Rehearsal Dinner

I don't think they're very necessary. We're doing a loose rehearsal dinner but that's also doubling as a welcome for OOT guests.

The rehearsal dinner itself, I feel is unnecessary, especially if you are on a budget. If you have a time/place that you can complete a rehearsal of the ceremony, for timing that would be most important!

We have a rehearsal on the Thursday before our wedding dependant on the venue booking. We are also planning to invite people to a restaurant that is good and affordable or maybe even have a potluck style dinner and just go over the schedule.

Honestly I’m not doing a rehearsal dinner. We’ll do the rehearsal so everyone knows what’s up but that’s literally it.

If your budget isnt fitting the dinner and drive, then let it be alone.

If your wanting to do a rehearsal dinner, make a short amount of people to be there to work within your budget. Don't go out all the way for everyone to be there 2 weeks in advance and timing earlier in the evening so evryone will be enjoying the time and to get home after the event.

I think a rehearsal is a good idea, to get the timing right and so people know where to go and when to start. The dinner itself is a nice addition, but doesn't have to be anything formal. Ours was a BBQ. My friends was sandwiches made by her in-laws. It was a nice time to get together with our wedding party and parents and just relax before the wedding.

Traditionally, the brides family paid for the wedding and the grooms family paid for the rehearsal dinner. Now that most couples pay for the wedding themselves, rehearsal dinners are becoming less common (or less formal).

I think for the most part that the go-to dinner is usually a BBQ in a backyard anyway which isn't too bad on the budget. If that is still too pricey and/or your don't have anywhere to host the dinner then a restaurant is still a great option.

You could also probably get away with a BYOB pizza party to be quite honest.

We do not have the budget to host a rehearsal dinner, and our core group of just parents, bride/groom, and bridal party (no significant others, other siblings, or out of town guests) is 17 people.

We are going to most likely book space for 18 people at a restaurant close to the venue, and make it an optional "outing" for everyone to go out for dinner after the rehearsal (which is booked for the 4-6pm window). It won't be mandatory, and people will have to buy their own dinner, but it will be fun to spend time together before all parting to separate homes (bride and groom splitting up for the night).

Because yours is 2 weeks prior to the wedding, don't feel pressured to do a dinner. It's not really a "night before" festivities... so people won't be bummed. Maybe have a small group of people do dinner together the night before the actual wedding.