Rehearsal Meal - Before or After Rehearsal, 1's or no?

I doubt that many people will want to do yoga after eating a meal (and possibly drinking?), but aside from that Option A seems preferable. Can you not have your rehearsal a little earlier? And do yoga in the morning, then rehearsal, then late rehearsal lunch that SOs and plus 1s could attend?

I think the lunch sounds like a great way to accomodate everyone and stay on budget.

I vote to have SOs in attendance so however you can make that happen. People will probably drink at whatever meal you host however, so keep that in mind. And I second the yoga after a 2 hour meal might be strange for most people.

In any scenario, the SOs/guests of the wedding party need to be invited. If the only one in which you can afford that is Option A, then Option A. Of course, that means everyone would have to take a full day off work Friday, so, you'll need to be understanding if people can't do that/attend rehearsal.

Option A since SO's are included. I don't know your crowd but I personally wouldn't want to do Yoga.

Are SOs not invited to option B because it is dinner and the budget doesn't allow? I would choose option A, as long as it is convenient for your guests to be at lunch at 1pm on a Friday afternoon.

Another thought -- I'm not sure how realistic this is for you, but would you consider adding to the rehearsal meal budget yourselves? Or would your FILs be offended? $600 for 30 people seems reeeaally tight, if it's actually catered or at an establishment (especially if the 18% gratuity will need to come out of that total). As others have said, not having SOs is not really acceptable for the rehearsal meal.

And have you investigated food trucks at all? That's a cheaper option (compared to restaurants) that could be available at dinnertime, so things wouldn't need to start so early in the day.

SO's of your wedding party should always be invited to the RD.

In option A - would many be able to attend? I'm assuming most people would be at work that early on a weekday.

Also - maybe I'm missing something with the yoga, but it seems a bit odd for a planned activity for the wedding party. You know your guests, are they into that sort of thing?

Dinner after the rehearsal. No yoga. Everyone gets a plus one. This plan will appeal to the majority.

I don't think I'd care for the yoga. I've always been told to allow a minimum of 1 hour between a meal and doing yoga, but 2 hours is even better. But maybe your crowd would like it. This will also be a really hectic time, do you really have time for a hour and a half yoga session?

ETA: haha I need to read the times better, I still say no to the yoga

I agree with Centerpiece. Do dinner after the rehearsal and everyone should get plus ones. I know that might be hard with a $600 budget, but that's what makes the most sense. Attending a 1pm lunch might be hard for people who have to work a half day or travel. Also confused by the yoga.

Is there a way you could do something super casual to bring the costs down? Maybe get a bunch of takeout (whatever you are able to eat) and bring it to someone's house? That way you wouldn't have to factor in drinks in the budget? I know pizza isn't an option, but I feel like you could maybe make a takeout buffet style meal work for your budget.

ETA: I would still offer soda and beer or wine with dinner, but it would be cheaper to buy a 24 pack of beer and some 2 liters of soda than to let guests order it from a restaurant.

Dinner after. Rehearsal lunch means asking those 30 people to all burn a vacation day. Personally, I'm pretty stingy with those. Also, group yoga? Is there meaning behind this?

S/o's of the wedding party should be invited. Save $ by skipping the yoga then..

Yes my crowd likes yoga. It is optional, but I am choosing to do it and my instructor and friend has offered to gift it to us for our wedding, which I have been very excited about. Those who don't want to participate don't have to. Nonetheless, my fiance, my mom and I will be doing it, and my FIL's would be doing it if they were staying in the area overnight. To each their own.

If we knew someone who lived in the area, we would totally be down for takeout at someone's home.

I had contacted a restaurant that had agreed to customize a menu for us including soft drinks, then got popular and rescinded the deal and said they could only do a lunch, which left a bad taste in my mouth. I could try to push for it with the restaurant owner, but I don't know how possible it is or if he would even honor a contract if it were negotiated at this point.

It is not in the budget to pay in addition to what my FIL's are offering. I think it's a not knowing how much things cost in the area issue, along with budget. I've looked everywhere I can think of, I've called the Chamber of Commerce of nearby cities, but all leaves me with the two options mentioned in my question above.

ETA: the only other restaurants I have seen would literally be takeout style restaurants, which I'm sure have great food but leave something to be desired for ambiance, and since it's January it's not like we can just take everything to a park. I've also tried calling to find out if dance studios or other places would rent out their space for a couple hours, but to no avail.

I really think you need to add to the budget and have SO's attend a dinner. A luncheon will require people to take extra time off work. 600.00 is way too tight a budget for the number of people you have.

ETA You would be monopolizing far less of their day with the dinner.

SOs need to be invited to the RD, period.

If the ONLY way you can invite SOs is option A, then option A it is.

But be aware, not everyone - including important members of the BP - may be able to attend since it means taking off possibly a full day of work.

Have you looked into a small catering company in your area at all? We have the same budget for the rehearsal dinner and we are using a local caterer that also runs a country store / deli that is known for having outstanding food. We're paying $12.95 plus tax a person for 30-35 people. They will set everything up. It'll be a self serve buffet in our church's community room after the rehearsal. Because it's at the church we can only have non-alcoholic drinks which is helping to keep the cost down. I would suggest checking into your local delis and even some local restaurants that offer food to go / catering.

Avid yogi here so I understand your reasons for wanting to add it to the itinerary, but as others have said, yoga after dinner isn't ideal for most people. I am also having a yoga class be a part of my wedding weekend but we're doing it at 11am the next day. A light breakfast, tea and coffee, and an optional yoga class for guests to recharge after a long night of dancing and drinking. I'm not saying you need to do it this way, I'm just giving you another option to consider.

As far as the budget goes, I'm sorry but that's just waaaaay too tight for a full meal of 25 people. You really do need to include SOs, as well. Plenty of people do casual rehearsal dinners, I know lots of brides here have said they've just done taco bars and beer. If it isn't in the budget to add to the $600 at all, I think you need to rework the "atmosphere" of this event.

At this point, maybe just scrap the rehearsal (and thus, dinner). If you don't have a rehearsal (and most really don't, let's be honest - it's just walking), you don't need a dinner, and can stop stressing about this.

This morning's great idea award goes to Stephanie. Just skip the rehearsal. Everyone can walk down an aisle. Lots of people don't have them and are fine. No rehearsal means no rehearsal dinner!