Rehearsal Dinner-destination Wedding help

I think this is a all or nothing type of deal. Too few people would be left out and they would likely be offended. Something casual like pizza or order in bbq?

That’s what I was thinking as well, all or nothing.

Is this a destination wedding or a wedding at a local beach?

If it is local, there is no obligation to invite everyone, even the out of towners.

If it is a destination wedding, there is still technically no obligation to include everyone, but there is a lot of social pressure to have a welcome party or dinner. You could compromise by hosting the wedding party and your parents to dinner, and extending an invitation to the others to join you later for dessert and coffee.

The cost saving option is -don't have a rehearsal. There is then no obligation to host a rehearsal dinner. There are very few weddings that actually require a rehearsal.

View Quoted Comment It is a full on destination wedding. We’re from PA and will be having the wedding in Myrtle Beach.

I am having a similar wedding—for only about 20. I’m not planning to have a rehearsal and even if I did it would be...me and FH and maybe my parents and my MOH. I’ve been debating the need to have something the night before though. I’ve thought about planning a place and just having people meet up with no pressure on me to host or on them to come. Other than my immediate family it’s all close friends who I know won’t be offended either way, but having s central place to meet might be welcome for some. Same question for a day after brunch. I’m kind of hoping my FFIL will say—hey, let me buy everyone dinner. (I’m paying for the wedding) But I don’t see that actually happening unless I ask! And I won’t! :-)

For our DW in Mexico, we have 60 guests flying in from all over the country. We are hosting a welcome dinner with family and bridal party only - this is about 30 guests and will be Thursday night before our wedding. We wanted to have a moment with just our families.

We are also hosting a casual cocktail hour for all 60 guests, following dinner, on Thursday. Drinks & Sweets. It'll be a bonfire on the beach (pending weather).

since guests are spending a lot to travel we felt it was really important to host a welcome event. Yes, it's expensive! but we felt it was worth it. We sent an RSVP request for both events and some guests responded "no". Maybe give your guests the opportunity to respond?

come wedding day - we have a cocktail hour, reception and after-party planned for all 60.

If you have a budget you can approach some local restaurants, via phone or internet, and tell them your budget, the number of guests, and let them give you options. The one place we were looking at we gave them a budget of $1000 for 53 people to include alcohol. We were given the option of having appetizers in a buffet fashion or limited choices on a menu. IN order to cut alcohol costs we were going to have rehearsal dinner during happy hour. We were also given the option of giving out 2 tickets for alcohol per person. Honestly when we thought of it this actually made the most sense as the costs were fixed and for those who didn't drink extra tickets were available if someone wanted an additional drink.