The rehearsal dinner is the last calm evening before the wedding. The people closest to the couple sit down together, the families get comfortable with each other, and the toasts tend to be the most personal of the whole weekend.
To plan a rehearsal dinner effectively, couples should decide on the timing, guest list, and book the venue early. Most rehearsal dinners are held the night before the wedding, or occasionally two nights prior for a more relaxed day. The core guest list typically includes the wedding party, parents, immediate family, and officiant, with some couples extending invitations to partners or out-of-town guests. Fleur de Lis Event Center advises booking the rehearsal dinner at the same time as the wedding, as it is a separate reservation, and their Private Restaurant, which accommodates up to 100 guests, requires a $500 deposit.
It is also the event couples most often leave until late. Here is how to plan it so it does not become a last-minute scramble.
The rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner are two different things
The ceremony rehearsal is a practice run of the processional, positions and cues. At Fleur de Lis Event Center, a ceremony rehearsal practice is currently $150. It normally takes about 30 minutes and is fully directed by our staff. Rehearsals are often held on a weekday evening, but the exact day and time depend on the venue schedule.
The rehearsal dinner is a separate event, a meal and celebration that usually follows the rehearsal.
When should you hold your rehearsal dinner?
Most rehearsal dinners happen the night before the wedding. Some couples hold it two nights before, which gives everyone a full night of sleep and a quieter day before the ceremony. At Fleur de Lis, rehearsal dinners are generally held the night before or two nights before the wedding, subject to availability.
Who should you invite to your rehearsal dinner?
The core list is the wedding party, both sets of parents, immediate family and the officiant. Many couples add spouses and partners of the wedding party. Some also invite guests traveling in from out of town, or from Covington, Madisonville and around the Northshore, which can double the count. Settle that question early, because it decides the size of the room.
When should you book your rehearsal dinner?
This is the step couples miss most often. At Fleur de Lis, the rehearsal dinner is a completely separate booking from the wedding. Booking a ballroom wedding does not automatically reserve the Private Restaurant, and there is no combined wedding and rehearsal dinner package discount.
If you want both events in the same place, check the Restaurant’s availability for the night or two before your wedding at the same time you book the wedding.
What space is available for rehearsal dinners?
Our Private Restaurant is booked as a completely private space for up to approximately 100 guests. It has its own entrance, restrooms, bar, front courtyard and covered patio, so the rehearsal dinner feels like its own event, not an add-on.
What does a rehearsal dinner cost?
Restaurant pricing is mostly per person and depends on the menu and package you choose. Pricing is quoted per event, so ask us for current menus and pricing for your date.
A few other numbers help with budgeting:
- Deposit: $500 with a signed contract reserves a Private Restaurant event.
- Security: uniformed security is required for events with an open bar, so it will likely apply if your package includes one. The current price is $220.
- Children: in the Private Restaurant, the first five children under age 5 do not count as paid guests.
Plan the toasts
Toasts are common at rehearsal dinners, and we accommodate them. Decide the order ahead of time. A typical lineup is the host, then the best man and maid of honor or a parent from the other side, then the couple thanking everyone. Ask speakers to keep it to two or three minutes, and remember this is a good night for the longer stories.
Do you offer post-wedding brunches?
The Private Restaurant also hosts post-wedding brunches, a relaxed send-off for family and out-of-town guests before they head home.
What questions should you ask any rehearsal dinner venue?
- Is the rehearsal dinner booked separately from the wedding?
- Is the space fully private?
- What is included in the per-person price?
- Is security required with an open bar?
- How are children counted?
- Can we hold the date when we book the wedding?
Plan the whole weekend on the Northshore
Tours are normally available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday mornings, and virtual tours work well for families planning from out of town. Free on-site parking fits 175+ vehicles.
Call 985-626-9118 to check your date.
About the Author: Taylor Thomas
