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.

Rehearsal dinner

I think traditionally the rehearsal dinner takes place after the rehearsal at the church. This is when the bride and groom give out gifts to the bridal party, say thanks to all involved in the wedding and so on. I don't know who is supposed to pay for it and I think it's supposed to be who ever has a role in the wedding.

We are doing a rehearsal lunch after we rehearse at the church. We are having it at the Beachtree in Islip. It's for the bridal party and those doing readings, their significant others and my g'ma. We are giving out gifts here and we were originally paying for it but my parents offered. I'm also giving FH a grooms cake and surprise appearance by Mr. Met at this time.

Hope this helps :)

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by Nicole0408

I think traditionally the rehearsal dinner takes place after the rehearsal at the church. This is when the bride and groom give out gifts to the bridal party, say thanks to all involved in the wedding and so on. I don't know who is supposed to pay for it and I think it's supposed to be who ever has a role in the wedding.

We are doing a rehearsal lunch after we rehearse at the church. We are having it at the Beachtree in Islip. It's for the bridal party and those doing readings, their significant others and my g'ma. We are giving out gifts here and we were originally paying for it but my parents offered. I'm also giving FH a grooms cake and surprise appearance by Mr. Met at this time.

Hope this helps :)

---

Our ceremony is the same place as where our reception is being held so there is no church. I was thinking it was going to be the parents of the bride and groom as well as our bridal party which is 2 MOH's and 2GM. I have a feeling thought fmil is going to want a whole bunch of other people and it is going to be one big circus. I'm just so confused and a little stressed out with the list because once agin FMIL is inviting more people and even though our wedding is small compared to the numbers I have heard, I am still having more people than I wanted. uuugghghhh!

Rehearsal dinner

If your ceremony is at the hall there isn't typically a rehearsal so I would think you could get out of having the whole rehearsal dinner and all of the stress that appears to be coming along with it :) Of the past three weddings I was in only one had a rehearsal (ceremony was at the church) and then the bride had people back at her parents for pizza. The other two weddings I think we were given gifts the morning of and both ceremonys were at the reception location.

My opinion is don't have one, save yourself the aggravation

Rehearsal dinner

I have been to rehearsal dinners that had nothing to do with rehearsing anything. It was more of a 'meet and greet' for the bridal party. The bride/groom gave out their gifts to the party. I think traditionally it is the grooms parents that pay for the rehearsal dinner.

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by Nicole0408

If your ceremony is at the hall there isn't typically a rehearsal so I would think you could get out of having the whole rehearsal dinner and all of the stress that appears to be coming along with it :) Of the past three weddings I was in only one had a rehearsal (ceremony was at the church) and then the bride had people back at her parents for pizza. The other two weddings I think we were given gifts the morning of and both ceremonys were at the reception location.

My opinion is don't have one, save yourself the aggravation

---

I totally agree. lol

Rehearsal dinner

This has actually been a major source of stress for FH and me. But typically it is paid for by FH's parents. The purpose is to see and practice the processional before the wedding. The dinner can pretty much be wherever you want it to be, but it is more common to have it at a restaurant either near the church or the hotel that everyone is staying at. Traditionally the only people invited are the ones in the wedding party and immediate family.

So that is where I argue with my mother. She feels every out of town guest needs to be invited. Aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd, 3rd cousins, etc... it is going to be a disaster. I want private just bridal party and immediate family. By immediate family I mean my parents and sisters.

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by DebOst

This has actually been a major source of stress for FH and me. But typically it is paid for by FH's parents. The purpose is to see and practice the processional before the wedding. The dinner can pretty much be wherever you want it to be, but it is more common to have it at a restaurant either near the church or the hotel that everyone is staying at. Traditionally the only people invited are the ones in the wedding party and immediate family.

So that is where I argue with my mother. She feels every out of town guest needs to be invited. Aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd, 3rd cousins, etc... it is going to be a disaster. I want private just bridal party and immediate family. By immediate family I mean my parents and sisters.

