I am the mother of the Groom. The wedding is in August, 2010. I don't have a clue. The Bride says I am responsible for the rehearsal dinner. My sister asked what the plans are for the Groom's dinner. Are these the same thing?
By Lynn Shellenberger from St. Paul, MN
I have never heard of a groom's dinner. She must mean the rehearsal dinner, which is the night before the wedding after the rehearsal. Have fun!
I also have never heard of the Groom's dinner, just a rehearsal dinner. Perhaps it is a local custom. You should consult some of the other parents who have had weddings in your area, to see if you have some special customs in your region.
Never heard of a groom's dinner either. The rehearsal dinner could/should be a fun affair before all the seriousness of the actual wedding occurs! Keep it simple and fun.
Same here. Never heard of a groom's dinner. She is probably referring to the rehearsal dinner, which the groom's family is responsible for. This can be done any way you, your family and the couple want to do it.
Some people choose to take everyone in the wedding party and their significant others out to a restaurant. Of course, that can be really pricey; it just depends on what you decide to do. Others choose to have a BBQ in someone's back yard. Here in Louisiana, many choose to cook a large pot of jambalaya, serve it with white beans and a green salad and finish it off with a cake or pie.
The object of the dinner is for all involved in the wedding to get together and get to know each other a little better after the wedding rehearsal, which is, of course, the night before the wedding.
Maybe your sister is confused because there is such a thing as a Groom's Cake (not every wedding has one). But there's no celebration to honor the groom.
The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner is for the Groom's side of the family to pay for. This is usually the only thing that the Groom is responsible for except getting his tux and getting his groomsmen fitted for their tux. My daughter is getting married in May 2010 so I know what needs to be done.
But if he wants to do other things as well, sure he can do that.
Never heard of a Groom's Dinner. I had two sons to marry and we were responsible for the rehearsal dinner for both weddings. For the first wedding we were asked to pay for the Bride's bouquet and the groomsmen flowers. We rented a small restaurant which provided the meal, beer, wine and decorated the tables for one very reasonable price. The second wedding was more elaborate and held in an upscale restaurant.
My daughters husband was from out of state. We did the rehearsal a couple of months in advance. It gave out of town grooman time to come in and have a day with their buddy and do the tux thing and we did the rehearsal that afternoon/evening. The wedding was 300 people at my house. So we did the rehearsal at my house. It gave the families time to bond and stress free.
If you do it the night before it creates more stress for last minute things forgotten and messed up travel arrangements and it doesn't leave a window for out of town bridal party to travel for the wedding. We took a vote and everyone loved coming in advance. It worked for everyone and they raved about it. They all said they would do it for their wedding because it was more pleasant.
The Groom's Dinner and the Rehearsal Dinner are the same thing. The name Groom's Dinner is an older term and perhaps a regional term. I am from Minnesota as well and Groom's Dinner is what we always called it.
I have heard it called the groom's dinner only when the groom's family pays for it...this site explains what I grew up understanding:
www.annsbridalbargains.com/
I think it became "politically correct" to call it a rehearsal dinner when more couples started paying for their wedding festivities vs. their parents. So many changes in our world :)
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Who exactly should all be invited to the dinner? Should it be the wedding party, parents of both couples, grandparents of both couples?
By Kim B.
If this is the same as what our area calls the rehearsal dinner, then usually it is all the wedding party and their spouses/dates, parents of both couples, grandparents of both couples, minister and those helping with the ceremony, and siblings and families of the bride and groom. If either the bride or groom all ready have children, they and their families also should be invited.
Anyone who is in the bridal party and close relatives of the bride and groom
Our son is getting married next Fall and does not have a clue what kind of Groom's/Rehearsal dinner. I need ideas for decorations. Does anyone have ideas?
If its a fall wedding, take small carving pumpkins and hollow them out, fill with water and float a brown or rust colored floating candle, add a leaf garland around the base.... super cheap and easy!
I think it would be important to know a little about your son, his friends and the venue for said dinner. Does he play a sport? Does he like boats? Some of the best decor is the kind that showcases a life or a personality. The kind of room guests will walk into and say " Wow, this is sooo ( your son's name)", makes it that much more familiar yet unforgetable. Good luck.