rehearsal dinner splitting the bill

showensa

My fiance and i have paid for pretty much our whole wedding ourselves. what is a nice way to write on the rehearsal dinner invitations that the guests will need to pay for their own meal?

LoveMuffins

The rehearsal dinner is thrown as a thank you to your WP, since it is a party and it is being thrown by you, you have to pay for it.

Other options would be skipping a rehearsal and dinner altogether, or planning a cheaper rehearsal dinner than you have. Rehearsal dinners don't have to be fancy or expensive - you could take everyone out to a pizza parlor, or have everyone over for a BBQ.

One place that you could get money for the dinner is by not sending out invitations. You can send an e-invite or spread by word of mouth where it is.

But there is no nice way to tell people that they have to pay for themselves at a party you're throwing for them.

MairePoppy

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_pre-wedding-parties_rehearsal-dinner-splitting-bill?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:32Discussion:0ba39af5-a7b1-4aa1-9a7c-2358c83629d8Post:91d57c38-99d6-4411-b2cb-edf359d775da">Re: rehearsal dinner splitting the bill</a>:
[QUOTE]But there is no nice way to tell people that they have to pay for themselves at a party you're throwing for them.
Posted by LoveMuffins[/QUOTE]

^^This^^

janicejab

  My FI was in a wedding last year and they had a rehearsal and basically said "we're going out to dinner, it's not required and you're on your own to pay for your meal". They did say it nicer than that, but it was off-putting to say the least. Honestly, if you expect people to go out of their way to be in your wedding, the least you can do is pay for their meal. It doesn't have to be fancy or include alcohol, but you should host a thank you dinner or not have a rehearsal at all. 

blush64

You can not invite people to a dinner and ask them to pay. They are only there because of your wedding and so you should provide the food.

Have it at the home of a friend or family member, cook the food yourself. That tends to be cheaper.

rknox88

There isn't a nice way because it is rude.

The rehearsal dinner is your way of thanking your nearest and dearest for their help and support surround and during your wedding day. They shouldn't have to pay for that.

Either scale down the RD to something you can afford or don't have a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

RebeccaB88

You either pay for it or don't have one.  Even pizza and beer or sandwich trays are fine.  But someone other than the bridal party pays for it.

FayeValentine69

Well think about how you would tell someone that you were buying them a gift, but that they needed to pay for it and use the same wording.  After all, the RD is your gift to thank the people who took EXTRA time out of their lives to attend the rehearsal so that YOUR wedding would run smoother.

Oh, wait, you can't think of a nice way to say that?  Hmm, maybe it's a sign.