Second in a Three-part Series
Rehearsal Dinners A to Z

Tip: It is so fun to plan a Rehearsal Dinner as it really does kick off the Wedding Weekend. It also gives your out of town guests and the wedding party (the people closest to you) the opportunity to get to know each other before the big event.

Now we need to talk about who to invite. Invite all members of the wedding party and their respective spouses or guests. The parents of the young attendants (like the ring bearer and flower girl) should also be invited. Include the clergy person and spouse. If the musicians (like the organist or vocalist) attend the rehearsal, they should also be invited to the dinner. It is quite appropriate to include grandparents, honored guests, immediate family and definitely out of town guests. Remember, the out of town guests go through a great deal of expense to come to this event; make them feel special by having them come to this. They will love it!

Where to hold the event can also be a bit challenging. You need to determine what style of event you wish to have. Keep in mind that we do not want it to take away from the actual wedding itself. Here are some ideas:

• A private room at a restaurant
• A private club
• A barbeque in the park or other outdoor area like the beach
• A small room at your reception site (especially if it is in a hotel)
• A hall or dining area of your house of worship
• A private home

Some of the first decisions you need to make include whether you prefer an indoor or outdoor rehearsal dinner and if you wish to hire a caterer or utilize the onsite staff. There are quite a lot of options. Many couples plan rehearsal dinners that are different in style and feeling than their wedding receptions to provide their guests with two distinctly special events.

It is nice to choose someplace close by for the dinner so people won't have to drive distances to get there. Also, if you are inviting out of town guests, provide them with good directions for getting to the dinner and back to their hotels or other lodging locations. You may want to arrange transportation for them. (See previous Tip of the Month on how to treat out of town guests)

Visit the restaurants or other facilities on the same night of the week that you want to have the rehearsal dinner to see how crowded it is and if there is a band playing or see where their private rooms are. This is important so you will not have any surprises later.

As always, this should be fun to plan. So stay organized and enjoy this!

Fondly,
Marlene

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