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The night before the wedding is an important event where your bridal party, parents and other guests will gather to toast you before the I Dos: the rehearsal dinner. But in the middle of planning the actual wedding day, this task can often fall by the wayside. Be sure you don’t make one of these eight mistakes when it comes to the rehearsal dinner.
Waiting too long to book a location.
If you have your heart set on a specific location--or want a private room in your favorite restaurant--then you need to book it fast. Start looking at places soon after you decide on your wedding date.
Skipping a seating chart.
Although this might not be as formal of an event, you still want to assign seats, says Tatiana Byron, founder and CEO of Wedding Salon. "No one wants an awkward argument between mother-in-laws!"
Forgetting about music.
You probably won't expect guests to dance, but you’ll still want some music in the background (think Adele or Sinatra). Ask the venue if you can hook up your iPhone to the speakers in the private room.
Ditching your theme.
If you have a wedding theme or color scheme, you can incorporate it into the rehearsal dinner so the weekend from start to finish goes together. You don’t want your rehearsal to look like it was just thrown together. It is a part of the wedding weekend and it should match the feel of the main event.
Forgetting the bridal party gifts.
You have so much on your mind--don’t make forgetting the gifts for the bridal party and parents to be something you stress over. Instead, designate someone to bring them to the rehearsal dinner location for you.
Not delegating duties.
You're planning the big day, so why not let someone else handle the reigns with the rehearsal dinner? You can make the big decisions--locale, menu, etc.--but let a trusted family member deal with the minor details.
Skimping on the guest list.
You can choose to keep the rehearsal dinner an intimate affair, but keep in mind that etiquette states you should also include any out-of-town guests since they've traveled to be a part of the event. Having a destination wedding? Then you’ll need to invite all of the attending guests. If that’s a big number, then opt for a more casual rehearsal, such as a BBQ or a buffet.
Staying out too late.
The rehearsal dinner, if it's the night before the wedding, should see its last course (dessert) served by 9pm, says Sandy Hammer, co-founder and CMO of AllSeated. "Everyone needs to rest and prepare for the wedding the next day, especially the bride!"
