Rehearsal Dinner: Is it mandatory?

Could it be at someone's home instead of a restaurant? I know some people do like a cookout in lieu of a rehearsal dinner. You could get a several people involved in preparing the food and have a casual and relaxed dinner party.

I don't think anything is really mandatory when you get right down to it. Sometimes you have to do things the way they work for you!

Exactly what Michelle said, do it at home? I do feel it's rude as this is part of the thank you for your bridal party and all they have done for your special day. Doesn't have to be at a restaurant but something intimate and just some time to relax with everyone.

If you have a rehearsal, a dinner of some sort is expected - even if it's just pizza and beer!

I agree with everyone else. It is a thank you to your bridal party. Have pizza and beer at your house.

If you do a rehearsal then you should provide food, but you can do it as a BBQ or at someone's home. We have 10 people invited to our rehearsal dinner and we are going BBQ from a local restaurant for 10/person. That's only $100. You can't afford something like that?

If you are requiring everyone to attend a ceremony rehearsal then, yes, it's mandatory to feed them after. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.

Pizza or even home cooked burgers and fries would work. Get some salad mix or a pasta salad along with it and call it a day. It does not have to be fancy, and honestly I like casual so that would be fine with me.

If you have a rehearsal, you need a dinner. It can be simple and casual, but it needs to happen.

Don't have a rehearsal and you don't need a dinner. But if you insist on a rehearsal, you need to feed them. And you need to include the SOs of those 10 bridal party members (and anyone else that participates in the rehearsal, such as readers).

"We are spending a lot of our own money on other, more important stuff for the wedding". So feeding and thanking your bridal party is not all that important? I wonder how much they are spending on dress, shoes, tux, hair, makeup, etc. to be in your wedding. And a lot of brides on here are paying for our weddings completely on our own without help from parents at all so that "spending our own money" thing doesn't really work here. Properly budgeting and saving for your wedding helps alleviate issues and worries such as this. As others have said, it doesn't need to be fancy, but yes it needs to happen.

Thanks for all the advice. This has helped tremendously! We got so frustrated earlier with trying to figure out where it should be and what we should have that we just said forget it, we aren't having one. Then I got to thinking that it would probably be pretty rude/inconsiderate to skip it. You all have been very helpful to say the least! Thanks again!

@Ana you don't really "need" to have a rehearsal it just helps alleviate some stress and everyone gets a trial run. It's not necessary at all. Were not having one, but were also not having a wedding party so there's no point.

My friend's fiancè is hosting their rehearsal dinner. They're doing the dinner at her parents house and will be bringing in catered bbq and a keg or 2. RDs don't have to be expensive, but you do need to feed everyone if you're expecting them to come to a rehearsal.

I flat out never think that a rehearsal is necessary. No one pays attention, no one remembers anyone, and it just costs you more.

We are having a rehearsal but I like you....we can't afford to pay anymore money, we go on our honeymoon the next week and guests are getting a wedding the next day! It's too much, we have the shower, bachelorette....at some point, I gotta say no and I don't care if it looks rude. My parents live in an apartment, as do I...I can't assume or impose on anyone to let us use their house for a BBQ. It is what it is, my friends won't think any less of me for it either.

A rehersal isn't technically a tequirement. I have a lot of friends who have done a barbecue in someone's back yard as a rehersal dinner to save money. Hotdogs, burgers, and a couple of sides can be very inexpensive. I even have one friend who did her rehersal dinner at Pizza Hut.

We are planning to have a rehearsal dinner at our home with our parents, siblings and bridal party. It will be low-key and not too expensive.

We're in the same spot -- ridiculously tight budget, still have to have a RD. We're going to a pizza place for it!

Canadianmummy... you're so rude. First of all, YOU do not pay for the bach or shower, whoever throws it for you does, so I have no idea what that has to do with anything? If you are having a rehearsal, you MUST have a dinner. If you refuse to pay for dinner, then don't have rehearsal - it's simple. Your friend's will absolutely talk about it behind your back, as the RD is to thank them for being there with you.

OP - glad you got the advice you needed

Our officiant is helping us with a location because the venue charges a pretty penny to rent a room for the rehearsal and they don't allow outside food or drinks. They cater themselves BUT it's very expensive for dinner (we are doing a lunch for the wedding) so we're talking about going to a park or something and just bringing pizza. Thanks again everyone! I had this notion that it had to be all fancy or at least formal when, in all reality, it doesn't.