Rehearsal Dinner

I`ve been told that everyone that is doing something in your wedding that would need to be at the rehearsal would be invited...but I`m not having a sit down dinner reception after the wedding so we are going to extend that to Grandparents also..sometimes people also do out-of-town guest..in my case that`s way too may people so it`s would be too expensive....I think I will probably invite my personal assistant also..even though she really has no duties until my wedding day.....oh and traditionally it is the Groom`s parent`s responsibility but I`ve heard people disagree with that...I just waited for them to say they were going to pay for it so it didn`t cause any akwardness...usually people assume it`s the Groom`s parents that pay for it....good luck!

We invited all of the wedding party and their spouses, as well as our parents/stepparent, and immediate family (brothers and sisters and their kids), and the MC (who was a cousin of the groom). In all we had about 25 people, but our case may have been a bit different since we had it at our house rather than at a restaurant. All of our parents chipped in to provide food and drink for a cold buffet (potato salad, ham, roast beef, etc.), my mom cooked most of it at the house and it didn`t personally cost us anything! But we`re luckier than some...

I think you can make your rehearsal dinner anything you want it to be. But don`t end up spending gazillions of dollars on it. For us, it was designed to be something relaxing, where all of our families and everyone could get to know each other. Even if we did end up paying for it, it would have been VERY inexpensive.

As far as who pays for what, I think that tradition on this subject is pretty much out the window. Our parents all contributed to our wedding, but for the most part, it was on us.


K

Here is a list for who is supposed to be included in the rehearsal dinner:

Parents/Stepparents
Grandparents
All siblings of the bride & groom and their spouses/fiances/live-ins (not dates)
All wedding party members and their spouses/fiances or live ins (not dates)
The officiant

Many people also include out of town guests for the rehearsal dinner. It`s a nice thing to do but it`s not mandatory.

It is customary but no obligatory for the grooms family to host the rehearsal dinner.

You have to include the musicians or people that are doing readings ect...that would be rude to expect them to come to the rehearsal and not the dinner..

Tiff,

Usually (and I use this term very loosely as there are few `rules` anymore to weddings) all members - and their spouses/significant others of the wedding party are invited to the dinner. This includes, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, readers, personal attendants, greeters, and musicians.

Also, typically the groom`s parents host this event. However, it can be done however you`d like to be. If your parents do not care to pay for it -- then sometimes the bride/groom themselves host the event.

Also, couples have often opted to invite more people that are special to them in some sort of way: grandparents, godparents, aunts/uncles that are not part of the actual wedding party. That`s completely up to you and the bride.

I would recommend that you be sure to invite all the wedding party members and then decide who else you`d like to be there. As for who is footing the bill -- check with the parents and find out what their thoughts are.

Good luck!

Yes Aubri, it is correct to include anyone who is doing a reading, a musical selection, etc. (except of course hired musicians). I just assumed that was understood when I said "wedding party". Technically some of those people are not really the wedding party, so I should have been more specific. Thanks for pointing that out.

Also, whoever said grandparents are optional - they are not. Grandparents are always supposed to be included at the rehearsal dinner.