Planning a Rehearsal Dinner
The following article presents the very latest information on
weddings. If you have a particular interest in weddings, then
this informative article is required reading.
The rehearsal dinner is one element of the wedding planning that
can be confusing for the future bride and groom. Questions such
as do we really have to have a rehearsal dinner, what do we do
at the rehearsal dinner, who pays for the rehearsal dinner, who
is invited to the rehearsal dinner and do we have to invite out
of town guests are planning questions that remain unanswered for
many couples. While the rehearsal dinner may just seem like
another expense and another task that needs to be completed,
it's important to not skip out on this wonderful opportunity to
get together with close friends and family members for a night
of relaxation in a casual atmosphere before the wedding. This
article is intended to answer some of the questions surrounding
the planning of a rehearsal dinner and to provide the couple
with some necessary information to help them plan a successful
rehearsal dinner.
While a rehearsal dinner is not necessary, it is a good
opportunity to get together with close friends and family
members to thank them all for their participation and assistance
during the planning of the wedding as well as their
participation in the actual wedding itself. The rehearsal dinner
gives the couple the chance to extend their thanks to everyone
who has been involved with the wedding planning or who has
simply supported them in their efforts. The rehearsal dinner can
also be the opportunity to relax and unwind before the wedding.
The couple is able to put aside their concerns over their
upcoming nuptials and enjoy the time with family and friends.
The rehearsal dinner has become a common tradition in weddings
but the couple is not obligated to host a rehearsal dinner if
they choose not to do so.
The typical activities involved in a rehearsal dinner include
meeting at the site of the ceremony to run through the logistics
of the ceremony and then gathering at a particular location, a
restaurant, catering hall or even a friend's house, to enjoy a
meal together. During the dinner the couple usually takes the
opportunity to thank all their guests for their love and support
and may choose to honor their wedding party with gifts at this
time. There are also usually a series of informal toasts at the
rehearsal dinner. The parents of the couple will also usually
thank the guests and offer a toast to the couple. Any of the
guests at the rehearsal dinner are also free to offer a toast or
a few words of wisdom to the couple. While the wedding is
shrouded in traditions and expectations, the rehearsal dinner is
typically a relaxed atmosphere with no set agendas.
If you don't have accurate details regarding weddings, then you
might make a bad choice on the subject. Don't let that happen:
keep reading.
The subject of who pays for the rehearsal dinner is another
confusing topic. Tradition holds that the parents of the groom
assume the financial responsibility of the rehearsal dinner but
more and more couples are opting to bear the burden of the
rehearsal dinner on their own. There are a couple of factors
that are contributing to this changing trend. First the medium
ages of couples getting married is on the rise and couples who
marry at a later age are typically more financially established
and capable of affording to finance the rehearsal dinner
themselves. In addition the responsibility of paying for the
rehearsal dinner is typically accompanied by the responsibility
of planning the rehearsal dinner and many couples are unwilling
to relinquish the planning responsibilities. The couple wants to
ensure that the rehearsal dinner reflects their personalities
and tastes and therefore assumes all responsibilities for
planning the rehearsal dinner.
Although the original intent for the rehearsal dinner was to
include those who are actively involved in the ceremony, the
couple is free to invite any other guests that they choose to
join them in the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner is an
opportunity for the couple to thank everyone who has supported
them throughout their wedding planning and also to just relax
and have a good time with friends and family outside of the
formality that often surrounds a wedding. With this in mind it
is appropriate to invite anyone that you want to share in this
sentiment. The couple may also wish to include out of town guest
in the rehearsal dinner in order to thank them for making the
trip to be with them on their wedding day. While including out
of town guests is a wonderful gesture, it is important to
understand that the couple is not obligated to do so. If it
would be too financially cumbersome to include all of the out of
town guests, the couple could consider hosting a smaller event
such as an evening of drinks and appetizers for this larger
group. Although everyone participating in the ceremony should be
included in the rehearsal dinner the guest list is not
restricted to these individuals and the couple can choose to
include anyone they wish.
Planning a rehearsal dinner can seem daunting as the rules are
not clearly defined but it is this flexibility that makes
planning a rehearsal dinner such a fun challenge. From the
invitation list to the activities the couple is under no
obligations to adhere to any strict guidelines in planning their
rehearsal dinner. Although planning a rehearsal dinner is not
obligatory, many couples opt to do so because it is such a
wonderful opportunity to thank their loved ones for their
continued support. That's how things stand right now. Keep in
mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep
up with the latest wedding news.