So I totally forgot about the rehearsal dinner and. I just found out my church wedding rehearsal will be 2 days before my wedding at 8pm-9pm on a Thursday night. I'm doing a traditional filipino church wedding so including the sponsors, bridesmaids and groomsmen, and our parents. I'm wondering if anyone's ever been in this boat? I'm not sure if I should have the dinner before the rehearsal, which would have to start around 5pm on a work night and most of them won't be able to come since most at the sponsors and bridal party live about 1-1.5 hours away.
Since we didn't really budget for the rehearsal dinner, we're hoping to avoid having a restaurant setting. I thinking about also having just light refreshments and light dinner at our house before the rehearsal.
Any ideas or what worked for you is welcome!