//Exquisite Weddings//
1. Be Picky About Seating: When it comes to the seating arrangement for your Rehearsal Dinner, it may depend on how well your friends and family already know each other, but definitely spend some time with this and be strategic (in a good way). From personal experience, if you don’t have assigned seating and let’s say not everyone knows each other, then it gets awkward. Yup, you’ll have sweet, conservative grandma directly across from an old college friend whose humor isn’t always the safest… yeah, better off avoiding this scenario (for everyone’s sake)! Simply take the number of tables you’ll be having, divide your guest list evenly and start pairing groups of three or four guests who know each other or at least have things in common. The best part about this? By the time your wedding rolls around, your friends and family will be “buddy buddy” with your fiancé’s side and vice versa! And all of this due to a little work on your part in strategically arranging the seating for the Rehearsal Dinner.
//brides.com//
2. Create a Rehearsal Cocktail Hour: We definitely encourage starting the evening with some time for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and mingling! This is the perfect time for introductions to be made between your family and friends and helps create a relaxed vibe, which is always a plus. If working with a caterer or restaurant, they should be able to accommodate and if you’re doing it yourself, then feel free to keep it simple but don’t skimp on this part of the evening. When you go to a wedding, most of the time the best part is the cocktail hour! So why not for your Rehearsal Dinner too?
//Snippet & Ink//
3. Don’t Forget Personalized Details: The more personalized your Rehearsal Dinner, the more people will feel at home. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to let your guests learn a bit about you two lovebirds. If your guilty pleasure is munching on salty peanuts, then incorporate them into the evening! Your sweetie is a sucker for quartet bands? Then hire some live music for the cocktail hour… these personal touches will set the theme for your weekend and it’s even more meaningful when there’s a story behind it. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Think about what’s important to you two and I guarantee it’ll be important to your guests!
//Rustic Wedding Chic//
4. Opt For A Private Space: There’s nothing worse than being interrupted during dinner… let alone your Rehearsal Dinner! So while it seems obvious, sometimes restaurants or venues will still be open to the public during your dinner. That’s totally okay, but just be mindful of it and make sure that if you’re in a public space that you’re able to close off a dedicated space. While it’s okay when guests are arriving and sipping on cocktails, you don’t want your father-in-law’s toast to be drowned out by restaurant staff or another noisy group. If you’re lucky enough to have an entire venue for yourselves, then embrace it and utilize every inch of that space! You’ll be thankful you had both the privacy to keep it intimate and yet plenty of room for people to mingle.
//Snippet & Ink//
5. The Food DOES Matter: Yes, we’ll say it again: Food does matter! Regardless of budget, make sure you love your Rehearsal Dinner menu just as much as your wedding menu. And it’s even more important for your rehearsal, because of the fact that it’s such an intimate affair. Of course you and your fiancé are the spotlight, but the food and drinks are neck and neck with you (we’re only half kidding). Be picky, be creative and make sure you’re able to work with the caterer or restaurant to make it custom. You’ll be thankful you did! And usually since it’s a smaller number than the wedding reception, you’ll be able to have fun with the menu. Go with foods that showcase yourselves and food you’re proud to serve!
