Rehearsal dinner- do we invite the wedding party’s spouses?

Yes—that’s super rude. If our FMIL can’t afford the extra $2k, I’d let her know she needs to change venue to accommodate the bridal party’s sig others.

Yes, typically couples are a package deal and should be invited that way to the rehearsal dinner.

Yes, spouses should be absolutely be included.

All significant others of bridal party members should be invited. If they can't afford.these extra guests then a different location for the dinner should be selected.

Yes spouses/significant others must be invited as well as parents of flowergirl/ringbearer. A rehearsal dinner doesn't need to be that expensive. A large number of couples go with inexpensive pizza and beer and they are perfectly ok with it. Scale back on dinner to fit the significant others.

Yes, all significant others of the wedding party should be included. Couples are a package deal. FMIL should plan to change the venue/dinner to something less expensive if not able to accommodate the wedding's party's significant others at this restaurant

Yeah, it’s definitely rude.

A very casual event, a cook out or pizza right from rehearsal, you could open just to participants. And if you decided not to use your RD but have B or Gr thank you luncheons or dinners of just participants, you could do something less formal for participants only. But when you upgrade to a seated more formal party, with inlaws and parents and others there the participants become entitled to the company of their significant other in a couples event.

Yes, it would be very rude to exclude them

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I agree with Kylie. Significant others of the bridal party def. need to be included.

I'm going to disagree with everyone here and say it's perfectly fine to not invite them. I'm used to rehearsal dinners being immediately after the rehearsal, and used to provide food for everyone in the rehearsal as you're taking their time away. I highly doubt your wedding party would be bringing their significant others to the rehearsal...

I think you are suppose to invite them but at the end of the day the rehearsal is about members who are in the actual wedding and if the budget only allows that, then that's what it is or you can change plans and find something that accommodates everyone.

I did inform my bridal party that their significant others can not be a part of the actual rehearsal but can come to the dinner following

I always have the unpopular opinion on this topic and people come at me for saying this but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not inviting significant others to the rehearsal. To the wedding itself is a different story. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to spend a few hours away from your spouse as you practice your procession and go out to eat afterwards. Unless you are close family to the couple getting married or apart of their wedding in someway, you can stay home while your significant other goes to fulfill their duties and obligations as part of the wedding party. For example, our groomsman is married but his wife is not going to be invited to the rehearsal. If we were closer with her should would have been asked to be apart of the wedding party but she is not so what’s the big idea if she stays home for a few hours? I find it funny how people can’t bare the thought of separating from their SO for one night while they go support their friend and help them prepare.

If it’s a sit down dinner significant others of the bridal party should be invited. My fiancé was in a wedding a month ago and I was invited to the rehearsal dinner as well as the out of town guests that came in. It was catered tacos at a brewery, very simple but still a great evening. I would maybe convince FMIL to pick a cheaper venue to accommodate.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for sharing Valerie! Super helpful!