Rehearsal Dinner - extended family?

No. The rehearsal dinner is for people who need to be at the rehearsal. I only invited the wedding party, minister, and immediate family. The extended family is invited to the wedding.

No. I'm having a small rehearsal dinner. My wedding party is small though 4 adults and 4 children... Outside of that, it will be parents and close friends. We're doing a BBQ style rehearshal.

We're also only having wedding party, officiant and immediate family.

The only reason we are having some of the extended family is because they are coming in from out of town and it is tradition to invite them. If we didn't have anyone coming from other places however it would just be the bridal party and immediate families.

The only people that will be at our rehersal is the wedding party and there significant others, the officiant, my mom and step dad and my dad and step mom and there kids if they come, and my aunt and uncle because it's there house we'll be having the rehersal dinner at

Are these cousins/aunts out of town guests? If not there is no need to invite them.

Usually, out of town family members are invited to the rehearsal dinner tho.

If they are coming from out of town, it would be considerate to extend an invite to them. If they are local, I don't think there is any need.

Only our officiant (and his spouse), our four parents, and the wedding party (four people) will be attending our rehearsal dinner.

If we invited "immediate" family (which would have to include their 4 or 6 children, because who else will watch them if everyone is attending?), plus the family that is going to be in town at the time, then we'd have to invite *half* of the total people that we're inviting to the wedding itself!

We're having a backyard s'mores & beer bonfire that same night, which will be open to all.

No. WP and parents only, with their dates and/or SOs.

However - you may need to check what's normal in your family. Some of H's cousins assumed they could come to the RD and then something happened last minute. When his cousin apologized profusely to me that she couldn't attend, I just told her it was no problem, but in my head I was thinking "oops...I'm kinda glad you can't, there's not enough food for you..."

I will be inviting the wedding party and there partners. My parents, his parents, and a couple other people that we hang out with on a regular basis. Also i will be having my uncle aunt & cousin also attend who are out of towners.

My FH's entire family is coming in from out of town. The wedding is outside of my hometown in Kentucky, and they are traveling from Ohio. After reading everyone's advice, I think we are going to invite everyone to the dinner and have an intimate "after hours party" for close family and friends later in the evening.

Thanks for the inspiration and advice!! Happy wedding planning to all!

We had only the wedding party, the readers, and the musicians...only the people involved in the wedding need to be there.

My FH's mother is inviting the wedding party to dinner.. looks like she has invited some of her own family also.. which doesn't makes sense bec they arent' in the wedding except her daughter, his sister..I personally dont want to go...lol..but I'm the bride to be lol

I think it should be only those involved in the wedding. I too want something intimate and casual, but my mom thinks extended family is to be invited too. This topic will be a hot one coming up soon in my wedding planning with her and she won't be happy.

I have a HUGE extended family coming from out of town for my wedding, and totally can relate to this issue!

However, I am planning to make it VERY clear that ONLY the bridal party, parents and siblings are invited to the rehearsal dinner. Everyone else can celebrate with us at the wedding..

We are only inviting the bridal party, immediate family and out of town guests.

In our family it is just the tradition to invite the out of town guests because in some cases they have not met FH/FW that much and it is a chance to get to know the new family members in a more casual setting.

I will have the wedding party and their spouses, and then our parents and grandparents if they are in on Friday night.

I don't see why anyone else would need to be there.

I will have the wedding party and their spouses, and then our parents and grandparents if they are in on Friday night.

I don't see why anyone else would need to be there.

The great thing about RD is that there are no set rules. As long as you invite those who will be at the rehearsal itself (bridesmaids, readers, parents) the rest is up to you. Check out this helpful site for some practical rehearsal dinner etiquette tips!

http://www.celebrationideasonline.com/rehearsal-dinner-etiquette.html