What Are the Duties of the Father of the Groom at a Rehearsal Dinner?
Weddings are a happy and exciting time in the lives of everyone involved, though keeping track of everyone's responsibilities can get a bit confusing. The duties of the father of the groom are not terribly defined by etiquette and tradition, but modern weddings have provided more opportunities for the groom's father to step forward and support the engaged couple. The rehearsal dinner is an excellent opportunity for the father of the groom to be helpful to the bride and groom.
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The Speech
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A relatively new tradition, father-of-the-groom speeches are becoming more common at rehearsal dinners. This gives the father the opportunity to welcome both families and to express his hope for the continued happiness of the engaged couple. These speeches are typically light-hearted and are given at the beginning of the dinner. For the comfort of guests who have been on their feet at the rehearsal, keep the speech brief - no more than two minutes in length. End by raising your glass to toast the couple and encouraging your guests to follow suit.
The Bill
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Long-standing tradition dictates that the groom's family pays for the rehearsal dinner, as it is generally acknowledged that the bride's family will pay for the majority of the wedding itself. As the groom's father, it will be your duty to cover the cost of the dinner, including the gratuity for the waitstaff. While you may wish to purchase champagne in advance to toast the wedding couple, you are not expected to cover the cost of any additional alcoholic beverages consumed by your guests.
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The Guests
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While the guests of the rehearsal dinner will typically be friends and family, it is always appropriate and helpful to make sure that everyone has been properly introduced and is at ease. As the parents of the married couple are expected to mingle and make introductions at the wedding reception, the rehearsal dinner is an excellent time for the father of the groom to make connections between guests and ensure that everyone is having an enjoyable evening.
Miscellaneous
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As there are very few concrete expectations of the father of the groom, make yourself available to the engaged couple and offer help in any way that you can. Take the coats of your guests, offer to keep elderly relatives company, keep an eye open for guests who may have had too much to drink, or organize a simple activity, such as coloring sheets, to keep younger members of the wedding party amused. Any thoughtful gesture that makes the evening run smoothly and happily is bound to be appreciated.
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References
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