Rehearsal Dinner?

tmw7278 · March 2013

I'm not sure if I should have one or not?

The Chapel we are getting married at does not allow rehearsals, which I was sad about but it is a small place and I do get a host who can tell the BM/GM when to walk.
Do I even bother with the dinner then? We would be hosting it ourselves and if we could save the $700+ I'd love that.
If I didnt do it though when would I give the gifts? Thats the only reason I'd want to have it is to be able to pass those out.

Thoughts?

Blondy214 · March 2013

The rehearsal dinner is for people who attend the rehearsal. If there is no rehearsal then you don't have to have a rehearsal dinner. If you decide to have some sort of dinner or get together, it shouldn't be called a rehearsal dinner, maybe something like a welcome dinner. If you are close to home you could have a small get together at home and order pizza or barbecue or something to save the cash, but I don't think its necessary.

You can give the gifts out the night before the wedding, or maybe the morning of the wedding if you and your girls are together getting ready. I think really you can give the gifts out anytime the week of the wedding that works for you.

blondii428 · March 2013

I never even thought about passing them out at the dinner, I always thought that happened the day-of. Makes more sense though since the day-of could get pretty hectic! You can have a small rehearsal in the backyard or at a park just to meet with everyone and go through the order of things. Or you could just have a dinner without an actual rehearsal. Pick a restaurant that does pizza like Old Chicago and buy lots of pizzas as opposed to individual meals. That's what we're doing to save on money!

ChiGirl2013 · March 2013

Does the chapel not allow rehearsals, or do they not attend rehearsals? Maybe you can ask to be allowed into the chapel to do your own rehearsal without the officiant present. At least you will be able to walk the aisle once and everyone will know where to stand.

We're doing a rehearsal without our officiant the afternoon before the wedding, and doing a dinner that evening. The invites said something like "On the night before that big 'I do' kiss, join us for our last night as Mr. and Miss." Then it gave the time, place, etc. We didn't really call it anything and it will definitely be informal. Our wedding is already very informal and you don't want your RD to outshine the big event the next day. Pizza and soda/beer is fine and definitely cheaper than $700!

orangehills · March 2013

You don't have to do one. But if you do have a larger wedding party, or readers, or a unity candle... sometimes it's easier to have one just so everyone sees what they are doing. It doesn't need to be done at the chapel- you can have it at your house or at a park or in a private room of a restaurant where you eat after! We are doing pizza as well, super cheap. Just to feed everyone as a thanks for coming to the rehearsal. Not sure if I will give them their gift that night or the day of though... But anyway. No, if you don't want to do one and want to save money, then just skip it.

vk2204 · March 2013

If you are having a rehersal, you should host a rehersal dinner. I will be having around 40-50 people - beer, pizza, salad etc and it won't come close to $700!

If you like the pizza idea, call some places and see if they can cut you a deal if you have a lot of people that would attend. Or you can do subs. Anything will work, it doesn't have to be fancy!

tmw7278 · March 2013

The chapel does not allow them.

I was planning to do pizza/beer package at a local place they charge per person. Maybe I'll just see what their Saturday drink specials are and order a few pizzas instead of doing it pp.

Thanks for your opinions, I hate to not have anything and living in Chicago you never know what the weather will be in April. I'd love to have it in my backyard and BBQ! But spring is around the corner and we got at least 8 inches of snow yesterday BOOOO

vk2204 · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_april-2013-weddings_rehearsal-dinner-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:820178d7-4f43-4671-bcab-c5c2c01eef1eDiscussion:d2d22b8f-b19d-461c-8d50-ca072cdc9b1dPost:ba9fb780-7957-41c2-96e6-62f73fccd16f">Re: Rehearsal Dinner?</a>:
[QUOTE]The chapel does not allow them. I was planning to do pizza/beer package at a local place they charge per person. Maybe I'll just see what their Saturday drink specials are and order a few pizzas instead of doing it pp. Thanks for your opinions, I hate to not have anything and living in Chicago you never know what the weather will be in April. I'd love to have it in my backyard and BBQ! But spring is around the corner and we got at least 8 inches of snow yesterday BOOOO
Posted by tmw7278[/QUOTE]

You don't have to host any sort of alcohol at the RD - especially if you are having it at the wedding the next day. Tell your place your budget is $xx with xx amount of people attending and see if they can work with you.

ChiGirl2013 · March 2013

TMW, do you have a Chicago Dough near you? Their party packages are dirt cheap!

If you have room to host it at your place (or someone's home) try the deli catering from Jewel. We often use them for dd's birthdays and the prices are very reasonable. You do have to pick it up but it's worth it! Giordano's catering is also great - I remember getting 20 half sandwiches and a huge tray of pasta salad from them for about $75.

tmw7278 · March 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_april-2013-weddings_rehearsal-dinner-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:820178d7-4f43-4671-bcab-c5c2c01eef1eDiscussion:d2d22b8f-b19d-461c-8d50-ca072cdc9b1dPost:8fc5d269-d6f0-42d9-9c66-7c9a82dea40c">Re: Rehearsal Dinner?</a>:
[QUOTE]TMW, do you have a Chicago Dough near you? Their party packages are dirt cheap! If you have room to host it at your place (or someone's home) try the deli catering from Jewel. We often use them for dd's birthdays and the prices are very reasonable. You do have to pick it up but it's worth it! Giordano's catering is also great - I remember getting 20 half sandwiches and a huge tray of pasta salad from them for about $75.
Posted by ChiGirl2013[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tips, I'll have to look into those. Now to find a place to host LOL my house isnt big enough for everyone to fit comfortably. We have a large wedding party.

tmw7278 · March 2013

Ok I just reserved the rehearsal dinner. Thanks for you advice ladies, we decided not to go with the beer and wine package but just pizza and pop

that will be much easier on the wallet.

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