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PRE-WEDDING CELEBRATIONS

WRITTEN BY Katie Day

let the celebration begin

"Experts recommend starting to plan at least four to six months prior to the event to give you time to get the venue and plan for all the details.

Hosting a successful rehearsal dinner

O NE OF THE MOST EXCITING aspects of your big day is the rehearsal dinner. It’s a time for you, your

groom, and your families to come together, enjoy each other’s company and relax before the wedding and reception. There’s a significant list of things you need to do to make your rehearsal dinner a success and between choosing the venue and writing your speech, you can get a bit overwhelmed. Don’t panic yet, planning your rehearsal dinner can actually be as fun as the event itself! The best way to have a rehearsal dinner that goes according to plan, is by giving yourself suf-ficient time to plan. Experts recommend starting to plan at least four to six months prior to the event to give you time to get the venue and plan for all the details.

SELECTING YOUR LOCATIONLocation should be at the top of your to-do list. “Locations that are ideal have to be fun, have a great environment and not be too expensive,” says event planner Rena Puebla. Experts suggest restaurants or hotels, as many of them will have a private room to host your party. Many brides and grooms pick a unique venue that ties together and enhances their theme.

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PRE-WEDDING CELEBRATIONS

It’s really fun to do an open mic during toasts so that guests can really get to know fun

stories about the couple.

“A favorite outdoor destina-tion with al fresco dining under a tent, a family member’s private residence, or an art gallery all would be lovely settings,” suggests Morgan Bedore of Stephen Starr Events. When choosing a location, be sure to keep in mind the size of your party. The larger your party, the longer it will take to get all of the details worked out with the space. While it may seem tempting to throw a big celebration for your friends and family, traditionally it is a smaller event. You don’t want the rehearsal dinner to imitate the wedding reception. “Keep the event small and intimate,” says Lina Wallace of A Stunning Affair. “This is a more relaxed setting where everyone, including the bride and groom will have time to converse with their closest family and friends.” Wallace also recommends keeping it simple, and not going over-the-top. “You don’t want your rehearsal dinner upstaging your wedding day.”

CHOOSING YOUR MENU“Once the location is secured, you can take your time to work on the details, such as crafting a custom menu or fun cocktail,” Bedore says. You’llneedtofindfoodsthat not only both you and your groom enjoy, but the rest of your party will enjoy as well. The type of service you choose will help set the tone for the evening. Both family style dinners and buffet style dinners are recommended by our experts. “Family style is great for con-versation,” says Wallace. “This type of meal allows guests to

chat, eat, and get to know each other as they pass the dishes around the table.” Wallace recommends a family style, especially if family members and friends are meetingforthefirsttime.Itwillgive everyone an opportunity to mingle and really get to know the people sitting around them. For a more laid back setting, a buffet style is also a popular rehearsal dinner choice. “Buffets are always nice and simple,” says Puebla. A buffet

style gives your guests a wider variety of food choices and sets the tone for a more casual evening. “And remember, it always depends on the bride and grooms budget.” Whatever style of service you choose, picking the actual food served can be the trickiest part. Pick your favorites, something both you and your groom really enjoy, or maybe a dish that reminds you of a special moment in your relationship. “There are no rules to menus at rehearsal dinners,” says Bedore.“It’sbesttochooseyourfavorites.” Wallace agrees, but also suggests you think about the guests attending. “Don’t choose anything unusual, since you’re catering to a larger group of people with a variety of tastes,” Wal-lace recommends. Keep in mind guests that

have food allergies or are vegetarian or vegan. Try to have a variety of dishes that will accommodate them as well.

AFTER DINNER EVENTSOnce the menu and location are set, it’s time to think about the fun aspects of your rehearsal dinner. This is a time for you, your groom, and your family and friends to have fun and get to know each other before the

big day. Bedore refers to the rehearsal dinner as the “kick off for a weekend of fun,” so incorporate some fun activities along with the dinner. “Traditionally, gifts are given to the bridal party, and in some cases the immediate family who played a large role in the planningorfinancesofthewedding,” says Bedore. She encourages brides to have fun and be personal with their gifts. “Personalized and home-made gifts have been a favorite amongst recent rehearsal dinners- think hand-bound cookbooks created by the bride and groom with heritage recipes collected from their families.” Along with gift giving, there are traditionally toasts at the rehearsal dinner. Remember to keep it short and sweet; the formal speeches should be saved for the wedding day. ALEXIS STEIN PHOTOGRAPHY

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“The bride and groom should plan a speech thanking the bridal party, groomsmen, family members and possibly guests who have travelled far,” says Puebla. After the planned speeches,openupthefloorand have an open mic night. “It’sreallyfuntodoanopenmicduring toasts so that guests can really get to know fun stories about the couple,” Wallace says. While open mic time and a family style dinner may sounds like a blast, keep in mind that your big wedding celebration is the next day. Be sure to limit the alcohol, so everyone will be fresh and ready to go the nextday.Insteadofanopenbar, try making a special drink for the dinner that matches you and your groom’s personality. Get creative! This not only adds a fun, quirky, personal touch, but also keeps the amount of alcohol consumed under wraps. You also need to be con-scious of where your guests are arriving from. Be sure to keep the location in a place that’s convenient for everyone, and make sure you give the rehearsal dinner a set time frame. “Many guests will be travelling from out of town for the weekend festivities,” says Bedore. “Think about starting the rehearsal dinner no earlier than 7 pm to give everyone a chance to arrive at your destina-tion, and set an end time to give everyone their beauty rest before the big day.” Start looking around for your perfect location, write your speech, then sit back and relax. The rehearsal dinner is a time for you and your groom to have fun and enjoy the company of your family and friends. n

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