Length of rehearsal dinner? Before or after rehearsal?

I would do it after, so people can be more relaxed and not worry about rushing to the rehearsal. I am not allowing any amount of time. People will come and go all night. We are having it at the beach house we rented, after the rehearsal.

We're doing the Rehearsal at 6:00pm and the Priest said it shouldn't be more than 30 minutes then we're going to be eating afterwards at a local restaurant in their reserved section.

I have never heard of a rehearsal dinner before the rehearsal. As far as every one I've ever been to dinner has always been after the rehearsal itself. Usually the rehearsals last 30-60 minutes depending on what needs to be covered. As far as how long dinner goes, the sky's the limit on that one! Hope that helps.

I've been to a lot of rehearsals and rehearsal dinners, and the rehearsal always came before the dinner. It makes sense to me only because then you won't have to stress about running late. That way, the dinner part can go as long as you want it to

If you want to do it before i would do a lunch instead of dinner.

We are doing it after because we are setting up the hall before- but have to be out by 5pm. we will go BBQ after that.

I never even thought of having the rehearsal "AFTER" dinner. I always just assumed everyone did it first.

Well we are meeting up at the Venue at 6 Pm to do a quick rehearsal and then we are gonna go just down the street and have dinner.

My group is worthless after eating (meant in the most loving way possible). I'm not letting them anywhere near the food and booze til we can all get up and down the aisle successfully.

Thanks everyone. The few weddings I've been a part of had their dinner first, I'll definitely do the rehearsal first that will make it much easier! The only hard part will be getting away from the guests to go back to the hotel