So just out of curiosity... a question...

GoingNutty Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:07 PM

So just out of curiosity... a question...

What, to you, is the purpose of a rehearsal dinner other than the obvious, practicing for the big day??

Don't worry- I am having a nice dinner for my bridal party!! I am just curious as to your feelings

Jen2999 Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:09 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

I think it is to formally thank everyone that helped you with the nitty gritty and kind o fhonro your closest friends and amily before the big say??

......or at least that is how I justify it lol

PinkSoil Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:10 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

I think of it as a celebration for a celebration... Just a chance for everyone to get together to hang out and be excited together before the big day.

WedHead Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:19 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

Definetely a good opportunity for your bridal parties to meet and get to know each other before the big day.

PinkSoil Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:23 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

Who is supposed to pay for it?

KimberlyBride Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:27 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

Maybe an excuse to have a good meal...haha. No I think it is for the bridal party and family to get together and celebrate the upcoming nuptials.

Traditionally the grooms family pays for it. But in 2005 anything goes.

WedHead Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:41 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

I guess there are no rules, but my FH's parents are picking up the tab for that. I gave in to the venue (originally it was my idea but when I saw their private room I was turned off - but I guess you gotta let them win sometimes )

February05 Posted: Aug 18, 2005 11:52 PM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

i kind of looked at it as a time to celebrate, and take it all in w/ the small group of friends and family that are really close to us before the chaos of the big day.

kind of like the Calm before the storm....

N.Y.bride Posted: Aug 19, 2005 07:11 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

at our rehearsal dinner we did not rehearse LOL

I figured wed all know what to do. Everything was great except the guys were not lined up in the correct order. No big deal though,

But MY DAD, didnt know to life my veil. (My fault I know LOL) so I had to tell him to do it and then Anthony put his hand out to shake my dads, my dad didnt see it and turned around and walked away Just left Anthony hanging in front of everyone!!

So make sure you rehearse.. Everyones not wedding smarties like us

Well, we played guitars, sang ate and talked. It was the best!

edsprincess Posted: Aug 19, 2005 07:19 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

i think its a time to get together to thank the bridal party for putting up with us bridezillas. we are all bridezillas at some point in this thing!!and to thank our parents.
instead of going home to my fh ill go home with my parents.

does anybody know of a good place to have this. cheap, but good food?

hbradio Posted: Aug 19, 2005 09:21 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

Mine was great - it was a time to have the BP meet each other (I had 3 OOT BMs). My parents and DHs parents enjoyed meeting all of our friends. Some friends gave speeches - we gave everyone their gifts - everyone was overwhelmed by our generosity- it was so much fun because it was everyone who was extremely close to us all in one small spot.

GoingNutty Posted: Aug 19, 2005 09:27 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

Thanks for all the answers!!

hbradio Posted: Aug 19, 2005 09:35 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question... UPDATED with new question on bottom! Not up for long!

Well to be honest thats what I wanted to do too!!!! But when I told my dad he looked at me like I was nuts so that was the end of that idea!

I think catering at home is a great idea - I am not sure of any recommendations for restaurants though. How many people are you going to have? We had 35 and our budget was $1000 and we came in at about $815 plus $100 tip.

edsprincess Posted: Aug 19, 2005 09:41 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question... UPDATED with new question on bottom! Not up for long!

i like mine to be at our house. i would probally serve italian dishes. ziti, shells, maybee even heros. i don't like the pizza idea. go to your local pizza place and see what kind of dishes they have for catering. or a deli. or make it yourself. go to bjs or costco.

jeanla4c Posted: Aug 19, 2005 09:48 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question... UPDATED with new question on bottom! Not up for long!

Went to one at a home with all home cooked food, was excellent...I guess it just depends how it's all done, etc.

tanielle5k Posted: Aug 19, 2005 09:52 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question... UPDATED with new question on bottom! Not up for long!

If it was up to my FMIL we would be having pizza too, but I really wanted something nicer just because I know how much money it is costing people to travel and stuff. If the guests would be ok with it I see nothingwrong with it, just not what I wanted for mine given the circumstances.

IrishBride-05 Posted: Aug 19, 2005 10:08 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question... UPDATED with new question on bottom! Not up for long!

We're doing the RD mainly becuase we have a lot of OOT guests and it will be a good opportunity to have a really good chat, which we won't get a chance to do at the wedding. Also, we're not having kids at the wedding, so we're inviting them to the RD as a way of them getting included. My FH is paying for it as his parents are both deceased.

takeoutcook Posted: Aug 19, 2005 10:14 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question... UPDATED with new question on bottom! Not up for long!

we're having ours in the upstairs room of a pub/restaurant. I would have loved having it at my mom's house- but having 35 people in her house the night before my wedding wasn't going to work.

To me, the rehearsal dinner is a time for the Bride and Groom to formally thank the members of their wedding party, their families and any special guests they've invited for making the trip, dealing with us, supporting us, etc. The wedding is all about the bride and groom so the rehearsal dinner is about the b and g saying thank you to others.

My family is HUGE on toasts so any rehearsal dinner involving my relatives inevitably becomes a series of toasts - some heartfelt, some more like a roast - to the couple. It's great!

As for food : I can see why some brides would want to keep the rehearsal dinner more on the casual side - the wedding will be formal enough and they have been driving themselves crazy with planning, etc that something like a slice of pizza or a hero sandwich sounds fantastic. I dont think it's appropriate to only serve that at a rehearsal dinner, though. Serve a few pizzas, a hero, add some trays of italian food, maybe add a salad and you've got a great spread. . . ok - now i'm hungry.

GoingNutty Posted: Aug 19, 2005 10:18 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

Thanks again girls!

WedHead Posted: Aug 19, 2005 10:29 AM

Re: So just out of curiosity... a question...

When I went with FILs to look at the room for the dinner, the BM starting showing us where the DJ and dance floor would go! Apparently FH and FILs had talked to the BM ahead of time and discussed having entertainment. I was a little concerned b/c I don't think the point of the RD is to have someone spinning music! Goes to show, we all have different ideas in mind