Rehearsal dinner rules- who comes?

weddingbells2010

Hi All!Can someone tell me who should be invited to the rehearsal dinner?  His parents are hosting, so I don't want to overextend the invitation, but we have an 18 person bridal party! Including significant others, parents of child attendants and other immediate family like parents and grandparents, we're at about 40 guests.  Does that sound like too much?  Am I forgetting others who should be invited? Also, I've heard of some people not having the child attendants rehearse (not that they don't need the practice, but after an evening rehearsal and an even later dinner, they might not be "at there best" early the next morning for my 11am wedding).  What do you think? (FYI- no children at the rehearsal would be 8 less at the rehearsal dinner!)

crfische

Everyone in the wedding, their SO's or parents, and your families.We also ended up at about 40.

temerityjane

In my family, we've always invited the people who... you know... rehearse. And their dates.I don't know, the rehearsal dinner being after the rehearsal makes it sound not all that complicated to me.Also, once you type it enough, "rehearsal" doesn't even look like  word anymore.

sucrets4

We had about 40 including BP and DH and my oot guests (his whole fam was oot).  We had a very casual rd at a cheap place with catered buffet food and that kept the cost down.

lyndausvi

You list sound pretty complete. Do not forget readers if you have any.As far as kids, I would leave it up to the parents. Some kids will be fine, others not so much.  My sister's kids were in a wedding and while they went to the rehersal she had a babysitter taken them home to bed because she knew how they are with lack of sleep.  But at my wedding (kids were 1.5 years older then) they stayed for the RD.  Hopefully the parents will make the right decision.

Truchana

Typically, you invite wedding party and their date, anyone else involved in ceremony like ushers & readers and their dates, immediate family - ie parents, siblings, and even grandparents. Some people invite out of town guests as well.  It's really up to you and what your budget can hold.  Above is what is considered etiquette though. If it were me I would leave the children at home. I think it ultimately depends on how tolerable your wedding party and officiant are of children.  Whiley they were adorable at my friends weddng, all of the focus was on them and not actually rehearsing.  We were constantly making sure they were okay, not wandering off, fallignon rocks ( it was outside) etc.  They were adorable, but I don't think my church would be very tolerable.