Rehearsal Dinner no no?

I wouldn't do this. We have a small budget too but we are going to treat everyone. We are thinking a Chinese buffet as the least expensive option.

No-no.

You should pay. It can be pizza in your living room, it doesn't have to be fancy or even a restaurant. But the RD thanks your WP specifically for participating in your wedding. You should pay.

I personally don't like the idea.

Were you part of the wedding?

If I were in the wedding, I would want something, even if its just a homecooked meal at someone's house afterwards. No need to go to buffulo wild wings and make everyone pay their way.

Oh wow, I wouldn't do this sorry. We are having a formal wedding with a formal rehearsal dinner.

This is your wedding so I say do what your heart desires, but for me that is a no no.

Good luck

It's a no no in my book. Can your budget stretch to do something more low-key like pizza or pasta at home?

FH and I were just discussing this. Originally the number one thing I wanted for my wedding was to have Potbelly Sandwiches cater our rehearsal dinner. We worked at one in Chicago together which is how we met and it meant a lot to me to incorporate it. However, within the last month I lost my job, we had to travel to FSIL's wedding which cost us about $500 we didn't have, we had to buy FBIL's suit for our wedding because FSMIL is irresponsible and flaky, we have to pay an officiant because 3 people flaked out at the last minute, we have to move a week after we get back ($1000) & we found out we're expecting a baby in January. We also still owe a bit on our wedding, plus need to have money for the travel to Ohio & back the week after the wedding. With all this in mind, we know our families understand we are beyond broke right now. We decided we will try to have some Potbelly cookies & pick up a few $5 pizzas from Little Caesar's and that is the best we can do unless we all go & pay sep.

I wouldn't do that either, I think like others have said you should try to do something more affordable like pizza.

I think you should pay for the rehearsal dinner. It's supposed to be a thank you for people who are part of your wedding! My girlfriend had home-cooked food and pizza for everyone. It was great. If you want to save cash try to shorten the guest list.

Thanks ladies.

I know it is a general rule that it's a definite no-no. And if we were having it during nicer months I would do a BBQ and if I were having it near a house I could use I would definitely just do something low key at home. But none of those are options unfortunately.

We are still trying to work it out, but it's a tough one for us.

My dad is paying for the RD. We are getting pizza, salad, breadsticks, soda.

Maybe you can do that

You should pay for it. Even if it's very modest, it's really the right thing to do.

I think you should pay....we are having FHs stepmom and my aunt cook alot of food for us and its going to be really informal but they won't have to do anything but eat, socialize and have a good time...and we just had to find the space to do it....the pizza idea sounds good to me on a limited budget!

For my daughters we reserved a room at a Round Table pizza. I cut coupons out of the paper and we brought in Costco Cheesecake. Under $100 and it was laid back and very nice just to relax with her wedding party and a few oot guests. She gave each of the WP their gifts and her and her FH made a speech thanking them for being in their wedding and their support.

For ours we are having a Hawaiian Buffet, but it still will be just a few hundred dollars.

Even if it is at someones house I would still pay.

Agreed! Go somewhere inexpensive but its supposed to be a thank you, and would kinda look tacky if you asked people there and then had them pay.

I would say this is a no-no. I would plan something at home or a cheaper place, but I would definitely pay for it. You don't even have to have alcohol - that will definitely raise the bill.

Another option instead of pizza would be to make your own food. For my MOH's rehearsal dinner, it turned into a potluck dinner. She was going to make all of the food herself, but everyone offered to bring something. It turned out great and everyone had a fun time.

edit - Most of the time people offer to make something if you are having a dinner at home, so you don't even have to ask them =)

Yah, I'm surprised that you and the other people who went to the rehearsal weren't offended. Find something that you can fit into your budget, even if you just do a bar-be-que at your house. I'm not 100% sure where we are going to do ours yet, but one of the best options for us it to have it at Carino's (it's an italian restaurant chain) and the do family platters. So we could order 3 or 4 of the different family platters (pfor example, a chicken parmigan platter that feeds 4) and just have everyone pick and choose what they want.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I definitely am doing what I can - but it's too late in the season for a BBQ (like snowing) and we have no family or friends with houses to accomodate the 27 people involved with my wedding. The venue does not have a place available to have it either.

I understand as a rule it is definitely a no-no. None of us were offended at the rehearsal that we went to that we had to pay. Even though we were involved with the wedding - and being in the middle of planning one ourselves - we knew that providing food for over 20 people without being able to make it ourselves is just an expensive task. But the other option we are looking at right now is just not having a rehearsal dinner...that's just the long and short of it.

I agree with everyone, at the very least you could cook dinner. Something you could make a lot of for cheap and easy like spaghetti. This was going to be our optionn but we were blessed and FFIL is paying for a RD. Good luck

There is nothing wrong with just ordering pizzas (like little Caesars has 5 dollar hot and ready pizzas). Or as Devin suggested spaghetti..I would do that rather than having people pay for it themselves if you can..If they are coming from far away they are paying to travel or buying you gifts or dresses/tuxes perhaps.So I feel you should buy them the meal as a gesture of thanks.

Some restaurants will allow you to do a set menu so that people can only order the items you choose. You could ask a restaurant to do that, and choose inexpensive options.