Who Should Be Invited To The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner?

The rehearsal dinner is a meal that follows the practice run-through of your wedding ceremony, typically including the bride and groom, their parents, grandparents, and siblings, the officiant, the wedding party, and any child attendants. It is important to consider timing and ensure all elements are in order before the rehearsal dinner can occur. A rehearsal brunch or lunch, especially for Sunday weddings, is becoming more commonplace and follows the same format as a rehearsal dinner but takes place earlier in the day.

The rehearsal dinner guest list includes the couple, both sets of parents, siblings (and spouse/partner), both sets of grandparents, the officiant, the wedding party, bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honor, best man, flower girl, and ring bearer. Immediate family members are typically invited to the rehearsal dinner, including the parents of the couple, siblings, and any grandparents.

Out-of-town guests can be invited if budget and circumstances allow, but it is not a must. The main people required to attend the ceremony rehearsal are the couple, the wedding party, parents, the officiant, and in a perfect time.

It is essential to design rehearsal dinner invitations with details like who is invited, the time, date, and location of the dinner, who is hosting, and how guests can RSVP. Wedding planner and designer Kristen Gosselin of KG Events Design suggests that all rehearsal dinner invites should include the host of the rehearsal dinner, the names of the couple, the event date, time, and location, the RSVP deadline and method (email is often easiest).

In conclusion, the rehearsal dinner is a popular tradition of the wedding weekend, providing a relaxed atmosphere for celebrating and savoring the upcoming wedding without the pomp and ceremony reserved for the wedding day.

Who is traditionally responsible for the rehearsal dinner?

Traditionally, the grooms parents are the hosts of the rehearsal dinner, since the brides family customarily pays for the wedding. But given the more relaxed standards of modern times, other relatives, close friends, or even the couple themselves can plan and pay for the event. Whoever throws the party should definitely confer with the bride and groom to avoid any conflict with the theme, menu, or decorations of the wedding. *Only those who will actually take part in the rehearsal—the bride and groom, their parents, the officiant, the wedding party (including any child attendants), and readers—plus their spouses or dates, need to be invited to the rehearsal itself and the festivities that follow. But the guest list for the dinner may be longer. You might want to include other family members (such as grandparents) and close friends, for example. And many couples invite their out-of-town guests as well, making the dinner into a welcoming party. *Written invitations are not required, but still its a good idea to send them if more than just family will be attending; and the host should mail them right after the wedding invitations go out. The invitations are not as formal as those for a wedding but can reflect its tone.

What is the average size of a rehearsal dinner?

When it comes down to it, this is totally up to your discretion! You can invite anyone that you would like to invite. However, keep in mind that the rehearsal dinner is meant to be an intimate gathering for those who are involved with the wedding. The average rehearsal dinner has between 15 and 50 people – it all will depend on the size of your family and wedding party!

Venue advice. The most common venue for a rehearsal dinner is a restaurant or country club. You can find many nice restaurants with a private room for your rehearsal dinner that will work with you on a menu and decor!

Dont feel like you are limited to a restaurant, though! There are many unique and great places to have a rehearsal dinner. Some include:

Who is supposed to attend the wedding rehearsal?

Who attends the Wedding rehearsal?. The wedding couple, the bridal party and their significant others, child attendants (flower girls and ring bearers) and their parents, the wedding couples parents, and any other family members, including grandparents who will be participating in the processional. Unless the minister is a friend of the family, they usually do not attend the rehearsal. They are welcome to, but not always necessary.

Does my officiant need to be present at the rehearsal?. Unless the minister, officiant or master of ceremonies is a friend of the family, they usually do not attend the rehearsal. Youre welcome to invite your officiant to participate in your rehearsal, but its not necessary. If they do choose to attend, once you and your wedding party have completed the rehearsal with your coordinator, your officiant can use the remaining time to review the ceremonys formalities with you.

