Rehearsal dinner..

A good note is that it does not HAVE to be out at a restaurant. I've been in weddings where they had a big bbq at their home, or ordered pizza while set up was going on or...

We are doing a casual lasagna/ceasar salad meal - we're having it at our reception hall, and will be inviting our bridal party (as it will be dinner after the rehearsal, obviously!), our families and our friends who are helping us set up - we're using it as a way to relax after a busy day of set up, and a way to say thank you to everyone for their help.

Usually its done after your rehearsal. and its a way for wedding party and family to come together. they are by no means necessary. but they are nice. at the rehearsal. usually the bride and groom will say thank you to everyone. especially their wedding party/parents (nothing as formal as the speech at a wedding). and I've been at them where the bride/groom give our their wedding party gifts and any gifts for parents/family. that way its less stuff to worry about the next day.

when my brother got married. the did their rehearsal. and dinner was delivery pizzas. and my mom made some salads. had some wine and beer. super low key and awesome.

my goal is to hopefully use the dinner as unwined/relax time before wedding day. and after the week of busy busy busy.

For sure not a requirement. We won't be having one just like how we didn't have an engagement supper either.

At most we will have a BBQ open to the close family and wedding party but that's not even something I'm thinking about yet as I have such a long way to go.

Plus with me being 21 - like yourself - all of our friends are still in school and part time work so it's not like they can just book off whenever to come out to the venue on the Friday when the wedding is on the Saturday.

It is not necessary. Traditionally the groom's parents are supposed to host it/pay for it... You do the wedding rehearsal, then everyone goes out to a dinner, usually a rented out restaurant or event space.

Usually, with more budget conscious brides, the rehearsal dinner is minimized, or eliminated altogether. For example, we do not have the budget to host a dinner, so we are having our wedding rehearsal from 4-6pm the night before, then having an optional "come join us" dinner out for the parents and bridal party. Just us, our parents, and bridal parties (no significant others), is 17 people! So that alone would be almost $1000 for a dinner out. Instead we are hoping that most people will just come out with us, and we'll have a little wind down, social time with everyone before the big day.

IF you go the traditional route, generally the rehearsal dinner is for anyone at the rehearsal (bride/groom, parents, bridal parties), and then you extend that to their significant others, as well as out of town guests. As you can see, that can add up real quick.

The long and short of it is, it's not mandatory, and less and less people expect it nowadays. So do what you want to, and only what you're able to!