The Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner
The Rehearsal
- In order to insure that everything goes right at the ceremony, the rehearsal is essential.
- Check with your officiator for an appropriate time to schedule it.
- All the participants should be advised well in advance.
- They should arrive on time, take the instructions of the minister seriously, and listen attentively.
- They should dress appropriately and behave respectfully, for being in a church.
- It is time for the bride and the groom to give special instructions to the attendants or correct the procedures.
- Bring dummy bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids to practice.
Rehearsal Dinner
- Usually the groom's mother hosts the rehearsal dinner.
- This is a celebration planned for the wedding participants.
- The officiant may be invited, as well as immediate family members, spouses of married attendants, grandparents or children.
- A cocktail may be served, allowing the two families to chat with the attendants, and to get to know each other slightly.
- Follow the wedding seating protocol, the host and hostess seating at either end of the table. Other guests are seated in between.
- Use place cards and arrange it so that those who don't know one another will become acquainted before the wedding.
- As soon as the meal is served, the hostess makes the first toast to welcome the guests and demonstrate her happiness at the coming marriage.
- Then the bride's father makes a toast in return, and all the relatives follow as they wish. The fiancés can also toast each other and the parents.
- A bit of humor is in order.
- The wedding couple presents the gifts for their attendants at the dinner, preceded by a special toast in which they thank them for their help and for the roles they are to play in the wedding.
- The best man could introduce special entertainment such as a slide show of the couple as infants and children.
- On those days, a rehearsal dinner could be a barbecue, a brunch or a buffet in an elegant restaurant.
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