehearsal dinner is an extension of your wedding, and of course you want it to be extraordinary. But getting out the hum drum of dinner at a nice restaurant is tough. Thinking outside the box is not as easy for a rehearsal dinner because budgets are normally smaller. But it is possible to have a unique rehearsal dinner: one that will set the stage for the rest of your wedding weekend!
A few simple ways to spice up your rehearsal dinner is to center it around a theme. If you are going somewhere tropical for your honeymoon, incorporate that into the décor and cuisine. Or go oriental or Mexican if your taste buds favor one. But if you’re looking for something a step above, then you have to think outside the box. What kind of activities could get your guest to actively participate in your last night as an affianced couple? Look around locally to see if there is a sports game, a rodeo or a music and arts festival. Plan something that allows for interaction and takes the pressure off you to entertain. For a more casual affair, take your guests bowling, bumper cars, put putting or plan an all day golf excursion.
Something that is more upscale, while still being interactive is having your rehearsal dinner at a wine tasting or dinner theater. Or recreate the vice of Vegas by hosting a casino night. All of these options can have the privacy that you might want to create an intimate feel with your family and friends. You can request to have a private room during the activity or after so that you can dine or do any other planned activities.
One aspect of a rehearsal dinner that we want to make sure to mention is the moment of gratitude. You will be too busy and relishing in the moment to remember to say the proper thanks to everyone on your list. The rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity to take a breath and let everyone who is close to you know just how much you appreciate their love, support, time and presence in celebrating your marriage.
The biggest piece of advice that we can leave you with about your rehearsal dinner is to try to be as relaxed and calm about it as you can. This should be an occasion for you to reflect on the journey you have been on and to acknowledge the step you are about to take. So have fun and get some rest, because tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life…..
No comments:
Post a Comment