By Kate Cohen

Every great production needs a rehearsal, and weddings are no exception.

Once everyone has practiced walking down the aisle, figured out where to stand, and knows when to hand over the rings, it’s time for a well-deserved celebration.

Two men in suits raise glasses of white wine with their arms around one another, smiling and looking into each other’s eyes.

The rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity to kick off your wedding weekend with the people who mean the most to you.

Here are Rosen Weddings’ 5 Rehearsal Dinner Tips for a Memorable Occasion.

1. Prioritize Quality Time

A smiling woman in a white blouse raises a glass of wine at a table with boxes of pizza, while others around her raise their glasses as well.

One of the best things about a rehearsal dinner is that it offers additional time to spend with your closest friends and family.

On your wedding day, you and your partner are going to be in demand for pictures, special dances, speeches, and other important moments.

Chances are you’ll barely have time to greet everyone and thank them for coming, let alone spend quality time with long distance family or even your bridal party.

Your rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity to enjoy one another’s company, soaking in all the love and savoring every moment.

2. Keep it Close

Two people, including a woman in a sequined top, sit at a table in a dimly lit room before a table setting with a knotted napkin, candles, and glassware.

Being able to hold your ceremony rehearsal at your actual venue is always a plus.

If your guests are staying nearby (or even onsite if you’re hosting a hotel wedding), keeping your rehearsal dinner venue local is a wonderful convenience.

Look for nearby restaurants that can accommodate your group’s size to keep things simple.

If your hotel wedding has onsite dining options, it never hurts to see if you can host your rehearsal dinner there and potentially save a little extra.

3. Use the Time for Speeches

A man in a white button-down shirt rests his hands on the shoulder of a woman in a white suit, addressing a group of people seated at a table on a boat surrounded by white balloons.

Weddings are a wonderful time to invite the most important people in your life to make a toast or a speech in honor of you and your partner.

If you have more than a handful of people that you’d like to invite to speak, the rehearsal dinner is the perfect time to hand off the mic.

Siblings, members of the bridal party, or other dear friends or family members who aren’t speaking at the wedding may appreciate the opportunity to say a few words.

Similarly, it’s a great opportunity for you and your partner to thank your favorite people for being a part of your celebration.

4. Limit your Guest List

A group of six people raise glasses of white wine beneath a string of twinkle lights.

Like your wedding, your rehearsal dinner can be whatever you want it to be.

If you want a big celebration, go for it! But don’t feel pressured to invite all of your out-of-town guests as a courtesy.

Your rehearsal dinner doesn’t have to feel like a second wedding, especially if it’s not in the budget.

Customarily, anyone who is requested to be at the rehearsal should be invited to the rehearsal dinner.

If possible, it’s a lovely gesture to extend the rehearsal dinner invitation to plus-ones of your bridal party and family members.

From there, feel free to invite any guests that you feel should be included in the event.

If you feel obligated to host an event for out-of-town guests, consider a casual welcome party at a nearby venue. Serve desserts and maybe a welcome drink but remember the real party you’re hosting is the following day.

5. It’s Okay to Keep Things Simple

Outdoors at twilight, a group of people in outerwear toast over a table set with candles, flatbreads, and various plates of food.

Your rehearsal dinner is an extension of your wedding day and is still an event for you and your spouse-to-be to enjoy.

But just because you’ve pulled out all the stops for your wedding day doesn’t mean you have to go all out for your rehearsal dinner, too.

Hosting your rehearsal dinner at a fun, funky restaurant or embracing an experience at a bowling alley or arcade can be just as memorable as something formal.

Your guests may even appreciate something as simple as poolside pizza the night before a long day of celebrating.

Host your Wedding Weekend – including the rehearsal dinner – with Rosen Weddings

Rosen Weddings has four beautiful venues that are perfect for hosting an unforgettable wedding celebration.

Host your rehearsal dinner in one of our ballroom spaces, or let our renowned culinary team treat your guests to an incredible meal at one of our onsite restaurants.

Your guests will love being able to stay onsite in a beautiful hotel that’s convenient to everything Orlando has to offer.

Let our team of wedding specialists help you curate the perfect celebration worthy of your happily ever after.

A man in a tuxedo embraces a woman in an ornately beaded light blue dress standing on the edge of a fountain in front of the grand Rosen Shingle Creek hotel.

By Kate Cohen

It’s time to tackle one of the most controversial wedding topics: whether or not to invite kids to your wedding.

