A rehearsal is almost a must to all churches so that everyone will know what to do, where to stand, which positions they should be at the appointed time, during the wedding day itself.
The rehearsal dinner is hosted and paid for by the parents of the groom. Rehearsal dinner etiquette rules apply when planning this event.
Rehearsal Dinner Etiquette
Here are some rehearsal etiquette points to keep in mind:
- The rehearsal dinner takes place the night before the wedding, regardless of when the wedding rehearsal is held.
- The rehearsal dinner can be in a private home or at a restaurant, usually in a private room. The dress code can vary, but it is never more elegant than the wedding reception.
- On the list of invitees, you include parents, grandparents, siblings, and their spouses or significant others (not dates), spouses of the parents (if they remarried), and bridesmaids and groomsmen. The children of the bride and groom are also invited if they are not too young.
- During dinner, the father of the groom starts the toast with a small speech about the upcoming wedding. It is followed by the father of the bride and the best man. The groom can make a toast to his bride and her family, followed by the bride to her groom and his family.
- If some of the guests have not given the wedding gifts to the couple, they can do it here.
The toasts and anecdotes are said during dinner, not after. This way the celebration remains short and everybody can go to sleep early. The next day will be very hectic and the bride and groom need a good night’s rest.