Rehearsal Dinner

Hey ladies! I have a few questions in regards of a rehearsal dinner and am totally confused. Lol

1. What is the purpose of a rehearsal dinner?
2. Where should the rehearsal dinner take place?
3. How soon before the wedding should it take place?
4. Who pays for it?
5. Who should be in attendance and why?

Keep in mind I am having a small wedding as well as small bridal party 2(MOH) and 2 (GM)

Sorry for so many questions but really appreciate the feedback.

Hi kimberley,

From my understanding, the rehearsal dinner is to:
a. show everyone how to perform their duties on the day of the ceremony
b. meet the other party members if they do not know each other

2. It can take place wherever you're comfortable.
3. For convenience and travel purposes, traditionally it's sometime in the week preceding the wedding (I've always seen it the day before)
4. Traditionally, groom's family pays.
5. Wedding party and parents or other [paying] contributors to the wedding. If you have out of town guests that are already in attendance, I've seen them invited to the dinner as well.

1. Understanding the process of the ceremony and having the opportunity to thank the people most important to your wedding.
2. Wherever you want. I think it's convenient to have it close to your church/venue that the rehearsal is taking place at.
3. Mine is two nights before so if I drink I can recover lol, normally they are the night before. Your church/venue will let you know the options.
4. Traditionally it's the groom's family.
5. Your bridal party and immediate family because they're the most important usually and the biggest supporters of your wedding.

Hope this helps =)