Who should we invite to the Rehearsal Dinner?

kneesrgood

Is there a classy way to NOT invite cousins who may be coming from far away via air travel to the Rehearsal Dinner? If we invite some, do we need to invite all, even those who we're not very close to? Do we need to include all aunts and uncles? We've got a large WP, do we need to include a 'guest' for each of them? The budget's killing us ......

MyUserName1

Those that need to be invited to the Rehearsal Dinner:

Wedding Party
Dates
Parents of any children in the WP
Immediate family

If you have the room/budget it is nice to invite OOT guests, but it is not required.  However, please make sure to invite in "circles"  If Cousin Sally from OOT gets invited, so should Cousin Jenny from OOT.

em01092

Ditto PP. You should also anyone who is participating in the wedding, so would likely be at the rehearsal, such as soloists, readers, ushers, etc.  I'd also invite your officiant and his/her SO, as well as your coordinator, if you are having one (I highly recommend one for the day of). If you want your photographer to capture the rehearsal and the dinner, I would recommend sending him/her an invite as well. 

OOT guests do not have to be invited, but if you can afford it, it's very nice. RDs do not have to be expensive galas. If you want to invite more people and need to save money, think BBQ or grilling out, even pizza. As long as you host something, you're fine. Are you and your FI paying for/hosting?

Kate61487

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_should-invite-rehearsal-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:70a27768-cc48-4204-89fc-71cd93921949Post:8737e1c1-655f-474c-b284-83dac8156e99">Who should we invite to the Rehearsal Dinner?</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there a classy way to NOT invite cousins who may be coming from far away via air travel to the Rehearsal Dinner? [/QUOTE]
You don't have to invite them.  The 'classy' way to do it is to not mention it, or imply in any way that they would be included so that they don't expect it.

[QUOTE]If we invite some, do we need to invite all, even those who we're not very close to? Do we need to include all aunts and uncles? [/QUOTE]
Like PP said it's best to stick with circles.  If you DO include some cousins, best to include all.  Likewise with Aunts/Uncles.  However, if you and cousin Suzie are really close, so she's a BM, or if Uncle Bill is doing a reading you're okay only inviting them.

[QUOTE]We've got a large WP, do we need to include a 'guest' for each of them? The budget's killing us ......
Posted by kneesrgood[/QUOTE]
Anyone in a relationship should be invited with their SO.  If you give your single WP members an "and guest" for the wedding they should <strong>also</strong> be invited to the RD.  You don't need to give them an "and guest" JUST for the rehearsal dinner, if that makes sense.