The rehearsal dinner is often hosted by the groom's parents. Leave the details to them. For couples who prefer to host the dinner themselves as a thanks to the families and wedding guests, make sure to explain the reasoning to the grooms parents so as not to insult them. And if they take it hard, include them in some way. Why take on more work when letting others manage it makes them happier?
After the wedding rehearsal, the night before the wedding, is the best time for this dinner. This ensures that all the guests and family are in town, available to attend. Don't hold it a long time before the wedding. It potentially excludes some people. The last thing needed from a wedding is hurt feelings in either family . Remember, for the bride and groom both families are soon to become their family.
Make sure to invite the immediate relatives on both sides of the wedding. The entire bridal party, each with a guest, should also be asked to attend along with any other friends and family the bride and groom would like to have at the dinner. Also invite the person who will deliver the wedding vows. Just like with the wedding be very careful with who is invited or not. Maybe uncle Albert is a little rude, but is it worth a lifetime of bad blood to exclude him?
Dinner begins with a time for people to talk and mingle. Make it a relaxing situation. Make sure the dinner isn't out of whack with the cost of the remainder of the wedding. If it's a million dollar wedding then the rehearsal dinner should reflect this. By the same token a budget wedding should have too fancy of a rehearsal dinnerA less expensive wedding warrants a less expensive rehearsal dinner. Finally, make sure the dinner ends fairly early so people can be well rested for the next day's festivities.
Toasts are generally made to everyone involved in making the wedding a success. This includes both the bride's and groom's parents, and anyone else who has helped. The toast comes after the main course. The best man and maid of honor toasts are appropriate at the reception, not during the rehearsal dinner.
A pleasant rehearsal dinner can set the stage for a nice wedding. Pay attention to rehearsal dinner etiquette.
