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Step 1
Choose a theme and color scheme very different from that of the wedding.
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Step 2
Select a location, caterer and menu.
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Step 3
Make your guest list and include the wedding party, their spouses or dates, the families, the officiant and his or her spouse and out-of-town relatives.
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Step 4
Select and send invitations about four weeks before the dinner.
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Step 5
Plan flowers, decorations and music.
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Step 6
Prepare name tags and place cards to help people become more familiar with one another.
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Step 7
Prepare an icebreaker game or activity to encourage mingling and socializing.
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Step 8
Have the father of the groom, as the traditional host, offer a toast after dinner. He is followed by the father of the bride, the groom, perhaps the bride and any others who wish to make toasts.
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Step 9
Use this opportunity to give the attendants their gifts. The parents may present their gifts at this time, also.
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Step 10
End the party early to give everyone a chance to rest before the big day.
Comments
juliesmith said
on 9/23/2008 I recently attended a wedding rehearsal that was so wonderful. They had put up a big-screen tv and played a musical show made with pictures of the couple's dating days. It was perfectly synchronized to music and because it was professionally made, the results were awesome! It was so romantic and touching to watch their love story! Later, they presented a copy of the DVD to every guest as a souvenir to take home. They got the show custom-made for them by www.smilingsnaps.com and I had never seen anything like that before.
Liamac said
on 8/13/2008 It's a good idea to coordinate the seating to be sure the group is mixed appropriately. We were casual and said to everybody, "Sit where you like," -- and ended up with the groom's family all at one table, the wedding party at another and the bride's family at another. That segregation is not a good idea! So head it off by directing the seating of the guests at the table(s).
WebDrops said
on 7/17/2008 Ice breaker games for such wedding rehearsal parties are important ... specially because this is the first time all the wedding guests will be meeting... so planning out these games & activities before time is a good idea... a little research could help you
Saimon said
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Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 My fianc and I completely forgot to plan a rehearsal dinner into our budget. One day while we were out at lunch, I made a joke comment, "We should just have our rehearsal dinner here." He thought it was a good idea, and so we're having a pizza party at Pizza Hut! The staff at Pizza Hut has even offered to decorate with streamers in our color scheme! At least this way everyone will be relaxed, casual and it's perfect, even for the kids! Who doesn't like pizza?