How do you plan a rehearsal dinner?
- Determine who will host the rehearsal dinner
- Send out invitations in advance
- Choose a theme
- Pick a special venue
- Plan your menu
- Prepare gifts for the guests
A rehearsal dinner is an event to bring together the families of the bride and groom. It is often held after the wedding ceremony rehearsal on the day before the wedding as a way of having an extra day to relax and have fun with your loved ones. Bond over some good food and talk about what will happen on one of the most memorable days of your life. Interested in learning how to plan a rehearsal dinner? Keep on reading!
Determine Who Will Host The Rehearsal Dinner
The first thing you need to do is to figure out who will host the event. Normally, it’s done either by the family of the groom or the family that did not pay for the wedding. But nowadays, some couples also prefer to split the cost of the rehearsal dinner. Other couples will also choose to fund the event themselves.
Send Out Invitations In Advance
It’s a good idea to send your rehearsal dinner invitations at least a month before the date of the event. This way, you can ensure that all guests can attend the rehearsal and the dinner. You can send out formal invitations, but phone calls and online invitations are also fine. This will depend on your decision to host a casual or a more formal event.
As a general rule of thumb, the people you need to invite to a rehearsal dinner are immediate family members and members of the entourage. You can invite the officiant too.
Choose A Theme
Now that the host and the guests are settled, the next thing you need to do is to pick a theme. You can base this on your wedding theme or plan something different altogether.
If you want to make it meaningful, you can use your special memories as a couple. For example, you can recreate your first date. You can also explore your interests. Do you enjoy wine-tasting, outdoor BBQs, or game nights? Find a way, so your guests can also be a part of the experience. No matter what it is, your theme should be all about you two.
Pick A Special Venue
Just like the theme, you can also pick a special location to make your rehearsal dinner more memorable. The most popular choice for this event is a restaurant, but you can always do it at home or at an events place. There are plenty of unique venue suggestions here which can serve as a picture-perfect backdrop for the dinner.
On the practical side of things, it’s recommended to choose a location that is close to the place where you’re staying. You need to get enough rest before the big day, so it’s best to reduce the travel time.
Plan Your Menu
One of the highlights of your rehearsal dinner is the food, so make sure to plan it out in advance. You can introduce local cuisines to out-of-town guests. Or maybe you and your partner can serve your favorite dishes. Make sure to take note of any dietary restrictions too.
If you’re planning to have your rehearsal dinner at an event’s place, you can hire a professional caterer to provide your meals. Because the food is taken care of, you can rest easy and just focus on enjoying the activities before your wedding day.
Prepare Gifts For The Guests
It’s common to give gifts to the members of the wedding entourage to show appreciation for their presence and involvement in your big day. You can also present tokens of appreciation to the parents to show gratitude for their love.
It doesn’t have to be fancy, even small favors will be appreciated. You can also base your gift on the theme of your wedding.
Key Takeaway
Now that you have an idea of how to plan a rehearsal dinner, you can make preparations soon! This is important because you need to send out the invitations early, book a venue, hire a caterer, and prepare the gifts.
If you’re looking for a professional caterer to help you in your rehearsal dinner preparations, you can send us a message here at Juan Carlo. We have a long list of menu items that will suit your preferences and dietary restrictions. Aside from that, we can also help you with the decor too, so you don’t need to worry about hosting a successful event.
