Rehearsal Dinner Etiquette

You do not need to have a rehearsal dinner. Honestly, we just ran through the ceremony a few times a few hours before the wedding. If you do decide to have a rehearsal, do host something afterwards. Even if it's something low key like pizza.

We actually had a welcome dinner the night before, but since we were all staying in a vacation house together it was easier. We had a DIY taco bar. My mom and dad paid for the food and my family pitched in and cooked everything.

That makes me feel a lot better! I definitely would prefer something like a taco bar even if it was at someone's house! Figuring out some fancy dinner just seems like A LOT of work when there is a such a big day ahead of us! People have told me it is extremely rude not to have a rehearsal or rehearsal dinner the night before so I wasn't completely sure!

Some people get a caterer and plan a mini reception before the big day.

No thanks! I will have the ceremony rehearsal and after, if its not just a back yard bonfire with some brews, it will be where we to go to a restaurant & everyone can pay for themselves.

I hate how there are "traditions" to have so many parties before the big party! The engagement party. Bridal shower. Wedding shower. Rehearsal dinner. THEN the big day? Nope. Not for this bride.

You guys do what you want!

I just had pizza delivered to the venue. Got some jumbo salads from the restaurant I work at. Really low key.

Hey Destiny!! If you have a rehearsal, you need to have a rehearsal dinner - but you totally don't need to have a rehearsal The rehearsal dinner should be hosted, but it can be super casual - like pizza and beer!

I am loving all these great ideas! I am totally game to go back to our house and have beer, wine, and pizza! Seems way less stressful then deciding on some fancy dinner being hosted!

If you have a rehearsal, you need to have a dinner.

We're having a rehearsal dinner, and its honestly a bit of a stress factor. We have a very large number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. We're paying for everything ourselves. Our venue doesn't guarantee rehearsal time the day before because they have other weddings going on. So considering all of that I ended up renting a small space for the rehearsal and dinner after. We're going to keep it fairly casual with some italian food and costco beer and wine. It was cheaper not to have it in a restaurant with pricier food/booze and tip. Someone tried to tell me I had to invite all of our OOT guests - which just made me laugh. Over 80 of our guests are out of town - that would be a second wedding! HAH.

Our ceremony will be in our yard, so we're doing the dinner the too. Ribs for dinner and macarons for supper is all I've got so far. We'll have to pick sides at some point. It'll be pretty laid back!

If you require they attend a rehearsal, you should provide dinner. It doesn't need to be expensive at all. Or fancy. The "planning" of a rehearsal for my 40 guests consisted of calling a few restaurants to see if they could seat a large party. That's really all you have to do. If they can't, have pizzas delivered to the venue, or go to a bar and offer to pick up the bartab food.

Destiny, FWIW, my baby brother did ber wine and pizza for his RD-- it was totally relaxed, we all had fun-- could NOT have been better!

Also, don't forget spouses/SO's are always invited to RD. Always.

You don't need to invite aunts, uncles, neighbors, godmothers, godmothers cat etc. Just bridal party, their so's/spouses, and same with parents.

We are only doing a RD because small children are in our wedding party, and it was suggested that we should do one. I would by pass it if children weren't in the wedding.

It's the rehearsal that's not required. But if you have a rehearsal, you must have a rehearsal dinner and you must host it. It is not rude not to have a rehearsal. What's rude is to have a rehearsal and then not have a dinner. Just like the reception is a way to thank your guests for coming to the ceremony, the rehearsal dinner is a thank you to your guests for coming to the rehearsal.

You can have and should have a rehearsal. You don't have to host a dinner but you do need to practice for your wedding to go smoothly the next day.

@SFJG Umm, no. Jewish weddings traditionally don't have a rehearsal. There are no reports of people falling flat on their faces as a result.

But if you do have a rehearsal, you need to host people.

We're skipping a rehearsal, so no dinner. but we have a lot of OOT guests, so we are having a welcome party the night before the wedding. it will be at the hotel, and we will have italian catered. just pasta, bread, salad, and antipasto. it will be low key.

I'm glad so many people are saying it's fine to go casual. So many people keep telling me it should be something "nice". My wedding will be nice. I'm thinking the BBQ place down the street. I'm not trying to wear heels two days in a row

We are having a rehearsal because there are children in the BP, one of which is autistic. He needs to know what to expect. For the RD, we are having a Low Country Boil at our house (5 miles from the venue and two blocks from the beach). WE are also doing the groom's cake at the RD. I want FH to have something that is strictly for him, as I have some accents in the wedding that are all about me.