For some couples, kids might be a distraction that draws attention away from the day’s activities.

For others, it’s unfathomable to host a family-centered celebration without their favorite little ones in tow.

Whether you choose to invite kids to your wedding or keep things adults-only, there are several things to consider before making your decision.

A boy in a tuxedo stands against a white wall laughing as gold confetti falls around him.

Here are some important things to think about when deciding whether or not to invite kids to your wedding.

If you DO Invite Kids to Your Wedding

Offer a Kids Menu

A toddler boy in gray pants, a gray vest, a white shirt, and a bowtie wears a cap and sunglasses as he leans on a white car decorated with flowers.

While your adult guests may enjoy a menu with dynamic flavors and ingredients, chances are your younger guests have pickier palates.

Offering a kid-friendly menu option will be appreciated by your kids and their relieved parents.

The good news is kid’s menus are often less expensive, so you’ll save a little money on your catering invoice, too.

Consider a Kids Room

If your venue has the space, consider designating a special area as the “Kids Room.”

This could be a corner of your reception space, or it could be a lounge or hospitality suite in a separate area from the party.

Hire certified babysitters to keep an eye on the kids while their parents are free to enjoy the rest of the reception.

You can fill the space with activities like coloring books, board games, crafts, and even video games to keep kids entertained.

As the evening goes on, set up a late-night movie with cozy blankets and pillows to help your younger guests wind down.

Be Mindful Making your Seating Chart

A boy with curly hair wearing a tuxedo leans on a beige sofa and laughs surrounded by floral displays and white drapery.

While it’s tempting to put anyone under the age of 10 at a designated “kids table,” you may need to be a bit more intentional about where you assign your guests seating.

Children under the age of 7 should typically be seated at a table with their grownups. This way, their parents can make sure they’re eating and assist as needed.

It’s very appropriate to seat families with young children at a table together.

Kids 7 and older can usually handle being seated at their own table, though designating or hiring a caregiver to sit with them is always a good idea.

If you DON’T Invite Kids to Your Wedding

Do You Want a Flower Girl and/or Ring Bearer?

A girl in a lacy white dress holds hands with a seated woman in a red dress in an outdoor venue while an officiant in a blue suit stands out of focus in the distance.

Flower girls and ring bearers are arguably one of the cutest parts of a wedding ceremony.

If you have special kids in your life that you’d like to participate in your wedding day, then you should absolutely include them.

Some couples choose to invite kids to be a part of the ceremony, but not the reception.

Ideally, anyone included in your ceremony should be able to celebrate with you afterwards, kids included.

Your flower girl and ring bearer have gotten dressed up, purchased or rented an outfit, and maybe even traveled to get to your wedding. Inviting them to the reception is a way to acknowledge the efforts they’ve made to celebrate you and your partner.

You Can Make Exceptions, but Make them Fairly

A woman in a white dress with a long train holds a pink and white bouquet walking down a set of glass modern stairs, with a girl in a white dress trailing behind her.

Even if you want a mostly kid-free wedding, you may have a small number of kids who are important to you and you feel strongly about being a part of your big day.

The good news is you can still include them without having to extend an invite to every child in your social circle.

The key is to make your exceptions fairly.

For example, if you’re inviting nieces and nephews from one side of the family, you should extend the invite to kids on the other side, too.

Don’t be Offended if Guests Don’t Attend Because Their Kids Aren’t Invited

For some families, finding childcare just isn’t feasible for one reason or another, especially if your wedding is out of town.

As a result, don’t be offended if certain guests RSVP “no” because their kids haven’t been invited.

Just as you made the decision that was best for your wedding, your guests are allowed to make the decision that is best for their family.

Elegant Events at our Breathtaking Rosen Weddings Venues

Our four beautiful Rosen Weddings venues are perfect for accommodating weddings of all sizes – with or without kids on the guest list.

Our team of wedding specialists will help you bring your dream wedding to life with added perks like hospitality suites, discounted room rates for your guests to stay onsite, and fantastic in-house catering.

Schedule a consultation or a tour today to start envisioning your wedding with Rosen Weddings.

A large cobblestone patio set up with white chairs and pink drapery, columns with ornate floral displays, and in the distance, a geometric altar adorned with drapery and flowers. In the background is a lake, trees, and an open blue sky. Whether or not you decide to have kids at your wedding, Rosen Weddings can make your dreams come true.

Month: March 2025

5 Rehearsal Dinner Tips for a Memorable Occasion