No idea what to do or where to go for our rehearsal dinner!!! - GTA

What's your expected guestlist and budget for the rehearsal dinner? There's lots and lots of good places to have it for any budget really, it just comes down to numbers. We had ours at Spoon and Fork (there's lots of locations in the GTA) and it worked out well since it was one price per person for the meals ($31.99 + tax + gratuity), then we just paid for our guests drinks on top of everything.

I think we will just go to a local restaurant. We have a tiny bridal party and an outside bbq in February just isn't going to happen. I think it's a great chance to say a thank you to your bridal party for their time and support. A time to celebrate almost being all done.

We had a backyard bbq at one of the grooms men’s houses. We hired a food truck because I won some gift certificates but even just buying some burgers and hot dogs and have a few people grill them.
The rehearsal dinner follows the rehearsal, but not everyone has one these days. I recommend it though. It calmed my nerves, I knew what to expect the next day, and we got to hang out with our friends the evening before the wedding.
Typically, anyone involved in the wedding gets invited to this. Traditionally, all out of town guests are invited as well.
we invited our wedding party, their spouses (but only two brought their spouse), our parents, our flower girl and ring bearers and their parents, the pastor that married us and his wife, the friend doing music, our MC who was a sibling.
We had a brunch the morning after the wedding with the out of towners instead of inviting them to the rehearsal dinner to keep costs down.

We're not doing a rehearsal dinner. We're just going to order pizza for everyone that is helping us decorate the night before the wedding.

A rehearsal dinner is just a walk through of the ceremony and day of stuff with immediate family and wedding party and then most people pay for dinner and a cake to have a little last minute intimate celebration. you dont have to do anything big you can order food to your house and cut a small cake.

It doesn’t have to be anything over the top!
I have seen many people do back yard BBQ, just a simple order pizza and chill, or everyone go out to a restaurant.
Its mainly for the bridal party and out of town guests to attend a shower. to welcome your out of town guests and go over things for the next day with your bridal party!
My in laws are hosting ours at a local restaurant for the wedding party and our parents. Keeping it super simple

Rehearsal dinner for some is giving speeches from the wedding party and/or family members so that its cut down at your reception and dinner. Cake is served too if its done based on your decision.

We in the Indian culture do something similar called the Welcome Dinner as guests and family come the first day at a restaurant hosted by the parents or siblings.

This is just an option if you choose to do so and budget is allowing you to put the cost towards it. The family doing it for you is nice and helping financially.

A rehearsal dinner is just a dinner held after the actual rehearsal for those attending the rehearsal.

typically held by the grooms family, but anyone can host. To keep costs low; my in laws are hosting the dinner at their house.

alternatively, you can look into a restaurant and even your wedding venue may be able to arrange something there for you

Like anything wedding related, rehearsal dinners can vary widely from simple to elaborate. It's just an opportunity for you and your bridal party to get together and enjoy each other's company and go over the game plan for the next day. A friend of mine told me hers was super laid back. They all met at Swiss Chalet then went back to their house just to go over the next day's events and timeline (and have ice cream...lol).

I am planning to just have the bridal party and immediate family over at the apartment and order take-out.

I'd say peeking at local restaurants about either reservations or a party room would be a good way to start. :-)

I don't know the GTA area, so I don't have any specific places. Sorry :-(