Start Spreading the News - Planning
by Elizabeth Jenkins

It's the prelude to the big day, a chance for families to meet, stories to be told and glasses raised. Traditionally held the night before the wedding - and right after a run-through of the ceremony - the rehearsal dinner was intended as an intimate gathering for the bridal party and the couple's immediate families. But now it often includes all of the out-of-town guests and, for destination weddings, everyone invited to the nuptials. To help you plan this significant and personal celebration, we asked wedding pros from coast to coast for advice on ways to make the night eventful.

Keep it Casual - The trend is to forgo formality in favor of a more low-key, comfortable event. "I planned a rehearsal dinner at a barbecue restaurant with sawdust on the floor," says celebrity wedding planner, Julie Pryor.