Your rehearsal dinner is a prelude celebration and an opportunity for you to thank the friends and family contributing to the wedding day.  The dinner immediately follows the ceremony rehearsal, which is usually one to three days prior to the wedding day.  Contrary to popular belief, rehearsal dinners are often scheduled mid-week, since many venues have Friday and Saturday celebrations that prevent their use during the weekend.  Your immediate family, wedding party, and their spouses or significant others are typically invited to the dinner, and some couples also include out of town guests who have travelled to attend the wedding.

The dinner itself can be casual or formal, and rehearsal dinners range from four-star, six course meals to casual salmon on the grill at a family member's home.  (We don't recommend hosting it at your own home.  The days preceding your wedding will be full enough without worrying about cooking and cleaning for thirty guests - not to mention restoring order afterwards!)

If you have guests who are new to the area, you may want to take them to a local icon such as the Space Needle, and many couples will cleverly tie in the rehearsal dinner location to the wedding day theme.  For example, beach-themed weddings could enjoy the view of Alki and fresh seafood at Salty's.

Most importantly, your rehearsal dinner is a chance for you to personally thank those helping to create your wedding day.  Many couples give gifts to parents and bridal party between dinner and dessert, and even if you dread public speaking, take this opportunity to let everyone know how much you love and appreciate them!

Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding and the groom's family pays for the rehearsal.  Many families are thrilled to support their engaged children in this way.  However, it is also acceptable for the bride and groom to treat their guests.  This is especially true if the bride, groom, and both families are paying for the wedding!