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Post by annabella on Jun 4, 2015 20:24:56 GMT
So I've never been to one and just got my first invite. I have no idea what to expect or what the norm is or what we do at it?
The bride just said that we are to arrive at her wedding venue at 5pm on Friday for the rehearsal and to help her decorate until the venue closes at 8pm. Then we are going back to apt to have dinner. I'm a little worried because I will have to leave work early for this.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Jun 4, 2015 20:28:40 GMT
The bride requiring the wedding party to help her decorate as a little bit much. But it is customary for there to be a meal for the wedding party and out of town guest after the rehearsal. The dinner should be a fun and relaxing time. ... Sometimes a bit too relaxing!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 4, 2015 20:29:16 GMT
All the rehearsal dinners I have attended have been as follows: we arrive at the church/wedding venue and have the rehearsal ~ I've never been asked to help decorate. Then everyone goes to the restaurant or where ever the dinner is being held.
ETA: Are you in the wedding? If not, I wouldn't feel obligated to be there right at 5. JMHO.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,692
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 4, 2015 20:29:54 GMT
So you got voluntold you're on the decorating committee or are you in the wedding?
I wouldn't leave work early unless you're really pressed to help decorate or she is a super close friend and you're in the wedding. I would just show up when I get off. Expect to decorate, get bossed around and then eat dinner.
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grrlsmom
Full Member
Posts: 141
Jun 26, 2014 2:38:20 GMT
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Post by grrlsmom on Jun 4, 2015 20:31:31 GMT
How soon after 5 can you be there? She must be a close friend to ask you for help, so she won't mind if you are late. If you are in the wedding, yes, take off work early if they actually need you for rehearsal. As far as what you do, you do what the bride tells you to!
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Post by annabella on Jun 4, 2015 20:33:58 GMT
I'm in the wedding and she sent this email to her family and bridesmaids. I guess the groom is informing his people.
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tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
Posts: 4,538
Jun 26, 2014 15:57:39 GMT
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Jun 4, 2015 20:37:58 GMT
So you got voluntold you're on the decorating committee or are you in the wedding? I wouldn't leave work early unless you're really pressed to help decorate or she is a super close friend and you're in the wedding. I would just show up when I get off. Expect to decorate, get bossed around and then eat dinner. Voluntold?! I am sooooo stealing that!!! No, I wouldn't leave work early to help decorate. Like everyone said, you get there as soon as you can, get bossed around help decorate and then enjoy the dinner.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 19:26:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 21:17:32 GMT
Do you have decorating skills?
Decorating isn't usually part of the rehearsal dinner.
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 4, 2015 21:58:41 GMT
So you got voluntold you're on the decorating committee or are you in the wedding? I wouldn't leave work early unless you're really pressed to help decorate or she is a super close friend and you're in the wedding. I would just show up when I get off. Expect to decorate, get bossed around and then eat dinner. best morphed word ever!! Any rehearsal dinner I've been to started with a meeting at the venue to walk through the wedding followed by a dinner. Dinner is usually at a restaurant, but I have been to a couple hosted at someone's home. It sounds like short notice has been given, so I'd let her know what time you can get there after work. Maybe ask what time the officiant is going to be there for the actual "rehearsal" part.
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Post by gramasue on Jun 4, 2015 22:28:52 GMT
So you got voluntold you're on the decorating committee or are you in the wedding? I wouldn't leave work early unless you're really pressed to help decorate or she is a super close friend and you're in the wedding. I would just show up when I get off. Expect to decorate, get bossed around and then eat dinner. best morphed word ever!! Any rehearsal dinner I've been to started with a meeting at the venue to walk through the wedding followed by a dinner. Dinner is usually at a restaurant, but I have been to a couple hosted at someone's home. It sounds like short notice has been given, so I'd let her know what time you can get there after work. Maybe ask what time the officiant is going to be there for the actual "rehearsal" part. It really is the best word! I love it! and so very appropriate for this! Try to just have fun!
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Jun 4, 2015 23:00:17 GMT
All the rehearsal dinners I have attended have been as follows: we arrive at the church/wedding venue and have the rehearsal ~ I've never been asked to help decorate. Then everyone goes to the restaurant or where ever the dinner is being held. ETA: Are you in the wedding? If not, I wouldn't feel obligated to be there right at 5. JMHO.
I would agree... if you aren't in the wedding, then I wouldn't leave work early for it.
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Post by elaine on Jun 4, 2015 23:11:05 GMT
It sounds like, from your post, that the rehearsal is first - at 5 - and the the couple expects the participants to stay and help decorate the venue until 8 pm when you all will go to their house for dinner.
If so, I would leave work early to be on time for the rehearsal - otherwise you will make people wait while you take your time getting there.
It sounds like they are working on a tight budget - it is up to you whether or not to help decorate. If you don't want to, arrive on time for the rehearsal and then excuse yourself and skip decorating and dinner.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,069
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Jun 4, 2015 23:13:54 GMT
I know there are lots of regional differences that are talked about here, and I think this might be one of them. In my area, decorating the church /reception venue is often done the night before, usually by family of the bride and groom. My DH and I have been in a few weddings where they ask the wedding party to help decorate. Again, I know other areas do it differently. FWIW, DH has been a groomsman 12 times, and I've been a bridesmaid 6 times, and we have been to many weddings, and none have had a professional wedding planner or a professional decorator.
For the OP, how late would you be if you didn't leave work early? For the time line you gave, I'd expect an hour rehearsal, then decorating for 2 hours until you all leave for supper.
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Post by annabella on Jun 5, 2015 0:11:14 GMT
luckyexwife Thanks for explaining. This is only my fourth wedding I've attended and the others clearly had a wedding coordinator and decorator so this is all new to me, I didn't know the bride would decorate herself. Yes it is very low budget. I get off work at 5pm. I would have preferred to decorate the day of the wedding which isn't until 6pm, this way we're not going to be having dinner until 9pm.
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Post by littlemama on Jun 5, 2015 0:11:56 GMT
I know there are lots of regional differences that are talked about here, and I think this might be one of them. In my area, decorating the church /reception venue is often done the night before, usually by family of the bride and groom. My DH and I have been in a few weddings where they ask the wedding party to help decorate. Again, I know other areas do it differently. FWIW, DH has been a groomsman 12 times, and I've been a bridesmaid 6 times, and we have been to many weddings, and none have had a professional wedding planner or a professional decorator. For the OP, how late would you be if you didn't leave work early? For the time line you gave, I'd expect an hour rehearsal, then decorating for 2 hours until you all leave for supper. I have not been to a wedding with a professional wedding planner or a professional decorator, nor have I been to many that have been decorated by the wedding party. I do agree that there are regional differences, but there is a midway point between diy and paying someone to do it. Based on where I think Annabella lives, I think this is probably more financial than regional.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 19:26:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2015 0:20:04 GMT
Just go and have fun. Many hands make light work. The couple and their family will be so grateful and this is usually the best part of the whole wedding weekend.
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Post by txdancermom on Jun 5, 2015 0:58:04 GMT
The rehearsal dinner we had for ds's wedding, we had all gathered at the church, walked through what everyone was supposed to do the next day and then we all headed to a restaurant to have dinner, with everyone in the wedding and some family that had come into town. There was no decorating for anyone involved, besides putting out the place cards at the dinner (which one of the brides friends did for us)
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