Who coordinates the Ceremony rehearsal?. We coordinate the wedding rehearsal walkthrough for all out clients – its all part of the service!

Is it rude not to invite out-of-town guests to rehearsal dinner?

A rehearsal dinner costs about $30-$70 per person. It can get expensive if you’re inviting many out-of-town guests. You don’t have to invite all your out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner. You should thank them for coming, but it doesn’t have to be at the rehearsal dinner. So how do you do that? List local activities, attractions, and restaurants on your wedding website and in the welcome bag for guests. This way, guests can find places to eat in the area.

Option 1: Reserve a small room at the hotel for a welcome gathering after the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. You could choose to have this at a house, but not all of your guests will respect your time. A hotel makes it easier to leave because you have to leave after a certain time. The bride and groom can add this information to their wedding website and in a note in the welcome bag for guests at the hotel. The bride and groom can set aside an hour to meet their out-of-town guests for a drink before bed. This lets guests spend time with you before the wedding.

Does everyone go to the wedding rehearsal dinner?

The Entire Wedding Party. Traditionally, all wedding party members should be invited to the rehearsal dinner. Essentially, its a must. Plus-ones, however, is where it gets tricky. Some etiquette experts suggest that if the bridal party member is invited to your wedding with a date, they should also be able to bring the date to the dinner party on your wedding eve. Others argue that the plus-one option need only apply on your actual wedding date. If you have a flower girl or ring bearer, technically they should be invited, too—but this largely depends on their age and relationships.

If they are a child of a bridal party member, it would go a long way to invite them. If not, a non-invitation makes more sense.

Any Out-of-Town Guests. For guests that are traveling for your big day, its a nice token to extend a rehearsal dinner invitation. Theyre taking on the expense of time and money to celebrate you, so including them in your pre-wedding celebrations is often customary. However, each situation is unique. If youre having a destination wedding, for example, everyone is traveling, so if youre having an intimate rehearsal dinner, you clearly cant invite everyone. Unlike your bridal party and immediate family, this ones entirely up to you.

Who is typically invited to a wedding rehearsal dinner?

As mentioned above, Your rehearsal dinner should consist of your bridal party, their spouses, your parents, grandparents, and siblings, Tolento says. This is essentially the people closest to you that were chosen to take a special part in your day.

Tolento adds: Your wedding list will have extended family and friends that are excited to celebrate with you, but are not part of the wedding formalities. While your rehearsal dinner will mainly include members of the wedding party and your family, your wedding day festivities will usually include more guests.

Expert Tips for Your Rehearsal Dinner Guest List. Your rehearsal dinner can be much more low-key than the wedding itself, but here are a few expert tips to help make it especially memorable for your guests.

What is the etiquette for rehearsal dinner invitations?

The Ultimate Guide to Rehearsal Dinner Invitations. Do: Send Invitations Early. One of the most important things to remember when planning your rehearsal dinner is to send out the invitations early. Aim to send them at least 6-8 weeks before the event. This gives your guests plenty of time to make arrangements, like requesting time off work or booking travel if needed.

Dont: Forget to Include Important Details. Make sure your invitations include all the necessary information for your guests. This includes:

• The names of the hosts (usually the couple or their parents).
• The date and time of the rehearsal dinner.
• The location and address of the venue.
• The theme or dress code, if applicable.
• RSVP information, such as a phone number or email address.

Who usually pays for a wedding rehearsal dinner?

The Rehearsal Dinner. Tradition dictates that the grooms family pays for the full cost of the rehearsal dinner, even though the brides family and friends attend the event as well. That includes food, drink, venue fees, entertainment, and transportation. Often the grooms family cherishes this responsibility. The event can take on a different feel to the wedding, and it is their chance to add their style and flair to the weekend. They can choose food, music, and a venue that reflects their personality.

Gifts for the Groomsmen. Many brides and grooms show their appreciation to their wedding party by giving them a gift the day of the wedding or before the weekend festivities start. The grooms family is responsible for paying for whatever items the groomsmen get.

