Rehearsal Dinner Vendors Near Me

The final meal before the couple officially get hitched is typically a more relaxed, intimate affair. But that doesn’t mean your rehearsal dinner should be any less impressive than the wedding, and the vendors be any less talented. Choose great caterers, an elegant setting, and you’ll ensure the rehearsal is almost as good as the real thing!

The rehearsal dinner is often one of the most enjoyable parts of a wedding weekend, for both the guests involved, and the happy couple. As it marks the start of proceedings, the kick-off to the whole series of events. And it’s a meal table populated mostly by VIPs!

Apart from the odd out-of-town guest who had to arrive early, the rehearsal dinner involves only close family and friends directly involved in the wedding. Which means the dinner feels much more relaxed than events to follow.

The dinner usually takes place following the run-through, or rehearsal, of the ceremony. During the day, the guests involved will rarely get the opportunity to catch up, or have a chat, but the private, evening celebration offers them that chance.

Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is paid for and hosted by the groom’s parents, as, again, traditionally, the bride’s parents would pay for the wedding. This is of course not necessarily how the setup is in your family, or relationship. And so, these days, the host of the evening is very much down to who would like to take charge. In most cases, it’s actually the couple who would foot the bill and look after proceedings.

The actual venue you hold your rehearsal dinner at will depend on the size of your group, and the vibe you want the evening to have. If you’re a cozy bunch, with just a few friends and family present. Then the back room of a restaurant will be ideal, or possibly a small rented space at your hotel. For larger parties, maybe consider hosting at more of a traditional event space, or wedding venue.

Any space can be transformed with a few thoughtful pieces of decor, and some floral arrangements. Work with your existing wedding vendors, or find some other talented teams to help you put together a look that feels authentic to you and your families. While possibly linking in the theme of your wedding. Coordinating flowers is often the easiest way to achieve this. You could even use the same if they’re not fresh. Just present them in an alternative fashion.

If you really want to utilize the skills of your stationer, then you could send out paper invitations for your rehearsal dinner. However, most couples choose to simply call, or message their guests, and tell them the details of the event. Whether your invites are informal or not, make sure everyone confirms their attendance, as not only will they be missed. But you’ll have to pay for their empty seat.

A good way to think of the rehearsal dinner, is to consider it as a small wedding reception. But one that you can be a little more creative, and personal with. You’re surrounded by only your nearest and dearest, so now is the time to get a little sentimental. While also throwing in plenty of personal touches.

Get creative with your table names, name drinks after much loved pets in the family, and maybe serve some dishes that mean something to you all. Putting together these cute details will make the whole event feel a lot more memorable and unique to your families.

When it comes to table plans, attempt to create a dynamic that allows all members of the family to easily converse. Allowing both sides of the family to get to know each other better during the rehearsal dinner will make interactions the following day flow a lot more naturally, and create a general feeling of comfortability.

It can be tempting, after a few glasses of wine and a good catch-up, to keep the party going all night. But remember, this is just the rehearsal, the big day is tomorrow. And the last thing you want is to be tired, or hungover on a day you’ve been meticulously planning for so long. Keep the event short, and prioritize the big celebrations the next day.