Free Planning Guide

Category Archives: Etiquette

Just because your bride is generally the one planning the details of the big day, doesn’t mean you don’t have responsibilities of your own! The rehearsal dinner sets the tone for the whole wedding. It’s a time where your family and close friends can relax before the wedding-day adventures take place. So, to make your rehearsal dinner the best it can be, we’ve made a list of some of the need-to-know basics…

What ~ This seems like a silly category, but it’s important to remember what the point of a rehearsal dinner actually is… The rehearsal dinner is meant to be a meal that follows the rehearsal of the wedding ceremony, and it’s usually planned by the groom and his family.

Where ~ Just like your wedding venue, the rehearsal dinner venue needs to fit you and your bride’s budget and style. If the two of you aren’t comfortable in the space, don’t book it!

When ~ Usually the rehearsal dinner takes place the night before the wedding day. However, the timing of the dinner is vital to ensuring all the guests can attend. If your wedding day is a Saturday, that means guests will be fighting Friday night rush-hour traffic to get to dinner, so make sure the timing is reasonable.

Who ~ While there’s no rule saying who you’re supposed to invite to the dinner, there are some guidelines to consider. Generally speaking, the rehearsal dinner includes close family members, the bridal party, and their dates. If you have a very large family, you might want to consider having a brunch that morning for family members, and then keeping the rehearsal dinner an intimate gathering for the people actually in the wedding.

We know there are so many how-to’s these days, and sometimes there’s so many “rules” that everything can be overwhelming… The best thing to remember while planning this dinner is that you and your bride have the ultimate say.  Try to relax, and enjoy your last dinner together as an engaged couple!

Since the location is the first place to start, here are some fantastic venues: The McConnell House, Red Pony Restaurant, Cheekwood Botanical Garden, Stoveworks Restaurant, Saffire Restaurant, The Bridge Building, The Harding House at Belle Meade Plantation, The Hermitage, Old Natchez Country Club, The Governor’s Club, Vanderbilt Legends Club, The Southern

Photo Credit: http://www.villafarotto.com/2012/03/07/rehearsal-dinners/

I think whether or not you invite children to your wedding is a major concern for many brides so I wanted to share her thoughts and add a little tidbit from one of our wedding planners to boot. Read more…

Wish Emily Post had a 24 hour hotline? If you are trying to write your wedding invitation, you do.  Well, Emily Post wasn’t available but Jennifer Faught, owner of Something Detailed and invitation expert, will be here on October 6th to answer all of your wedding invitation etiquette questions AND to help you write yours! Read more…

So… As we all know from commercials and that random guy at that party who repeatedly quoted Apple’s commercials, “There’s an app for that.” There’s an app for just about everything, even weddings. I’ve found three that I would have found useful when I was planning my wedding and thought I’d share! Read more…

Wedding Guest Attire Demystified! We’ve created an easy to read infographic for your guests. Pin away ladies, pin away! Read more…

With so many online options to purchase invitations today, unless your are using a custom stationery service, it can be hard to find out the right and wrong things to include on your invitation. First and foremost, it is important to note that custom doesn’t always mean more expensive and believe me, the personal service you get from an actual designer is far better than any online or big box store can ever provide. If you do choose to purchase online or even print your own, there a several considerations when it comes to etiquette. Read more…