Grooms and Rehearsal Dinners

Start your planning 9-12 months in advance. You may think that it is too early to plan for just the rehearsal dinner, but if you want to have the best venue with the best caterer, then finding early on, will be a big advantage. You can easily find and secure a venue and know how much you need to deposit and when is the final balance need to be paid. You can also get a list of their menu options from the venue or their caterer. During those months you also need to review the vendor's contract and make sure everything fits well with your plan before signing.

Between five to six months, start thinking about specifics. What do you want for your rehearsal dinner? That includes your menu options, cash bar or open bar, the types of food that your caterer offers and the like.

You should also begin preparing your guest list and make your rehearsal invitations. Rehearsal dinners are usually more intimate than the wedding reception so most just try to keep the event smaller. This includes the wedding party and immediate family, but most also consider inviting those out of town guests. If you want to have a bigger event, extended family members and special life-long friends can be included.

From one to two months, you should send out your rehearsal invitations and keep a detailed record of your guests' responses. Get help from your mom or your bride in choosing and special linens and flower decorations for your own venue. But if you know you can handle the job yourself, and then by all means do it. Your bride might be surprise with your own creativity.

And at the day of the rehearsal dinner, visit the venue to properly set up everything. You can also include giving your groomsmen gifts to your groomsmen since this will really be a great day for gift giving. At the end of your party, do not forget to pay any outstanding balances to the venue and caterer.

Planning ahead can surely ease the stress of your own obligation for your wedding. And after all is done, your guests and your bride will even be proud of you.