Is a Rehearsal Dinner a must?

If you have a rehearsal you should provide some sort of meal afterward for those that participate - can be very simple like pizza or subs. However, rehearsals are completely optional so you could skip that and skip the dinner/lunch.

We are having pizza and salad. At the church after rehersal.

Yep. We're not doing one because when I started adding up all the people I would "have" to invite, it was getting crazy and considering we would have to pay for it ourselves, there is NO WAY we could have afforded it. So we just decided to do a quick run through with our bridal party two nights before the wedding, and we're just going to go back to our place and hang out and have some drinks like any other party we would normally have. I'm going to cook what I can and ask anyone that wants to bring a dish or drink to do so. Luckily DH is off work that Friday so he will be doing all the cooking and arranging

You don't have to have a rehearsal at all, and in that case, it's ok to just skip it all together. But I think if you are expecting everyone to gather for a rehearsal, then it's nice to feed them. It doesn't have to be fancy or formal. I think we might just do a bbq.

We had a quick rehearsal, but we didn't do a dinner... Two of the WP had there children with them and we had our own children with us as well, so everyone was happy to get home and prepare for the next day and get the little ones to bed....

We will be in vegas and half the people coming to the wedding would have to be invited to the rehearsal dinner.

so we are just doing an open bar mixer for an hour and a half the night before the wedding for everyone to come to.

Y'all have great ideas! Thanks!

You don’t have to do anything. Your wedding is customized to you guys. Your style, wants, needs, and budget.

FH parents are taking care of our rehearsal dinner.

But some of my friends that were responsible for their own rehearsal dinner just went out to a restaurant and everyone paid themselves they just had a night out with everyone before the wedding.

Another couple had a simple BBQ. You don’t have to make it big or fancy, you can keep it simple.

Feed the people that HAVE to come to the rehersal. The BP that is it, not their dates, not parents and siblings jus thte people who actually have to come do a walk through and pizza is fine.

By all means not required. I think it would depend on how big you BP is and the extent of your ceremony. With that said, we are not.

Refreshments of some form. But opt to keep it simple and like others suggested maybe limit to wedding party only!

We're doing a super chill one. BBQ at my parent's property, everyone can just come and hang out.

I found that I really enjoyed the rehearsal dinner because it gave us time to visit with our close families and bridal party. The wedding itself was so hectic and we were running around trying to see everyone. But don't do anything that will stress you out more- we were lucky in that my MIL arranged the dinner, so it was one thing I didn't have to worry about at all!

Like MJ we are just having pizza at the church after the rehearsal.

Yea, personally I think if you are requiring a rehearsal, then you should thank them with food. But like PPs have mentioned, you definitely don't have to go over the top- potluck, deli platters, pizza, chinese, something easy and simple is perfectly acceptable! In fact, I wish FH didnt care so much about appearances, otherwise we would be doing pizza and beer lol

We are not doing a rehearsal, so no rehearsal dinner.

I'm not sure if it's required but we are having one. a quick run through and doing pizza or something small. after adding the quotes up and everything I've researched we are already overbudget, not by much but enough for me to say WTF was I thinking. We are also using this to thank the wp for being there and giving them their gifts.

I think you can get creative and do something casual and inexpensive. Check out this helpful site for some great RD ettiquette tips and ideas

GOOD LUCK!

http://www.celebrationideasonline.com/rehearsal-dinner-etiquette.html#sthash.8VRmxRjg.dpbs

I agree with the ladies, for us we are having a get together after rehearsal at our house and having pizza and other things to go with it and just relax with our BP, most of them are from out of state and a few is staying with us, you have to do what you have to do, we're gonna make it work with the budget we have

I agree with what everyone is saying.. If you are having a rehearsal, there should be a meal. If you're skipping it altogether, then you're in the clear.. although I know I would NOT feel comfortable not having a rehearsal!

We are keeping things inexpensive and easy for the rehearsal.. it's an OOT wedding, so I paid $80 to rent out a "conference" style room at the hotel I'm staying at and we're ordering pizza, salad, and breaksticks from a local place.. getting some beer, sangria, soda, etc and maybe some ice cream or something for dessert.. Very inexpensive!

Also.. keep in mind that the rehearsal dinner is usually when you pass our BP gifts