Rehearsal Dinner? Who do you invite?

We’re on a super tight budget and it’s out of town, so I think what I’m going to do is:
-do actual rehearsal stuff at venue with those involved in actual wedding ceremony
-walk 1 min down the road to fiancés parents place which has a lovely private lawn and beach on the water
-invite everyone for casual BBQ, something like hot dogs and BYOB, more of a meet and greet type thing that will be forced to wrap up by 11 due to noise restrictions, which is probably a good thing the night before the wedding! So more of a beach party on the lake

We are doing it for anyone involved and parents. Our wedding party can invite their partners to the dinner, but partners will have to pay themselves. At first we were going to pay for them, but it got to be too many people. Plus, we are feeding them the next night at the wedding.

I would invite those that are directly involved in the wedding ex:

-parents

-siblings

-bridal party

-those helping with ensuring all decorations are put up the way you want it to

-grandparents if they will be doing something during the wedding. For ex: I will be doing a somewhat traditional chinese tea ceremony and FH's parents and grandparents have never done this before so I want to ensure they know what they are doing before the big day.

I think it's a nice gesture to invite your wedding party's +1 but I know that can add up in cost so not necessary, especially when you are having a more extravagant dinner in the next day or two.

Your rehearsal dinner should be everyone in the wedding party, including each set of parents. You should also invite your out of town guests as a sign of respect and a thank you for coming out for our wedding.

We're inviting our wedding parties significant others. We feel it's the nice thing to do. That's really up to you.

I have the same question! We don’t have a bridal party, but there will still be someone that passes the ring and someone to sign to witness the marital certificate. Hoping someone can shed some light on this!

When my brother and sister in law got married (in the states and were Canadian) they invited the wedding party and their plus 1’s. and parents/grandparents obviously. But anyone who travelled far weren’t invited to the rehearsal dinner. It worked well an no one was upset about it.