Where to have rehearsal dinner?

You're going to have 120 people at your rehearsal?

Well FH and I are having a family dinner to celebrate the wedding and show appreciation to the people involved before the wedding just because (which I guess is like a rehearsal dinner) at a local restaurant. We are just reserving a room and allowing the guest to order what they want and pick up their tab because we don't have the money to do something super fancy. Maybe you could do something similar?

I am actually having ours right here at home. We are having someone else cater and then we will go down to the hall and rehearse. What about renting out a small room in a restaurant? That might be a good idea.

Also, I thought that a rehearsal dinner is smaller/intimate. I would make the guest list smaller.

I was questioning the same thing. Why 120 people? Do you have a lot of OOT guests? A rehearsal dinner is usually for the wedding party, parents, immediate family, people involved with the wedding, and OOT guests.

You rehearse the wedding and then everyone goes out to spend time together before the big day. It doesn't have to be something elaborate, but it doesn't have to be pizza in a gym either. If you cut down the guest list, it would be more manageable.

We had our rehearsal dinner at a restaurant. We called ahead and reserved space for everyone. We had kids, lots of kids because all of our siblings were there and they each have families of their own so we wanted it to be someplace fun, plus we like to have a good time too! We did it at a place that had all you can eat food and a game room. Be creative, save the fancy stuff for the wedding.

Our wedding rehearsel is only for the wedding party and our parents. Then we're going to our FAVORITE chinese buffet!

Keep it simple! You'll enjoy it so much better.

I have a very large family, and so does FH. His parents aren't willing to not invite all extended family to the rehearsal dinner. I don't expect all 120, because all our family is OOT and the rehearsal will be on a Thursday, but it's possible that they will be there.

We are doing something simple and easy and everybody that will be attending loves... Mexican food. We are going to one of the local places after the rehearsal. We will only have 20 total in attendance.

I'd keep it just to the wedding party and the parents and pay for it myself at a restaurant, or maybe a BBQ at someone's house. Don't have the FH's parents pay for it or in any way be responsible for it if they are going to have a ridiculous expectation like 120 people.

I would insist on cutting down the guest list for the RD. Your parents and in-laws will see all of your extended family and OOT at the reception. Sounds like keeping it small would be beneficial to everyone.

Our current plan is a BBQ at a park. That's all we can afford.

Honestly, the rehearsal dinner is usually for those involved in the rehearsal. To invite 120 guests to that event and then to the wedding, seems odd to me.

Like Carolynn B, we will be going to our fave chinese buffet as well.

Doesnt have to be huge and fancy ... thats what the wedding day is for =)

I agree that 120 people is ridiculous. But FH's parents refuse to cut down the list and I know they won't be too happy if I tell them to not do anything and I'll just take care of it (they're very traditional). But they'd rather have 120 people eat pizza in a gym than 40 people (which would be wedding party and parents only) have a nice time. Sigh.

We will have about 45 people at our Rehearsal Dinner, but we also have a wedding party of 14. So then you have to add their dates, plus the readers, gift bearers which are all of my cousins. So by then, you have their parents and the grandparents. It's a lot, but that's what you have to do with a big wedding party.