Yesterday was the wedding of a client-couple of mine, and it was just beautiful. The bride was stunning in her gown, her daughter and flower girl in a matching version of her dress was ridiculously adorable. And best of all - it went off without a hitch. Thanks to a successful rehearsal dinner the night before, that is.
Rehearsal dinners are a great opportunity to put your feet up before the stress of the big day, but it's not just a meal and opportunity to be with your family and friends. It is incredibly important to take advantage of the 'rehearsal' part of 'rehearsal dinner'. This is your opportunity to walk through everything, from who goes in what order, when you pass your bouquet to the maid of honor, to the groomsmen practicing their "woops, where's the ring?!" bit. But most importantly, it gives you and your officiant an opportunity to ensure everyone is confident for the big day.
Most brides and grooms are very nervous during the actual wedding ceremony. Yes, even couples who "never" get nervous with public speaking. Honey, this ain't public speaking! Even if you don't want to spend the money on one more meal for the wedding process, take the time to get together with your officiant - and please not the day of the wedding - to walk through the ceremony physically. Just talking it through isn't good enough, you need to stand before the officiant, practice the walking down the aisle, practice lighting unity candles, having your maid of honor fix your train, etc.
That way, on the big day, everyone knows what to expect. Everybody's confident, excited, and they know exactly what to do. Trust me - a little rehearsal goes a long way.
Happy planning!
