Wedding advice often suggests that the bride and groom distribute their gifts to the bridal party at the rehearsal dinner. But one of our readers wrote in a little worried about this practice, and it got me thinking:
"My fiance wants to pass out his gifts at a golf game a couple of weeks early. Won't the guys feel awkward when the bridesmaids are opening theirs at the rehearsal dinner?"
Should the presents be passed out and opened in front of everyone? Personally, I wouldn't suggest this. My vote would be to find a more private, intimate way to give the gifts -- maybe after the dinner, in a quiet moment off to the side, or gather the group together right after the rehearsal itself. That way you can make soppy speeches, give hugs, and cry while keeping it completely personal. Plus, you don't want other, non-bridal party guests sitting around watching the wrapping paper fly and feeling totally left out.
But maybe I'm being too stick-in-the-mud. What do you think?
From: Sacha | 9/27/11 at 12:08 pm
My husband and I had each organized pre-wedding events for the Friday before the wedding with our respective attendants as part of our thank you to them. We each gave out our gifts at those events instead of at the rehearsal dinner because they were more intimate and we could spend more time with each person.
Would do it the same way all over again, if we had to!
From: Worthy | 9/27/11 at 1:44 pm
I do not know if this is a Southern thing, but in my family bridesmaids gifts are given during the Bridesmaids Luncheon (normally the lunch of the Rehearsal Dinner or a month prior if convenient for all). The men normally open at the Bachelor party, or while getting ready prior to the ceremony.