Do consider hiring a caterer, maid service, cleanup crew and renting dishes that can be packed up dirty if you’re planning to host the dinner at the home of your parents; this will spare them the work involved in hosting so close to the main event.
Do personalize a restaurant dinner with thoughtful touches, such as handwritten place cards or a floral centrepiece that match your colour scheme. Hire a pianist or a violinist to play romantic background music.
Do present gifts for your attendants at the rehearsal dinner, if you haven’t done so already.
Don’t feel you have to include young members of the wedding party or their parents. But, it would be a good idea to include the parents if they are in your wedding party or are really close friends.
Don’t feel like you have to invite out-of-town guests to dinner. Tip: to avoid any awkwardness, ensure that they have other plans at a great restaurant or suggest cool places for them to check out like a show.
Don’t make it a late night, especially if it’s the night before the wedding—you’ll want to sparkle on your wedding day.
Comment on "Rehearsal Dinner Dos and Don'ts"
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Posted by Marlo on September 16, 2010 at 9:32 p.m.
I don't agree with the out of town guests comment. If someone is coming from out of town, the least you could do is invite them to the rehearsal dinner!
Posted by JJ on December 8, 2010 at 1:48 p.m.
Half our guest list is from out of town though.... it will turn out to be very out of hand if we were to invite all the out of town guests.
Posted by jayne on April 28, 2011 at 10:56 a.m.
We are only inviting the wedding party and our parents.... BBQ dinner after the rehersale...Is it really suppose to be all fancied up too!?
Posted by Anna on April 28, 2011 at 4:39 p.m.
I think if they are from out of town but have friends and family in the city of the locals then you can consider them 'local' for purpose of the rehearsal dinner. If you invite people who are truly in town just for the wedding and don't know anyone else in town then you should make sure that you take care of them while they are here and invite them to the rehearsal dinner. Remember as the bride, you are the hostess not the guest.
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