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FutureHennigan
Super September 2018

Who should be invited to the rehearsal dinner when 90% of guests are from OOT?

FutureHennigan, on August 17, 2017 at 8:28 AM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 51

Exactly what the title says. Over 90% of our guest list is coming from out of town - the only people that live where FH and I do are his parents, and a handful of our friends. The remainder of our 100-120 person guest list will be traveling in from other states. I originally wanted to just include...

Exactly what the title says. Over 90% of our guest list is coming from out of town - the only people that live where FH and I do are his parents, and a handful of our friends. The remainder of our 100-120 person guest list will be traveling in from other states. I originally wanted to just include the bridal party and immediate family at the rehearsal dinner, but now that seems rude to not include all of the wonderful family members that have come from all over to celebrate us. However, if we invite EVERYONE it will basically be a second wedding reception.

Also, in that same thought - if we choose to invite maybe just aunts and uncles, do we need to include their children/our cousins as well if they are all adults (18+) and in theory traveling and staying by themselves?

If it matters - we aren't paying for our rehearsal - FH's parents have graciously offered to host for us. They've asked us to plan it and just give them the bill at the end.

51 Comments

  • FutureMrsN14
    Super July 2018
    FutureMrsN14 ·
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    I would just consider the people needed at the rehearsal. As you said, it would end up being another wedding reception. I think people who may be traveling would enjoy a relaxing night in before the festivities the next day anyway.

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  • FutureMrsN14
    Super July 2018
    FutureMrsN14 ·
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    I think the OOT guests being invited is an old school thing, like perhaps if they were staying at your home and you didn't want to abandon them. Nowadays people get hotels, etc. and that is not necessary in my opinion.

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  • Jacks
    Champion November 2054
    Jacks ·
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    The RD is to thank the people that came to the rehearsal. That's the purpose of it. You'll need to host something for those people, and that's about it.

    ETA: SO's of wedding party members must be invited too.

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  • WishUponAWilson
    Devoted May 2018
    WishUponAWilson ·
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    I'm in the same situation. A vast majority of our guest are traveling 100 miles or more to where we live. We are having a rehearsal dinner with just the bridal party and significant other but then after having an ice cream party for all out of town guests. We didn't want to host a whole dinner but felt it would be nice to thank the oot guests for making the journey. Plus who doesn't love ice cream

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  • WinterMarie
    Super November 2018
    WinterMarie ·
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    I am invite OOT guest to the rehearsal. Only 6 ar FMIL friends and the rest is my family who is also in the bridal party. I would suggest only inviting the people you close with and want more time with. That way you spend the rehearsal dinner with them and the reception you can hit the rest of the people.

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  • Yoomie
    VIP October 2018
    Yoomie ·
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    I'm in the same boat. 120 of our 150 guests are OOT. FMIL wants to invite the OOT guests out of etiquette (welcome/rehearsal dinner) so about 135 people at the rehearsal dinner! We had to rent out a whole restaurant for three hours to accommodate, about 12K.

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  • MDEasternShoreBride
    VIP October 2017
    MDEasternShoreBride ·
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    We are doing a welcome reception as it is a 2 hr drive from where we live and the airport, which everyone is invited too. Not everyone can make it and we are doing a casual bbq at our venue, so it will be about 1/4 the cost, definitely not a second wedding.

    I did go to a wedding that had more of a cocktail welcome party with appetizers and drinks, held at the hotel most people were staying at, and that was nice, casual, and good to catch up with people before the wedding. If you can afford it. But yes, you just need to invite the wedding party and immediate family truly.

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  • KourtniJones
    Super April 2018
    KourtniJones ·
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    We are doing immediate family & bridal party. Keep it small. It's for those people who are IN the wedding.

    If you invite out of town people to the rehearsal dinner, you'll end up have two very large, (very expensive) dinners.

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  • Emma
    Master May 2017
    Emma ·
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    We did our rehearsal dinner two nights before so as to avoid this issue. We invited immediate family and people in the wedding. Including us there were 22 people at the dinner.

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  • Valerieee
    Dedicated September 2018
    Valerieee ·
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    Keep it small with just the WP and immediate families. Maybe set up a happy hour at the hotel bar for your OOT guests afterwards?

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  • Fatima
    Dedicated June 2018
    Fatima ·
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    I am thinking of keeping the rehearsal dinner small (people actually rehearsing) and then maybe something afterward to greet out of town guests. I'm thinking something like smores on the beach or something small like that.

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