Why Bother With the Rehearsal Dinner?
There are plenty of traditions surrounding weddings. Some of these rituals make total sense, like the act of carrying flowers or the symbolism behind exchanging rings. Still, some modern traditions can seem a bit ridiculous. The rehearsal dinner for the event, for example, can easily come across as a pointless activity meant to squeeze some additional cash out of you. There are many opinions on rehearsal dinners and whether or not they are necessary for a wedding. If you are unsure, now is a great time to explore the details and see what fits best for your needs.
The Main Idea
First, it can be helpful to take a closer look at the rehearsal dinner and why it exists. Though a fairly recent development, rehearsals have become commonplace for most couples. The idea is to bring together all of the most important players in the ceremony before the day of the actual event. During the rehearsal dinner, everyone gets on the same page and learns exactly what he or she must do in order to ensure the celebration goes off without any issues. Though somewhat straightforward, most dinners have strayed a bit from this idea.
Instead of being looked at as a rehearsal, many couples wind up using their rehearsal dinners as a chance to party. This is easily evidenced in the fact that couples have started moving their rehearsal dinners earlier in the week. Originally, the rehearsal was held the night before the actual event. Now, couples have the dinner several nights before so guests can drink and party without fear of having to wake up early the next day for the wedding.
Important Meetings
For the most part, the people present at your rehearsal dinner will be the most important people to you and your significant other. Parents, siblings, and best friends will all be in attendance, ready to listen to what will be expected of them at the ceremony. Though it stands to reason most of these people have met before, this is not always going to be the case. If your parents have never met your significant other’s parents before, this could be the opportunity you have been waiting to arrive.
Bringing together all of the important people in your life under one roof before your wedding can be good for your spirits. Simply looking around the room and seeing the smiling faces of those you have come to trust and love over the years can be warming to the soul. The dinner allows you a chance to “rehearse,” of course, but it also provides you with an easy setting where you can introduce friends and family members in a more casual setting than your actual ceremony.
Do You Need One?
Finally, you might be wondering whether you need a rehearsal dinner at all. These events can be costly, which is unappealing when you are already paying a small fortune for the wedding itself. In truth, this dinner is not necessary. For the most part, it is just another chance to eat and drink with people before the wedding. If you can’t afford a rehearsal dinner or deem it unimportant for your plans, simply provide your friends and family members with the information they need for your wedding in your own way.
Planning for your wedding can often be a great deal of work. When faced with decisions like whether you need to host a rehearsal dinner, it is best to really explore all of your options. Though rehearsal dinners might make for an easy meet-and-greet scenario before the day of your actual wedding, they are not always needed and can often be eliminated from the plans without any serious repercussions or issues.