What's the deal with rehearsal dinners? Do you HAVE to invite out of town guests? Here's our predicament:
We really can't have more than 50 people at the rehearsal dinner because then it just gets too expensive. We have a HUGE bridal party, so thats 20 people plus their spouses, plus our VERY close relatives. The problem is all of our out of town relatives are staying with relatives who live here, who are not necessarily close relatives. So how do we invite out of town relatives without inviting the relatives they're staying with? We simply can't afford to invite everyone. And then if we do invite the out of town relatives AND the relatives they're staying with, then we have to invite the closer relatives like aunts and uncles. I have no idea what to do here. I don't want to insult anyone but I can't afford to invite everyone. Ideas?
SMDC2012
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
I would strictly keep it to those who are involved in the wedding and their significant others (bridal party, readers etc). The OOT guests I am sure will be fine. The way I see it, if you start inviting this one and that one its the same as having your wedding, too many people.
Kristin31613
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
FH went to one that didn't involve the spouses. that can help you save.
scottsbride
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
Mine is strictly going to be people who are involved in the wedding since we will be paying for this ourselves.
KroertGS
Posted:
Member since
Re: Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
Posted by SMDC2012
I would strictly keep it to those who are involved in the wedding and their significant others (bridal party, readers etc). The OOT guests I am sure will be fine. The way I see it, if you start inviting this one and that one its the same as having your wedding, too many people.
I agree with this. Keep it to whoever is actually involved in the wedding. The others will have to understand and/or get over it. You have to cut it off at some point.
queenofhaerts
Posted:
Member since
Re: Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
Posted by SMDC2012
I would strictly keep it to those who are involved in the wedding and their significant others (bridal party, readers etc). The OOT guests I am sure will be fine. The way I see it, if you start inviting this one and that one its the same as having your wedding, too many people.
Definitely this!!
6weekstobliss
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
i would do readers/bridal party and spouses, and then parents/siblings
jacktart86
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
I went to a rehearsal dinner and it was just parents, people in the bridal party and their s/o, and readers and their s/o.
sportif7
Posted:
Member since
Re: Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
i think if you have out of town guests it is proper to invite them if they are staying in a hotel...if they come and stay with family then an invite isn't necessary...the idea behind it being if they are with family, they technically have plans and options for food that evening...if they were in the hotel i think it should be extended, but to family only..
mara1017
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
We did our bridal party and their spouse or significant other and our aunts and uncles that were out of town. We did not invite everyone who was out of town
We made sure everyone else knew that the hotel had dinner which was included in the price so they had somewhere to go
Laura0612
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
Well I did decide to invite the out of towners...but ONLY the out of towners...my father was really insistent that even though they are staying with other relatives of ours, it was proper to invite them as a thank you for making the trip. And considering we have a lot of out of town relatives who are NOT coming, we're extra thankful that they're coming. It's only 9 or 10 people lol so its not a big deal...the rest is 20 members of the bridal party, spouses, parents, fh's godparents, and my sisters and brothers and spouses. Comes out to 50 people, which was our limit. Everyone else will just have to understand.
nancy6485
Posted:
Member since
Re: Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
our will be strictly those involved in weddings (and their spouses). I live Out of state now so all of my family will be traveling to the wedding, it would just get too crazy and expensive
CaughtMyFish
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
we had the same exact issue. FMIL wanted to invite anyone checked into the hotel for the wedding and we said absolutely NOT. We did bridal party plus a guest and immediate family (first cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents if alive). You could even just keep it to bridal party and both sets of parents if the aunts uncles and cousins get to be too high. Just put your foot down and do what you need to.
Laura0612
Posted:
Member since
Rehearsal Dinner Protocol
im actually glad we ended up doing out of town guests because otherwise i would have no opportunity to see them...but there are a few issues cropping up, as there inevitably will be...sigh.
