Rehearsal Dinners
Rehearsal dinners are a time for celebration and introduction. It is traditionally hosted by the groom's parents although the costs may be shared or paid for by the bride's parents, the couple's grandparents, members of the wedding party or friends. This is a time to introduce members of each family to each other and to make sure no one feels left out.
WHOM TO INVITE
Written invitations should be mailed so that there are no misunderstandings about the party. Guests typically include (besides the couple and their parents):
- Members of the wedding party and their spouses or fiance(e)s
- Parents of any children participating in the wedding
(small children should be left with a babysitter during dinner)
- The clergyman and their spouse (if not using a Star Fleet Captain)
- Special out of town relatives, including grandparents
ACTIVITIES
The purpose of the rehearsal dinner is to bring families together... maybe for the first time. Here are some of the activities which you might want to consider:
- The host typically makes introductions all around
- Consider name tags showing the person's name and their relationship to the bride or groom.
For example: “Amy Shanks - Sister of the Bride”
- If you have assigned seating, put guests besides people they don't know
- Home videos showing the couple as they grew up
- Say “thank you” to those who have helped with wedding plans
- Small gifts are traditionally given to members of the wedding party
- Depending on the size of the party and the number of young people,
karaoke or a DJ might help loosen everyone up and provide some humor.
TOASTS
Various family members and friends may want to tell stories about the bride and groom from their childhood however formal toasts should be done in the following order:
- Best man toasts the bride and groom
- Groom toasts his bride and her parents
- Bride toasts her groom and his parents
After the above traditional toasts, anyone may offer a toast and unlike those at the wedding, these toasts tend to be more humorous!