Weddings can be complex. There are rules and procedures at every turn. Planning a wedding is often a full time affair. Even rehearsal dinner etiquette can be rigorous. Knowing the ins and outs can be the difference between enjoyable and disastrous.
The rehearsal dinner is often hosted by the groom’s parents. That means the organization and decisions should be left to them. If the engaged insist on thanking the wedding party by hosting this themselves, they should make sure to explain it to the groom’s folks. If the parents get very upset, keep them in the picture. Why start a fight because you want to do more work?
Plan the dinner for the night prior to the wedding day. That way there’s no extra travel plans for people to consider. Never plan this for days before the wedding day. That puts more pressure on people. There’s no reason to make a wedding hard on anyone . Remember, for the bride and groom both families are soon to become their family.
Of course, both the bride’s and groom’s immediate relatives are invited. The entire bridal party, each with a guest, should also be asked to attend along with any other friends and family the bride and groom would like to have at the dinner. The preacher or whoever officiates the wedding, offers the vows, should also be invited. Take care with these invitations. Aunt Myrtle may be a little loud, but is a whole life of anger worth the snub?
Give people a little time to relax before eating. Make it a relaxing situation. Don’t make the dinner too far out of line with the overall wedding budget. If it’s a million dollar wedding then the rehearsal dinner should reflect this. Make the dinner less involved when the wedding is simpler. And don’t keep people out too late the night before the big day.
The bride and groom toast all those helping to make the wedding wonderful. This of course means both sets of parents. This toast takes place after the main meal, delivered by the couple to be. Save other toasts for the reception.
Don’t ruin a nice wedding by stepping on toes at the rehearsal dinner. Keep rehearsal dinner etiquette in mind.
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