Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Etiquette Forum
Wedding Etiquette Forum
New Discussion

Rehearsal Dinner Guests

MrandMrsParksMrandMrsParks member
Second Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Love Its
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Hi ladies! Etiquette question for you-- who gets invited to the rehearsal dinner for a wedding that is in a resort/destination community with a guest list comprised of more than 75% out-of-towners? My mother says family and out-of-town guests must be included, while my fiance and I want just our wedding party and parents (as family and out-of-town guests would be more than 150 people). Help!
Report Reply to Post

Re: Rehearsal Dinner Guests

  • cruffinocruffino member
    Ninth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    PDKH said:
    Nope, your mom is wrong. While it's very polite to invite out-of-town guests to the rehearsal, the only people you absolutely must invite are those who attend the rehearsal and their S/O's.


    this. 

    but if you're having a destination wedding, are you holding some kind of welcome party? it's not required (and doesn't need to be expensive or formal), but seems to be common and a nice gesture. 
    Report Reply
  • HisGirlFriday13HisGirlFriday13 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    Traditionally, the RD was hosted by the groom's family and included all WP members, their spouses/SOs, and all OOT guests.

    But that was also, as Miss Manners points out, at a time when the groom's family was hosting and was looking for a way to showcase their personal taste and party-throwing ability.

    You need to invite anyone involved in the rehearsal (other than vendors -- your organist, if you're having one, could be excluded if you wanted, since he or she is a paid vendor) PLUS their SOs.

    Officiants are usually invited as a courtesy, with their spouse (if they have one). Also, sometimes honored guests (parents, grandparents) are invited, although sometimes they're involved in the rehearsal anyway with being seated specially or whatever.
    Anniversary

    image
    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
    Report Reply
  • clarke10clarke10 member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    You're fine including just parents and wedding party/SOs. Its unrealistic to host an RD for 150 for most people. 
    image
    Report Reply
  • MrandMrsParksMrandMrsParks member
    Second Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Love Its
    Our wedding is in Newport, RI (which, while not a Caribbean island, is a major summer tourist destination), and my fiance's parents are paying for the dinner. Money isn't an issue for them, so we don't have to worry about a budget. We will definitely invite our officiant and wedding party's SO's.
    Report Reply
  • manateehuggermanateehugger member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary 5 Answers
    If your future in-laws are hosting, it's up to them if they want to invite OOT guests. But again, it's not required by any means.
    image
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards