The rehearsal dinner can be a daunting task on your pre-wedding to-do list. There are so many things to take care of in the days leading up to your wedding that the thought of stopping everything for a big dinner may seem impossible. However, there are many reasons why a rehearsal dinner is worth the time and money. Not only does it give your close family and friends a chance to connect before the big day, it also gives you a chance to run through the ceremony and calm any nerves you may have going into it. Here are just a few of the reasons why you need to have a rehearsal dinner.
Welcoming VIP Guests
Do you have family and friends coming to your wedding from out of town? There is no better way to welcome them than by serving up a delicious meal. It can be difficult for visitors to find things to do in the days leading up to the wedding. It can also be difficult to find the time to welcome your guests one by one! Bringing everyone together for a rehearsal dinner is the perfect way to welcome your guests and thank them for making the effort to travel for your big day.
Giving Families a Chance to Meet
A lot of the time, the wedding is the first opportunity that the couple’s families have to meet and spend time with each other. As they are going to be in each other’s lives going forward, this is really important! Having a rehearsal dinner gives the families ample opportunity to mingle and get to know each other a little bit before the big day. It may even make the wedding day less stressful for you since you won’t need to worry about introducing family members to each other in between all of the other things on your schedule.
Rehearsing the Wedding
Of course, what is a rehearsal dinner without an actual rehearsal? Being able to run through your ceremony and work out any kinks is so comforting. My number one tip is to take the rehearsal seriously. Line everyone who will be in the ceremony up all the way at the start of the aisle (even the little ones) so that everyone gets a chance to ask any questions that they need to ask or work through any issues that may arise. It may seem like a simple task, but the details of where to go after walking down the aisle, how quickly to walk, how long to wait, etc. can really add up! As a bride or groom, being able to practice and see things go smoothly will do wonders for any pre-ceremony jitters.
Exchanging Gifts
It is common for the happy couple to exchange gifts before the big day and even to give gifts to close friends or family members. The morning of the wedding may seem like a good time to exchange these gifts, but things can get busy quicker than you expect and may not allow you the time that you want to make the gift exchange special. The rehearsal dinner is the perfect time to make these kinds of gifts special. You could even include it in the evening and give a toast as you give your gifts.
Enjoying Yourself
Finally, and most importantly, you need to have a rehearsal dinner so that you can take a break and enjoy yourself! You will be surrounded by family and friends who love and support you and your soon-to-be spouse. This is the perfect time to take a moment and soak in the love! You have worked so hard to get to this point, and you deserve a dinner devoted to you and your VIP guests.
