Wedding Reveal | Rehearsal Dinner

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission if you click on a link, or make a purchase using the links in this post. All opinions are my own.

Finally, it is time, to start on the wedding posts. And, you guys, I might never stop. I understand now why everyone is so obsessed with their own wedding. It is magical!

If you can swing it, I 10/10 recommend taking the whole week before your wedding off work. Basically, our wedding wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t do this. It made everything wonderful, and stress-free. I cannot imagine trying to cram everything into evenings after work and lunch hours. So, do yourself a favor, and don’t. Take the week off, live in the moment, and soak up every second of last minute wedding prep.

And, all of that prep climaxed at the rehearsal dinner.

My wedding, was without a doubt, the best day of my life. The week after, when we went on our minimoon (prior to the honeymoon) getaway was the second best, but a solid bronze prize in 3rd place was the week before our wedding.

The handsome hunk took the week off as well, and between the two of us, we were able to get all the last minute things done, working together, at a non-haggard pace, and still have time for a little fun, and quality time together and with family and friends coming into town.

My family threw the rehearsal dinner for us. My dad, who loves to cook. made the dinner himself, which was amazing. Pulled pork sandwiches and mac n cheese. Just what a bride wants the day before her wedding! My mom and sister decorated with sweet gingham table cloth, seashells, and sea glass.

The whole evening was so fun, laid back, and relaxed. We invited all of our family and out of town guests. It was easy and casual, and absolutely perfect. Like a big family get together just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company.

I will be honest, I am a little bit of that crazy girl. So, I actually bought my rehearsal dinner dress before we were even engaged. I saw it and I knew, it was the one. It was the dress. And, I just hoped and prayed that this really cute Navy guy I was spending all my time with and hitching my life to would eventually propose, which, he did. And, it was magical.

I actually purchased most of the wedding week outfits far in advance, and I wish I had, had the foresight to take pictures of all of them. But, alas, I was so excited about GETTING MARRIED and taking outfit pictures was completely neglected.

My one big tip for your rehearsal is to wear your wedding shoes for practice. Our wedding was outside, on the water, so, I went with wedges, which was a godsend. And practicing in them the day before, made everything run smoothly the day of. I brought cute sandals to change into after the rehearsal, which worked perfectly.

I came across an Instagram post that I also forgot to actually post the week before my wedding, and it so perfectly captured my absolute glee that week. Trying desperately to soak in every moment, and not let this time, our last week as fiances, slip through my fingers. Which, of course, it did. It flew by in record time, I blinked, and it was gone. But, being intentional about it, and living in the moment made it one of the most enjoyable weeks of my life.

Since, I failed to get pictures of much in the ways of last minute crafts, putting together of flowers, and hanging with family, what I mostly have are a few pictures from the rehearsal dinner. If I had to do it over again, I would have hired a pro to take pictures the day of the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner as well. I am glad I had the foresight to bring my camera, and luckily a few family members who knew how to use it, since I put it down and completely forgot about it for the rest of the day. But, I wish we had more photos of everyone there that day.