The grooms family is also technically responsible for paying for the groomsmens lodging, whether its a hotel or Airbnb. This is another cost that has been passed on to the groomsmen in more modern weddings.

Who sits next to who at rehearsal dinner?

Who Should Sit Where?. Youll definitely want to pick the two best seats in the house for the couple getting married. Your rehearsal dinner seating plan should place their parents near them (unless there are complicated family dynamics) as well as the host of the rehearsal dinner, if that is someone other than a parent. Group bridesmaids and their dates together as well as the groomsmen and their dates together. The ring bearer and flower girl should be seated with their parents.

Typically, rehearsal dinners are far more intimate than a wedding reception, so theres a good chance the guests already know each other. If you have a large number of guests, however, who arent acquainted, consider who has common interests and is likely to get along well together. You also might try to have one lively conversationalist at every table so theres never a dull moment.

Rehearsal Dinner Seating Chart Ideas. As far as how to actually present your seating chart, if you choose to have one, there are so many great options. You can craft one by hand, order a custom seating chart on Etsy, print one at your local print shop, or get really creative and even draw out the seating chart with chalk paint on a mirror or pane of window glass. The skys the limit.

Are plus ones invited to rehearsal dinner?

Wedding Party. A wedding wouldnt be possible without the engaged couple, but dont forget about those who will be standing by your side on your wedding day. The people that you chose to be a bridesmaid or groomsmen were important enough to be in your VIP group, so they should celebrate with you at your rehearsal. Plus, they will be attending the ceremony rehearsal, so their inclusion at the rehearsal dinner is a no brainer. Having bridesmaids and groomsmen bring a plus-one is at your discretion, especially if youre hoping to have a more intimate rehearsal dinner, but spouses and long-term partners are typically recommended.

Family. Traditionally, the grooms parents paid for the rehearsal dinner, though at the Iroquois Club we see an array of arrangements when it comes to hosting and paying. But typically both sets of parents are at the top of the invite list. Additionally, the father of the groom usually toasts the bride at the rehearsal dinner, making way for the father of the bride to take the stage at the actual wedding reception.

Sometimes immediate family members arent included in the wedding party (siblings-in-law, much older siblings, etc.), so if they arent, be sure to show their importance by inviting them to your rehearsal. Grandparents on both sides are also a must! Although aunts, uncles, and cousins arent immediate family, feel free to invite a few that you or your partner are close to and want to toast with before your wedding day (especially if they have any role in the wedding ceremony like a reading or ushering).

Do you invite +1 to rehearsal dinner?

Wedding Party. A wedding wouldnt be possible without the engaged couple, but dont forget about those who will be standing by your side on your wedding day. The people that you chose to be a bridesmaid or groomsmen were important enough to be in your VIP group, so they should celebrate with you at your rehearsal. Plus, they will be attending the ceremony rehearsal, so their inclusion at the rehearsal dinner is a no brainer. Having bridesmaids and groomsmen bring a plus-one is at your discretion, especially if youre hoping to have a more intimate rehearsal dinner, but spouses and long-term partners are typically recommended.

Family. Traditionally, the grooms parents paid for the rehearsal dinner, though at the Iroquois Club we see an array of arrangements when it comes to hosting and paying. But typically both sets of parents are at the top of the invite list. Additionally, the father of the groom usually toasts the bride at the rehearsal dinner, making way for the father of the bride to take the stage at the actual wedding reception.

Sometimes immediate family members arent included in the wedding party (siblings-in-law, much older siblings, etc.), so if they arent, be sure to show their importance by inviting them to your rehearsal. Grandparents on both sides are also a must! Although aunts, uncles, and cousins arent immediate family, feel free to invite a few that you or your partner are close to and want to toast with before your wedding day (especially if they have any role in the wedding ceremony like a reading or ushering).