RD - is it really necessary?

RD - is it really necessary?

We are getting married at our RH and we're only going to 'rehearse' for it right before the ceremony. We have a ton of OOT guests, way more than we could invited to an RD and still afford it, so if we did one, it would only be for bridal party and family. Money is tight and I'm afraid it's going to be too much. Would it be really bad not to have an RD - would it be rude to the ppl who have been helping us along the way with the wedding planning and doing this for the wedding? I really want to spend time with everyone before the big day but I'm getting really nervous about the $$$...

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

you totally don't have to have a rehearsal dinner!!! to save $, if you have a lot of OOT guests you can send them small gift baskets, or a card and something sweet to welcome them. i am having a 'thank you' dinner for my BP, but it will only be them, no dates, me and FH - too expensive, since our BP is 13 people!

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

I am getting married at RH also and we don't plan to have a RD.

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

No the diner is not that big out a deal its an optional thing. If you feel like you should ahve one but want to save money invite people over for a BBQ or dinner.

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

totally optional.

OK, so here's my unfiltered opinion on all these recent additional celebrations that are related to a couple getting married....

The whole rehearsal dinner and morning brunch things are a bit too much. (I also feel the same way about the engagment party.) The skeptical side of me thinks these additional events were all invented by the bridal industry.... but we won't get into that...

We're already shelling out tons of $$$, and the guests spending a lot of time with us.... to extend it even further only adds to the stress and fatigue to the weekend, in my opinion.... It also seems a bit redundant to me. We should be celebrating the engagement, shower, bachelor/ bachelorette, rehearsal, THEN wedding, and finally brunch??? WAY too much. It all drowns out the actual wedding!

We're getting married at a church, and are having a rehearsal the day bfeside inviting the (rather small) bridal party to our apartment for dinner afterwards. We'll cook up a few huge pots of stuff, so the cooking won't be stressful. The environment is low key enough that it will also be stress-free to the bridal party.

If we were getting married at the RH, we wouldn't have that small dinner, becuase, as you already mentioned, the rehearsal will be immediately before the ceremony.

So, we're only having the shower, an informal rehearsal dinner at our home, and the actual wedding reception. (And another tradtional polish garden party that we won't get into...) Any of the more recent cultural additions have been omitted from our festivities....
JMO....

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

No, you don't have to have one. Or you could have one for just the wedding party. You don't HAVE to invite all the OOT guests, it's just a nice thing to do. Or do something really casual--we're having a rehearsal pool party. My sister very nicely offered to throw a party at her house, and we're inviting the bridal party and anyone staying over that night (it's a morning wedding.) There's just going to be a bunch of party trays from Gemelli's in Babylon (oh, I love Gemelli's) and some drinks, and the pool if anyone wants to swim. It will be low-key and fun, and people will be able to get to know one another.

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

We are just going to have a casual BBQ at my parents house the night before as the 'RD'

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

Re: RD - is it really necessary?

No its not absolutely necessary-if youwant to have one and spend time with the people who have been helping youhave youthought about doing a BBQ? Or having food catered in?