---

THIS!!!!!!! I feel it is going to be like another wedding and it is driving me crazy. Had this discussion with FH yesterday and I am going over the amount of invitations we are sending out and I noticed his mother is going over the number we agreed to and when discussing the list with FFIL he is telling us certain members that are coming whereas FMIL is saying they are not coming. I so did not want a big wedding and considering numbers I heard before I know it is still small but this rehearsal dinner is going to be the exact same way and I am getting so frustrated

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by FBC81

I have been to rehearsal dinners that had nothing to do with rehearsing anything. It was more of a 'meet and greet' for the bridal party. The bride/groom gave out their gifts to the party. I think traditionally it is the grooms parents that pay for the rehearsal dinner.

---

This is exactly how ours will be

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by DebOst

This has actually been a major source of stress for FH and me. But typically it is paid for by FH's parents. The purpose is to see and practice the processional before the wedding. The dinner can pretty much be wherever you want it to be, but it is more common to have it at a restaurant either near the church or the hotel that everyone is staying at. Traditionally the only people invited are the ones in the wedding party and immediate family.

So that is where I argue with my mother. She feels every out of town guest needs to be invited. Aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd, 3rd cousins, etc... it is going to be a disaster. I want private just bridal party and immediate family. By immediate family I mean my parents and sisters.

---

THIS!!!!!!! I feel it is going to be like another wedding and it is driving me crazy. Had this discussion with FH yesterday and I am going over the amount of invitations we are sending out and I noticed his mother is going over the number we agreed to and when discussing the list with FFIL he is telling us certain members that are coming whereas FMIL is saying they are not coming. I so did not want a big wedding and considering numbers I heard before I know it is still small but this rehearsal dinner is going to be the exact same way and I am getting so frustrated

---

Agreed! It's a wedding before the wedding. I just found out 75 are being invited to my Bridal Shower.... It is insane. I regret not eloping.

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by DebOst

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by DebOst

This has actually been a major source of stress for FH and me. But typically it is paid for by FH's parents. The purpose is to see and practice the processional before the wedding. The dinner can pretty much be wherever you want it to be, but it is more common to have it at a restaurant either near the church or the hotel that everyone is staying at. Traditionally the only people invited are the ones in the wedding party and immediate family.

So that is where I argue with my mother. She feels every out of town guest needs to be invited. Aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd, 3rd cousins, etc... it is going to be a disaster. I want private just bridal party and immediate family. By immediate family I mean my parents and sisters.

---

THIS!!!!!!! I feel it is going to be like another wedding and it is driving me crazy. Had this discussion with FH yesterday and I am going over the amount of invitations we are sending out and I noticed his mother is going over the number we agreed to and when discussing the list with FFIL he is telling us certain members that are coming whereas FMIL is saying they are not coming. I so did not want a big wedding and considering numbers I heard before I know it is still small but this rehearsal dinner is going to be the exact same way and I am getting so frustrated

---

Agreed! It's a wedding before the wedding. I just found out 75 are being invited to my Bridal Shower.... It is insane. I regret not eloping.

---

75 people invited to your bridal shower is not bad. At least their will be a lot of things bought off of your registry. Now 75 people at a rehearsal dinner, that's a different story.

Rehearsal dinner

I think my rehearsal dinner well be about 50! I am really nervous about it too!!

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by xBudgetBridex

I think my rehearsal dinner well be about 50! I am really nervous about it too!!

---

That is insane. I always thought and from what I heard from some of the ladies it is suppose to be the immediate family and bridal party. I don't understand where all the extra people come in to play. lol

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by xBudgetBridex

I think my rehearsal dinner well be about 50! I am really nervous about it too!!

