First and foremost, we need to know what exactly a rehearsal dinner is. It is typically an informal meal after a wedding rehearsal, taking place during the night just before the actual wedding. It is a great opportunity for the wedding participants to get comfortable with each other and for the bride and groom to thank the people who helped them throughout the preparations for the wedding.
When thinking about how to plan a rehearsal dinner, the main thing to think about is the costs. Traditionally the groom's family would have to pay for the entire meal, but traditions have changed and it is not uncommon for both families to fund the rehearsal dinner together. On the other hand, the groom's mother is still the one responsible with how to plan a rehearsal dinner.
Check in with your mother-in-law and see if she wants to help you plan your rehearsal dinner, and if she has the means to do so. If she expresses the desire to help, let her do so - it will help her get a role in your wedding and even if it doesn't turn out according to your tastes or fashion, guests will figure out that you were not the one doing the preparations.
Alongside the actual dining, which occupies the most important place in how to plan a rehearsal dinner, toasts are a close second. It is usual for the groom and bride to toast their families and the wedding party. More often than not, these toasts may turn into a roasting of the wedding couple, but it's all in the name of fun. Also, you may want to try and include games to help break the ice, like poker, darts or even pool. The rehearsal dinner is also the appropriate occasion to present the bridesmaids and groomsmen with gifts.
Your mother-in-law, when asked about how to plan a rehearsal dinner and talking about guests may suggest only inviting your family and your close friends. Back in the old days, the out-of-town guests didn't always get invited to a rehearsal dinner, but it is now a polite gesture to help them overcome a night in a strange town if they are there before the wedding. A solution could be a note in the wedding invitation telling them to join you at your restaurant of choice if they are in the city before the wedding.
When thinking about how to plan a rehearsal dinner, it is best to ask everyone and get their help early on, as everyone in your family or friends should have some knowledge of this event or the way it should be organized.
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