Reheasing For Tomorrow

What a fun day today will be! Today is Rehearsal Day ... the day to make sure everything is scheduled and kinks are unkinked. Everything is practiced so everyone is on the same page, hopefully eliminating any surprises for tomorrow. There will be much laughter and silliness. There will be a few mistakes, but this is the day to make them. And there will be a sense of familiarity in the process so that tomorrow will be a little less hectic. It's a fun day.

Then after the details are ironed out, we'll join together with Rob's father and step-mother to bring together families from the northeastern end of the country with folks from the upper midwest and south and the dearest of friends. This is your last night as singles before the most important day of your life. Games, good food and fellowship as folks get to know one another a little bit better in a less formal environment, and perhaps let go of a little anxiety.

What typically takes place at a rehearsal dinner?

Introductions: Take some time to say who everyone is. Name tags may be helpful for this night. Be sure to go around and meet and greet everyone.
Supper: Can be whatever you want. With Rob and Ayla, food trucks are the fare for the evening.
Thank yous: These are the verbal thank yous to everyone who helped and came.
Toasts: Since typically the best man and maid-of-honor do toasts at a reception, this is a good time for parents to make toasts.
Gifts for the wedding party: A good time to give your bridesmaids and groomsmen a token of thanks.
Last Minute Reminders so everyone will know where they need to be and at what time the next day. 

For Rob and Ayla's night they have a few games planned, as they wanted to really get folks interacting together. It's going to be a lot of fun and memorable.

So get ready to practice for the big day and delight in the company of those who love you so very much! Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you'll be married!

Discussion: What things are running through your mind on this day before your wedding? What are the things you most want to practice? What are you hoping will happen at your rehearsal dinner?

Prayer: Lord God, we pray this is a special, fun, tension-less day for our couple and the families. We pray for joy in the greetings and blessings in the memories. We love you, Father. Thank you for this day. In Christ, Amen.

Brewing Bonbonnieres

You just recently bought tiny burlap bags for your favors. Knowing how much you both love coffee, you have decided to make your wedding favors bags of coffee beans with the note "Love is brewing." I love that these are so personal to you both.

Wedding favors date back to at least the 16th century, when guests were sent home with something representative of the couples love, like a knot of rope ... a love knot. Later, guests believed weddings were lucky, so to receive a gift from the wedding couple was seen as passing on the luck. Guests were given fives pieces of candy or almonds to represent health, fertility, wealth, a long life and happiness. The candies or almonds (or even a combination of the two: almonds dipped in a sugary candy coating) were placed in tiny boxes were called "bonbonnieres (think "box of bonbons" ... yum). Some were pretty fancy, made of precious metals, porcelain or crystal and covered in gemstones.

Today wedding favors are more about thank yous to guests for attending the wedding and typically reflect the personalities of the bride and groom. I honestly cannot remember what our wedding favors were. When I asked your Daddy if he remembered what ours were he said, "What are wedding favors?" I think we may have given out the candy coated almonds. Gonna have to look that up to see if I can find out. Were we to give out something today, I would imagine it would have something to do with writing or our love of the Father. I love that flavors are so personal now.

There is no doubt your love is brewing. While you both are passionately in love now, let us tell you, that your love will only grow and grow. The love we have for each other is probably 100 times what it was when we first professed it 31+ years ago. It is the core of who we are. Your love, like coffee, will energize you, comfort you, fill your life with flavor, be warm and toasty (and even have its iced moments), and percolate throughout the years to the perfect cup. Love is brewing indeed.

Discussion: do remember any wedding or party favors you have received? What are some that have
 meant something to you?

Prayer: Father, we thank you in advance for the sweet souls who will come to Rob and Ayla's wedding. We pray in advance for their safe journey to Florida and that they will enjoy witnessing their vows and celebrating. We also pray they will not only enjoy brewing their cup of coffee from the favors but also delight in this young couple's love. We love you, Father. In Jesus, Amen.