---

That is insane. I always thought and from what I heard from some of the ladies it is suppose to be the immediate family and bridal party. I don't understand where all the extra people come in to play. lol

---

For me that's the problem lol
Me and FH 2
Parents 4
Bridal party 13 (2 of which leave out of state so they will be being their spouses which I feel then all the significant others need to be invited so 26) we r up to 32 already!
My cousin is singing at the church so that's her her parents and my other cousin (bc she can't have her 10 yr old sister home alone) so that's 4 more
Fh little brother and sister aren't in the wedding but will be there so 2 more brings up to 38.
Readers and their spouse is 4 more now 42
And if we ask some one elses kids to be our fg and rb we have 6 more ....48!!!

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by xBudgetBridex

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by xBudgetBridex

I think my rehearsal dinner well be about 50! I am really nervous about it too!!

---

That is insane. I always thought and from what I heard from some of the ladies it is suppose to be the immediate family and bridal party. I don't understand where all the extra people come in to play. lol

---

For me that's the problem lol
Me and FH 2
Parents 4
Bridal party 13 (2 of which leave out of state so they will be being their spouses which I feel then all the significant others need to be invited so 26) we r up to 32 already!
My cousin is singing at the church so that's her her parents and my other cousin (bc she can't have her 10 yr old sister home alone) so that's 4 more
Fh little brother and sister aren't in the wedding but will be there so 2 more brings up to 38.
Readers and their spouse is 4 more now 42
And if we ask some one elses kids to be our fg and rb we have 6 more ....48!!!

---

That is insane!!!! Lol

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by xBudgetBridex

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by xBudgetBridex

I think my rehearsal dinner well be about 50! I am really nervous about it too!!

---

That is insane. I always thought and from what I heard from some of the ladies it is suppose to be the immediate family and bridal party. I don't understand where all the extra people come in to play. lol

---

For me that's the problem lol
Me and FH 2
Parents 4
Bridal party 13 (2 of which leave out of state so they will be being their spouses which I feel then all the significant others need to be invited so 26) we r up to 32 already!
My cousin is singing at the church so that's her her parents and my other cousin (bc she can't have her 10 yr old sister home alone) so that's 4 more
Fh little brother and sister aren't in the wedding but will be there so 2 more brings up to 38.
Readers and their spouse is 4 more now 42
And if we ask some one elses kids to be our fg and rb we have 6 more ....48!!!

---

That is insane!!!! Lol

---

Adds up quickly! Maybe I'll get lucky and significant others will be busy! Lol but those r the only people I could eliminate and I feel guilty since some have no choice !
Edited to say....how bad would a McDonald's rehearsal dinner be lmao

Re: Rehearsal dinner

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by DebOst

---

Posted by Kimberley2015

---

Posted by DebOst

This has actually been a major source of stress for FH and me. But typically it is paid for by FH's parents. The purpose is to see and practice the processional before the wedding. The dinner can pretty much be wherever you want it to be, but it is more common to have it at a restaurant either near the church or the hotel that everyone is staying at. Traditionally the only people invited are the ones in the wedding party and immediate family.

So that is where I argue with my mother. She feels every out of town guest needs to be invited. Aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd, 3rd cousins, etc... it is going to be a disaster. I want private just bridal party and immediate family. By immediate family I mean my parents and sisters.

---

THIS!!!!!!! I feel it is going to be like another wedding and it is driving me crazy. Had this discussion with FH yesterday and I am going over the amount of invitations we are sending out and I noticed his mother is going over the number we agreed to and when discussing the list with FFIL he is telling us certain members that are coming whereas FMIL is saying they are not coming. I so did not want a big wedding and considering numbers I heard before I know it is still small but this rehearsal dinner is going to be the exact same way and I am getting so frustrated

---

Agreed! It's a wedding before the wedding. I just found out 75 are being invited to my Bridal Shower.... It is insane. I regret not eloping.

---

75 people invited to your bridal shower is not bad. At least their will be a lot of things bought off of your registry. Now 75 people at a rehearsal dinner, that's a different story.

---

Problem Solved! Spoke to FMIL, she said she will host the dinner the Thursday before for just bridal party and immediate family. My mother can do dinner for everyone else Friday night.... let's see how this goes over with my mother. Wish me luck!