Inviting Guests To Your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

A wedding rehearsal dinner is a chance for the couple to spend quality time with their loved ones and for both families to unite and kick off the wedding weekend. It is usually hosted by the groom's parents, but it can also be hosted by the couple or any close family. The guest list is limited and includes those participating in the wedding ceremony, such as bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers, ushers, and readers, as well as parents and immediate family. It is also common to invite wedding party plus-ones and the officiant.

There are different ways to invite people to a wedding rehearsal dinner. While printed invitations are standard, email, phone calls, or even Facebook invites are also acceptable. It is recommended to send out invitations four to six weeks before the wedding day.

Who to invite to a wedding rehearsal dinner

A wedding rehearsal dinner is a chance for the couple to get together with their closest friends and family and thank those who have helped with the wedding preparations. It is also an opportunity for the two families to meet and get to know one another.

The guest list for a rehearsal dinner typically includes:

• The wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, maid of honour, best man, etc.) and their plus-ones/significant others.
• The parents of the couple, and often their siblings and grandparents.
• The officiant and their plus-one.
• The parents of young attendants, such as a flower girl or ring bearer.

Some couples also choose to invite other close friends and extended family members, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins, particularly if they have been involved in the wedding preparations. If there are a small number of out-of-town guests, it is customary to invite them to the rehearsal dinner as a token of appreciation. However, if you are having a destination wedding, or if there are a large number of out-of-town guests, it is more common to host a separate welcome event for these guests.

How to invite guests to a wedding rehearsal dinner

There are a few things to consider when inviting guests to a wedding rehearsal dinner. Firstly, it is important to send out invitations in a timely manner and to include all the necessary information. This can be done four to six weeks before the wedding, after the main wedding invitations have been sent out. It is also worth noting that the rehearsal dinner invitations should be separate from the wedding invitations.

The rehearsal dinner guest list is usually limited to those who are participating in the wedding ceremony, such as bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers, ushers, and readers. It is also customary to invite parents and immediate family members, as well as any wedding party plus-ones and the officiant.

When creating the invitations, it is essential to include the couple's names, the date, time, and location of the rehearsal dinner, as well as the host's name. It is also a good idea to include RSVP information, such as a phone number or email address, and the deadline for responses.

The invitations can be formal or casual, depending on the style of the event. Some couples choose to include information about the wedding ceremony rehearsal in the invitation, especially if the same guests are invited to both events.

While printed invitations are traditional, it is also acceptable to send email invitations or even use word-of-mouth or social media invitations, especially for more casual events. However, it is important to consider that guests may get dates and times wrong if they are not provided with a physical invitation.

When to send out wedding rehearsal dinner invites

The timing of sending out wedding rehearsal dinner invites is an important part of the planning process. It's recommended that invites are sent out four to six weeks before the wedding day, and after the main wedding invitations have been mailed. This gives guests ample time to make arrangements and ensures the rehearsal dinner invitation doesn't get lost among the other wedding correspondence.

It's also worth noting that the rehearsal dinner invitation doesn't have to follow the same format as the wedding invitation. Digital invites are perfectly acceptable and can be a more cost-effective option, especially if many guests are travelling from out of town.

However, some sources suggest that paper invitations are preferable as they can bring more weight and attention to the event, and allow guests to feel they have a special keepsake.

The rehearsal dinner invitation should include the following:

• Host's name (if not the couple)
• Couple's names
• Date, time and location of the event
• Dress code or special instructions
• RSVP deadline and method

It's also worth noting that the rehearsal dinner invitation wording should reflect the level of formality of the event, and be clear and concise to ensure important details aren't missed.

What to include in a wedding rehearsal dinner invite

A wedding rehearsal dinner invite should include the following:

• The host of the rehearsal dinner: Traditionally, the groom's parents host the rehearsal dinner, but nowadays, the couple or any number of close family can host the event.
• The names of the couple: Just the first names are usually fine, but if you're having a more formal event, use full names.
• The event date, time, and location: Include the date and time of the rehearsal dinner, as well as the venue name and city and state, or full address.
• The RSVP deadline and method: Include a phone number and/or email address for guests to RSVP to, as well as an RSVP deadline.
• Optional information: You may also include the wedding website address, dress code, and any other relevant information.

"Please join us for a rehearsal dinner honoring the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Il Forno Restaurant, 344 Main Street, San Diego, CA. RSVP to Daniel at [email address or phone number] by [date]."

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith request your attendance at their rehearsal dinner on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Il Forno Restaurant, 344 Main Street, San Diego, CA. Kindly send all responses to Daniel at [email address or phone number] by [date]."

"The soon-to-be wedded Mr. and Mrs. Smith invite you to a celebration of their love on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Il Forno Restaurant, 344 Main Street, San Diego, CA. Send all rehearsal dinner RSVPs to Daniel at [email address or phone number] by [date]."

How to address wedding rehearsal dinner invites

When addressing wedding rehearsal dinner invitations, it's important to be clear and specific about who is invited. This means using the full names of invitees, including children, rather than a general family name unless everyone in that household is invited. If a guest has a plus-one, try to include that person's name on the invitation.

If you're sending out your rehearsal dinner invitations separately from the wedding invites, you can follow standard wedding invitation etiquette, which includes using titles like Mr., Mrs., or Mx. However, if you're throwing a more relaxed event or including the rehearsal dinner invitation as an insert in your wedding invitation suite, you can keep things more casual. This means using just first and last names without titles.

• Formal invitation: "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
• Casual invitation: "Blake and Sandy Shelton"
• Family invitation: "The Shelton Family"
• Invitation with a plus-one: "Daniel Henderson and guest" or "Daniel Henderson and Jane Doe"

Remember to include the names of the couple, the host (if different from the couple), the date, time, location, and RSVP information in your invitations. It's also a good idea to specify if the invitation is for the wedding rehearsal itself as well as the dinner, so guests are clear about what they are being invited to attend.

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