The big day is swiftly approaching, and you have things well under control. Everything from your jaw-dropping apparel to those pesky coloured napkins for the wedding reception has been gleefully checked off your wedding day list. The last thing to cross your mind, and send you into one final tizzy, is the rehearsal dinner plan. The rehearsal dinner has long been an integral, often overlooked, part of wedding-day preparations. Tradition has it that the groom’s parents graciously throw the soiree before the big day. These days, modern brides usually find it fitting to come up with a game plan of their own.
Planning the rehearsal dinner does not have to be a stressful process. The outcome of this pre-nup gathering is to get you hyped and make sure you, your man and the bridal party are ceremony-ready. Consider these user-friendly tips when planning.
READY, SET, GO!
First, there is the ceremony run-through. Most officiants request a practice run of the ceremony service so everyone is comfortable with their roles. Consider this a blessing in disguise. It’s the moment when you get to practise your walk up the aisle (tip: wear your wedding shoes!) and your vows, plus get the specifics on who walks when, where and with whom.
Next up is dinner. Many couples have used this social opportunity to give a shout out to those who have assisted with wedding preparations. You could do this in a speech or a toast, or simply keep it casual if that’s your style. This also is the perfect time to give gifts to the bridal party and your family. There is no set rule on the matter of bridal party gift-giving. A nice idea is to tailor the gift to each individual. So if your best maid is crazy about pink, think about getting her a sweet, bubble-gum-hued sweater with her initial monogrammed on the front! The possibilities are as endless as the limits of your imagination.
TO DINE FOR
At the rehearsal dinner, the minimum to be invited is usually all those taking part in your wedding. This would include the entire
bridal party, both sets of parents, your officiant and anyone else who may be helping out at the ceremony. A thoughtful gesture is to invite your out-of-town guests, too. Having them at the dinner provides a lovely opportunity to catch up with them.
“I can remember thinking I just wanted to be alone the night before the wedding,” says newlywed Lydia Good of Toronto. “My parents insisted on having a rehearsal dinner and I’m so glad they did. It was a perfect way to calm wedding jitters and share some precious moments with those visiting.”
Keep in mind the plans for this night are totally up to you. If you think you might feel overwhelmed the night before the wedding, you may just want to make the dinner an intimate affair. A smaller number is always easier to control and can be less stressful for all!
SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY
The last thing you want is to turn the rehearsal dinner into a mini-wedding. Although hosting the dinner at a gorgeous country club is a grand idea, is it going to compete with your wedding? It may be important to evaluate the costs incurred for such an evening, too.
“Simplicity was key for our dinner,” reveals Toronto bride Andrea Rugel. “I didn’t want a big production the day before the wedding. We did the dinner at a restaurant—it was very relaxed and we were able to unwind before the big day.”
Some couples may feel it is in good taste to host the dinner on their own. Although it can be an appreciative gesture to personally want to fill the plates of your guests, don’t overfill your own plate by taking on too much responsibility for the event. The day before the wedding should be about you: get your nails done, have a massage and enjoy a spa treatment! You don’t want to exhaust yourself fussing over the dinner. There is always someone willing to host it for you. When things get a little too hectic even for his or your family to handle, others close to you, like your maid of honour or grandparents, may be more than happy to throw the fete.
SNAPSHOT MOMENTS
Even though games are fun and lively at girlie showers, they may detract from this dinner. You want to keep the evening relaxed but also comfortable for everyone, especially yourself. The rehearsal dinner is a special time because it is the last meal you will share as an unmarried couple. Take time to soak up the moments. Revisit some memories as an unhitched couple and share them with your guests. A nice idea during the rehearsal dinner is to ask any friends close to both you and your fiancé if they have any funny or touching stories about either of you. This sort of jesting is great for keeping the mood light and happy.
But remember to keep the carousing to a minimum; nothing could be worse than having the dinner extend into the wee hours of the morning. If you start early, then you will also be able to end early. After all, getting your beauty rest is essential to looking your best on the wedding day!
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