What can you do instead of a rehearsal dinner?

Is it OK not to have a rehearsal dinner?

Sure, you can practice entrances and exits without having a dinner to follow, but it's a nice way to thank your attendants for all of their help. At the end of the day though, the decision to have a rehearsal dinner is entirely up to the two of you.

How do you do a casual rehearsal dinner?

How important is a rehearsal dinner?

Rehearsals are followed by rehearsal dinners. This "party before the party" kicks off your wedding weekend. The most important part of a rehearsal dinner is the chance it offers for both of your families to spend a little more time together before your wedding day arrives.

Can you skip wedding rehearsal?

There's no rule that says you must have a wedding rehearsal. If your wedding is small, with few or no wedding attendants, and does not include any wedding traditions, customs, or special readings, then you can probably get away with not having a formal rehearsal.

REHEARSAL DINNER: Everything You NEED to Know

Who pays for the rehearsal dinner?

Both the groom's parents traditionally organize (and pay for) the rehearsal dinner. This can range in size from a small occasion for members of the wedding party only to a grand soiree (never to outdo the wedding, of course) that includes half or more of the wedding guests.

Do you need a bouquet for rehearsal?

It has long been a wedding tradition to create a 'rehearsal bouquet' for the bride, at her bridal shower – out of all the ribbons and bows from her gifts. When rehearsing for your wedding, it is truly important to rehearse everything – like what you are to do with your bouquet during the actual ceremony.

Who is traditionally invited to the rehearsal dinner?

Here's who definitely gets an invite.

Your immediate families, the bridal party (including the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer, even if they're not in the wedding), any ceremony readers, and your officiant (plus his or her spouse, if married) should always be invited to the rehearsal dinner.

Who speaks at rehearsal dinner?

Who Gives a Rehearsal Dinner Toast? The host of the rehearsal dinner (traditionally the father of the groom in a heterosexual couple) gives the first speech. This person is followed by members of the wedding party that won't be speaking at the reception (typically anyone other than the maid of honor and the best man).

Is it tacky to have a cash bar at a rehearsal dinner?

“If you're trying to save money, cash bars are still considered tacky,” Oldham said. “If you need to control budgets, serve beer, wine and a signature cocktail.” Or switch your dinner to brunch and serve Champagne and mimosas.

What is the groom's family supposed to pay for?

The groom's family is responsible for corsages and boutonnieres for immediate members of both families, the lodging of the groom's attendants (if you have offered to help pay for this expense), and sometimes the costs of the rehearsal dinner.

Are rehearsal dinners fancy?

The rehearsal dinner can be as formal or informal as you like, depending on your budget and desires. Many couples try to keep the rehearsal dinner on theme with the wedding, however, so the dinner feels like an extension of the wedding itself and blends seamlessly into the rest of the weekend.

What the bride's family pays for in a wedding?

The Bride's Family

Nowadays, perhaps a sweet grandmother offers to purchase your gown, or perhaps you're paying for it on your own. The bride's family also pays for big-ticket items such as a wedding planner, the bachelorette party, and ceremony reception costs (music, guest favors, rentals, etc.).

How much money should the groom's parents give?

Parents of the bride and groom collectively contribute about $19,000 to the wedding, or about two-thirds of the total cost, according to WeddingWire. The bride's parents give an average $12,000, and the groom's, $7,000. Just 1 in 10 couples pays for the wedding entirely on their own, according to TheKnot.com.

Does father of bride speak at rehearsal dinner?

Traditionally, rehearsal dinner speeches are given by the Father of the Bride or the Father of the Groom. Sometimes the Maid of Honor, Best Man and Bride, and Groom can give short rehearsal dinner speeches or toasts of their own, but it is not mandatory.

Does mother of groom speak at wedding?

While this speech has traditionally been given at rehearsal dinners, it's not unusual for the mother of the groom to speak at the wedding reception, either. If you're struggling to put words on paper to express the joy, happiness, and love you have for your son, you're not alone.

What is the etiquette for mother of the groom?

Etiquette holds that the Groom and his family cover the rehearsal dinner expenses, floral for immediate family and the Bride's bouquet, and the officiant fees. If you'll cover these, let them know upfront.

Should aunts and uncles be invited to rehearsal dinner?

Family. Of course your parents should be in attendance at your rehearsal dinner along with your grandparents and your siblings. You are not obligated to invite your extended family, but most couples do include aunts and uncles; especially ones they are close to.

Do grandparents go to rehearsal dinner?

This might seem fairly obvious, but the immediate family of the soon-to-be newlyweds should always be invited to the rehearsal dinner. This means parents, siblings, and grandparents.

Do out of town guests attend the rehearsal dinner?

The average cost for a rehearsal dinner is $30-$70 per person. That can get pricey if you are inviting many out-of-town guests. All of your out-of-town friends and family do not need to be invited to the rehearsal dinner.

Who runs the rehearsal at a wedding?

This is normally the responsibility of the coordinator at your ceremony site, or your wedding planner if you have one. Many of our couples will also ask a friend or family member to help run the rehearsal and cue everyone for their entrance to the ceremony, which is a great option.

What is the point of a wedding rehearsal?

A wedding rehearsal is a run-through of the wedding ceremony. It usually takes place a few days before the wedding and allows everyone involved in the wedding to know where they will be and when. It's the perfect time to answer questions and work out any hiccups.

Why do you keep the bows from a bridal shower?

But what started the tradition? The ribbon bouquet was created to symbolize the love, support and best wishes the brides family and friends have for the couple. It also is a symbol of the friendship and bond the bride has with her maid of honor or bridesmaids, depending on who is in charge of creating it.

Who walks the mother of the groom down the aisle?

As the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind.

Is it rude to ask guests to pay for rehearsal dinner?

It's not really appropriate to ask guests to pay for the rehearsal dinner, the reason being that the wedding party is required to attend the rehearsal; it is not an optional event that they can bow out of if they cannot afford the dinner. For this reason, you really can't expect them to pay for their own meal.