Who Gives The Toast At A Wedding Rehearsal Dinner?
By Amanda Zack, Lantern Room Creative
Everyone loves talking about the wedding ceremony, which is much like the main course of the celebration. However, what's a meal without a delectable appetizer to kick off the wedding festivities? Wedding rehearsal dinners are intimate gatherings with your closest friends and family, where you can enjoy a meal, exchange gifts, and—you guessed it—make toasts.
While certain people, like the best man or maid of honor, will make speeches at the wedding, the rehearsal dinner provides an opportunity for other loved ones to share their best wishes with the couple and celebrate their future together.
So if you're compiling a setlist of speakers, here's a list of people to offer the limelight during your rehearsal dinner.
Photo credit: Carter Rose from Elegant Tented Wedding Rehearsal Dinner At Home
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Rehearsal dinner host(s)
Traditionally, the host(s) of the rehearsal dinner share a warm welcome, thanking guests for joining. In many cases, the host(s) are either the groom's parents or the couple. Either way, it's an excellent introduction to segue into more sentimental toasts.
If you're not planning to host the occasion, you can still express your appreciation. A simple thank you is a nice touch that will make guests feel special for partaking in your wedding weekend.
Once the hosts say a few words, the floor is open for others to speak. Don’t worry — it doesn't have to feel like a graduation with an exhausting roster of speeches! Instead, you can limit the toasts to bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other family members. As wonderful as speeches are, you can expect to hear plenty more as the weekend progresses!
Wedding party members
If your best man or maid of honor already have speeches reserved for the wedding reception, let other wedding party members take the stage. Your friends can keep things light-hearted and silly with throwback stories and fun anecdotes.
Inside jokes, funny quotes, and silly nicknames are also a great addition to a tribute. Even if other guests don't quite understand the meaning, you’ll still get a kick out of it. Using this opportunity to reminisce with loved ones offers a sweet glimpse into your friendship and makes it all the more special!
Parents
We touched on parents before; however, they can still lead a toast if they're not hosting the event! As a smaller affair, a rehearsal dinner is perfect for parents who aren't comfortable with public speaking and don't intend on taking centerstage during the wedding reception.
Parents may share a heartfelt message for the bride and groom and offer words of wisdom for their next chapter. Typically, the groom’s parents give a speech at the rehearsal dinner, but both sets of parents are free to do so at this pre-wedding celebration.
Photo credit: Carter Rose from Elegant Tented Wedding Rehearsal Dinner At Home
Officiant
Yes, you will hear a great deal from the officiant during the ceremony, but it's also customary to invite them to the rehearsal dinner. So consider taking the chance to ask them to share a general message about love and relationships! And if the officiant is a friend or family member, they can go off the script for this occasion and share a personal experience with you.
Less formal than the ceremony to come, the rehearsal dinner gives your officiant a chance to speak from the heart while reminding couples of the meaning of marriage and the importance of taking the next step together.
Couple
Last but not least, it's time to pass the mic to the couple! Beyond greetings and thank yous, you may want to dedicate a speech to your family and the wedding party standing beside you during the celebration. Since they’re all in attendance, the rehearsal dinner allows you to share an intimate toast and reserve the general stuff for the big day.
Keep it short and sweet, but remember to speak from the heart. Of course, you don't have to share a long list of experiences with your partner – you can save that for the vows and wedding reception. However, you can tell stories of how you met or adventurous dates you’ve had together. You can also add a creative spin by sharing the toast together or individually. The choice is yours!
Photo credit: Carter Rose from Elegant Tented Wedding Rehearsal Dinner At Home
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!
So, are you ready to clink your drink?
Although speeches are standard in wedding festivities, they are not required for a rehearsal dinner. However, they can create a sense of community as the couple and their loved ones come together to celebrate their union. So whether your parents, groomsmen or other members make speeches, expect to feel showered with love by the end of the evening. Talk about the perfect introduction for the rest of the wedding weekend!
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About Let’s Get Rehearsed!
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Amanda Zack is the owner of Lantern Room Creative, a boutique copywriting agency that specializes in brand messaging and digital marketing solutions for creatives and wedding professionals.