Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner FAQs

When is a good time to schedule a rehearsal? It is usually held the day before the wedding when all the wedding party members (often from out-of-town) are present. The evening is finished off with the fun rehearsal dinner.

Who is in charge of the rehearsal and how long does it last? The officiant who will be marrying you or your wedding director. If you have the person who knows what he/she is doing, a typical rehearsal runs about an hour to an hour and half. That is ample time to run over the entire service twice, which is what you want.

What do we take to the rehearsal? You may bring the marriage license to give to the officiant. Bring payment for the participating ceremony music performer. The gifts can be brought for the attendants if you have not given them out already. Also, bring something that could serve as bouquets for the bride and her party.

Who pays for the rehearsal dinner and who attends? Traditionally, the groom's parents host the rehearsal dinner. But these days, anyone can host it! It could be the bride's parents, grandparents, other relatives or any members of the wedding party. As for who should be invited to the rehearsal dinner, the attendants and their spouses, along with the parents of participating children in the wedding, the officiant and his/her spouse or the wedding director, special out-of-town relatives, the parents of the couple, and most importantly, the bride and groom.

Who normally give a toast at a rehearsal dinner? Toasting at a rehearsal dinner is usually more personal and often very humorous. A toast is usually made in the following order: