Informal, Not-hosted Rehearsal dinner?

That's rude. Just don't have a rehearsal, it's not necessary.

ETA: took out dinner because if you have a rehearsal you should have a rehearsal dinner

Nah, just don't have a rehearsal and you don't have to host the RD! If you have a rehearsal, a dinner should be hosted as a thank you to your BP for taking more time out of their schedule for you guys!

Skip it. It should be hosted if you have one.

Just skip the rehearsal all together.

If you're going to have a rehearsal, you should host some kind of RD. This can be done pretty inexpensively--I went to a fun one at a pizza place a couple of years ago.

I agree with previous posters, if you do have a rehearsal then it's expected for the rehearsal dinner to be hosted by someone. Can you skip the rehearsal?

If you don't have a rehearsal at all then it'd be perfectly fine to say "hey, FH and I will grab dinner and a drink at (whatever restaurant), if anybody wants to join please let us know", and extend that invite to OOT guests if you were hoping to meet up with them too.

I am on the same page as you. My FH doesn't have a family. Its just him, no brothers, sisters, parents, anything. My parents are helping with deposits of everything and my dress. We are paying the rest. I understand some may say its rude but it would be nice for a dinner with just the close people before the big party. I am still up in the air about it also. Thinking about having a bunch of pizzas delivered to our venue the night before and having a drop in and byob. But my mom wants to do what you are thinking.

-We don't have a bridal party so there isn't too many for us to host

If they are coming to rehearse with you, you really have to feed them some kind of dinner. It could be a simple as pizza, but if you are having a rehearsal you really have to thank the people who came with a dinner of some sort. Do you need to have a rehearsal? If you don't rehearse, you don't have to host a dinner.

Once you have a meal to thank the people who rehearsed with you, it would not be rude to let out of town guests know a bar they can meet you at for a few drinks. You can make it clear that would not be hosted, just an opportunity for them to see you the night before if they are in town. I have been to weddings like this where there was an unhosted get together the night before the wedding. So either don't rehearse, and invite everyone to meet at a bar; or rehearse, feed your BP a quick meal, then meet everyone at a bar after.

Dinner is to thank them for being in your wedding and coming to the rehearsal. It can be as simple as pizza, beer and wine at someone's house.

We're probably just going to order pizza. Or we might go to Buffalo Wild Wings or something. Very very informal, but we're paying. It's still really cheap though. You don't have to spend $50 per person.

If you totally can't pay, just don't have a rehearsal (or have a small one with just you, your partner, and officiant or venue staff, if that's part of what you've already arranged). You can always have a five minute meeting the day-of to make sure everyone knows when and where to go.

If you really really need a rehearsal for some reason, try to swing a very casual rehearsal dinner. We're buying pizza and soft drinks to eat in the church basement.

If you want to do a separate event not related to a rehearsal that's not hosted, that's different and perfectly okay. Just make it clear to your friends and family that it's not hosted and not required/expected that they attend.

We are renting a picnic shelter for $40 and grilling out. Maybe a couple hundred bucks for food and drink. Setting up lawn games, etc, and calling it a welcome picnic. Its hosted, but the cost is manageable. I'm actually really looking forward to it!

Don't make your Bp do that. Order some pizzas and salad and buy a few cheap bottles of wine. Doesn't have to be fancy. Either that or skip the rehearsal altogether. If you have a rehearsal, you must feed your guests after.

Agree with the PPs!! Skip it or do something really cheap and easy like pizza!

You can't have a rehearsal without a rehearsal dinner. So either skip the rehearsal and dinner all together or doing something like pizza, taco, or subs.

Okay, I like the pizza idea- thanks for the feedback guys!

We have to have a rehearsal as the church requires it. So we are having the rehearsal dinner in a room at the church and we are buying pizzas and for those that dont eat pizza subway has a great sub platter for like $39. We are doing a small cake and thats it.

We can't afford to host a RD at a venue either. We opted to do a Low Country Boil at our house. Should cost about $150 for 25 people.

Pizza is great and inexpensive, some BBQ places can be too.

Delisa- can I just say I laugh every time I see your sideways avatar, and I love you DGAF to change it. lol