7 Steps To Planning A Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
Rehearsal dinners are such a special time during your wedding. They are the perfect way to emotionally prepare you and your immediately close loved ones for the big day that’s to come the next day! Connections are important, especially around big moments like weddings. We’re sharing some wedding rehearsal dinner advice in the form of the seven most important steps to planning a rehearsal dinner or welcome party. You that you won’t want to miss this, especially if you’re here for the connection and not the stress of it all!
Of course, hosting a wedding rehearsal dinner that accomplishes all of these wonderful tasks takes planning. On top of planning everything else for your big day, though, planning an additional rehearsal dinner can feel overwhelming. Not to worry, we have your back with the seven most important things you need to do to kickstart your rehearsal dinner planning. These are the step-by-step instructions that will make your rehearsal dinner one for the ages!
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from Texas Hill Country Rehearsal Dinner (With Donkeys!)
Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
1. Decide Who Will Host
Whether it’s you, someone else, or a group effort, be sure to decide who is in charge and who’s paying for what. Many couples will receive support from generous friends and family throughout the wedding planning process.
Rather than handling everything yourself, work with your loved ones and accept their help, as it may take many logistical burdens off of your shoulders. Work with them on coordinating what you need for your rehearsal dinner.
Nothing is more awkward than having two people think that they’re the ones bringing centerpieces for your rehearsal dinner! Make sure that those in charge do their research on which locations will be accessible to everyone in your family, as some locations can be difficult to get to for those experiencing physical impairments.
2. Choose A Theme
If you love a theme, rehearsal dinners are perfect! Because of the intimacy of rehearsal dinners, you are free to experiment with a more creative or eccentric theme. Themes can be tied to the location of your rehearsal dinner, a fond family memory, or something you and your partner generally enjoy.
Get zany with it! Themes can include bohemian, modern, 80’s roller skating, pizza party, BBQ, lobster bake, a TV show, murder mystery--it’s very personalizable. A casual theme is a welcome contrast to the more formal wedding the next day. And don’t forget to make it your own with personal details. The more personal, the better. Rehearsal dinners are times for you and your loved ones to connect and laugh together, so the more memories included, the better.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more theme help, be sure to read our article on “How To Make Your Rehearsal Dinner Different From Your Wedding.” and check out the best 2024 wedding rehearsal dinner trends)
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from Texas Hill Country Rehearsal Dinner (With Donkeys!)
3. Designate A Budget
Budgeting is very important for all of life’s journeys, but especially when it comes to your wedding. Budgeting is also very personal to each couple, and it can be a difficult factor to work around. However, rehearsal dinners don’t have to be the most expensive part of your wedding.
Creating a separate budget from your wedding budget is essential to keeping things organized and everyone on the same page. Make sure that whoever you’re planning this rehearsal dinner with is crystal clear on your budget, it will help prevent future conflict.
Many themes don’t require too many props, and since your rehearsal dinner will be more about you and your loved ones than anything else, extra decorations or props will be less important than the people who attend.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more budget and saving money help, be sure to read our article on “Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Budget: How Much And Who Pays?” and our top 6 ways for saving money on your wedding rehearsal dinner)
4. Decide On A Guest List
Rehearsal dinners are truly a special time in the wedding process. Traditionally, couples invite their immediate family (including grandparents), the officiant, the wedding party, and the flower boys or girls. Use this list as a blueprint, each list will vary from couple to couple.
Make sure that those at your rehearsal dinner are those who you feel the strongest connections with, even if that means inviting your chosen family or close friends in lieu of others on this list.
We suggest keeping the rehearsal dinner guest list as small as possible to reduce cost and create an atmosphere that feels more intimate and personal. Wedding welcome and afterparties include the majority or all of the wedding guests, so there will be more events where everyone is included.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more on guest list planning, be sure to read our article breaking down the wedding rehearsal dinner guest list and check out our article on wedding rehearsal dinner invitation etiquette!)
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from Texas Hill Country Rehearsal Dinner (With Donkeys!)
Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
5. Plan The Details
Menus, drinks, decor, gifts, speeches, slide shows & more...make sure to plan the little details of your rehearsal dinner. The more planning, the smoother (presumably) everything will run the night of your rehearsal dinner.
It will take a mountain of stress off your shoulders if you have all your ducks in a row. And honestly, who wants to be setting up a slideshow during rehearsal dinner instead of enjoying quality time with friends and family?
Be mindful not to replicate or (worse) upstage the wedding on your rehearsal dinner night. Those who make speeches at the rehearsal dinner typically don’t make another speech on wedding day, so assign speeches according to who may have wonderful things to say, but no time to speak on the big day.
6. Set The Timeline
A rehearsal dinner, while its logistics may not upstage the wedding, includes lots of moving parts. Make sure to set a timeline for the day just like on your wedding day.
Those involved in your rehearsal dinner need to know when to be where, and it can prevent you from having to answer a million questions from a million different people while you’re trying to enjoy your day. While timelines may need to be altered, it is important to have a baseline so that everyone can familiarize themselves with the flow of things on the day of rehearsal dinner.
Photo credit: Carter Rose Photography from Texas Hill Country Rehearsal Dinner (With Donkeys!)
7. Don’t Forget The Rehearsal!
With the party excitement, it's easy to forget that the point is for everyone involved in the wedding to know the when, where and what for the next day. However, learning this can be fun! Given the casual nature of rehearsal dinners, your guests’ learning environment can be as laid back and enjoyable as it can be instructive.
Remember: the rehearsal is the reason that you’re hosting the dinner in the first place. Your practice doesn’t have to be perfect, but make sure to schedule time for your rehearsal before all of the fun. Everyone will feel much better about it come wedding day!
Enjoy!
When it comes to your rehearsal dinner planning, you got this! Putting in the time to plan your rehearsal and the dinner (or party!) after will make things go so much smoother amid all of your wedding craziness on the big day!
And, remember, rehearsal dinners are about you and your loved ones! It’s not a time for stress, it’s a time to get the party started!
If you’re planning a rehearsal dinner, don’t miss some of these must-read resources:
How To Make Your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Different From Your Wedding
Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Invitation Etiquette: Wording, Timing & More
About Let’s Get Rehearsed!
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