A Bunch of questions about the Rehearsal Dinner

[Danielle9608]

I know there are many questions already about the rehearsal dinner but I did not want to hijack someone's thread, so I started a new one. I am starting to think about the rehearsal dinner, we looked a few place last weekend. And now I have a bunch of questions, so here they are:

1. Are you suppose to invite grandparents to the rehearsal dinner?
2. If it is not a formal dinner to you need to send invitations, or can you formal invite them?
3. A friend of mine is making favors for her rehearsal dinner, is this something that is expected?
4. If you have the dinner at a bar is appetizers and drinks acceptable or does it have to be a full meal?
5. If doing a full meal; do you normally set a few meals that they can choose from or let let selected from the full menu (if at a resturant).

Ok I think thats all my questions

[Brad's Bride in 08]

I know there are many questions already about the rehearsal dinner but I did not want to hijack someone's thread, so I started a new one. I am starting to think about the rehearsal dinner, we looked a few place last weekend. And now I have a bunch of questions, so here they are:

1. Are you suppose to invite grandparents to the rehearsal dinner?
2. If it is not a formal dinner to you need to send invitations, or can you formal invite them?
3. A friend of mine is making favors for her rehearsal dinner, is this something that is expected?
4. If you have the dinner at a bar is appetizers and drinks acceptable or does it have to be a full meal?
5. If doing a full meal; do you normally set a few meals that they can choose from or let let selected from the full menu (if at a resturant).

Ok I think thats all my questions

Well here is what I think, just my opinion though:

1) I am inviting my grandparents to our rehersal dinner, which is 4 people together a set on each side. FH only has 2 grandmothers living and they are each coming also.

2) I'm not sending invitations out, b/c generally the bridal party always knows there is a rehersal and rehersal dinner. Besides the bridal party I am only inviting out of town guests. I'm not sure if I am just going to send something inside their invitation or STD or just phone them. I haven't decided on that yet.

3) I think favors are a little over the top for a rehersal dinner...I am not going to be making any.. I will for the wedding reception though

4) As for having dinner at the bar, yes, I would think heavy appetizers and drinks would be acceptable it just all depends on what you guys want and what your family and friends like to eat.

5) If you are doing a full meal, I personally would pick a couple of items from the menu to have the guests choose from. Our ask the resturant if they could prepare a separate menu for your party. If you gave them the option of anything off the menu it could get pricey.


I hope this helps some, these are just my opinons, take them for what they are worth..and remember it is YOUR day so do it the way that makes YOU and FH happy. GOod luck!

[Danielle9608]

Thanks that did help a lot :frogg:

[bichonlvr]

I know there are many questions already about the rehearsal dinner but I did not want to hijack someone's thread, so I started a new one. I am starting to think about the rehearsal dinner, we looked a few place last weekend. And now I have a bunch of questions, so here they are:

1. Are you suppose to invite grandparents to the rehearsal dinner?
2. If it is not a formal dinner to you need to send invitations, or can you formal invite them?
3. A friend of mine is making favors for her rehearsal dinner, is this something that is expected?
4. If you have the dinner at a bar is appetizers and drinks acceptable or does it have to be a full meal?
5. If doing a full meal; do you normally set a few meals that they can choose from or let let selected from the full menu (if at a resturant).

Ok I think thats all my questions

I think so many of your ?'s are your choices.....

1. YOUR choice!
2. I have always received invites for the rehersals I am went to!
3. It is nice, but I am NOT!
4. sounds good as long as people know and do not come starving!
5. If your resturant will do this for you!!!!

I have been to about 6 rehersals and they were ALL different!!!!

We are just doing Pu pu's and drinks!

[SerendipityCrafts]

My take -

1. Are you suppose to invite grandparents to the rehearsal dinner?
Sure, if whomever is paying for it can afford them to be there and you want them to be there.

2. If it is not a formal dinner to you need to send invitations, or can you formal invite them?
Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - word of mouth is fine

3. A friend of mine is making favors for her rehearsal dinner, is this something that is expected?
Why does this wedding planning stuff have to get more and more elaborate by the second? I have seen bBM & GM gifts handed out at a rehearsal dinner but I have never heard of giving out favours.

4. If you have the dinner at a bar is appetizers and drinks acceptable or does it have to be a full meal?
It's whatever the host/hostess would like.

5. If doing a full meal; do you normally set a few meals that they can choose from or let let selected from the full menu (if at a resturant).
It's whatever the host/hostess would like.

The groom's parents used to typically pay for the dinner but now all rules are off. It can be as formal or as informal as you like. You can eat until you burst or just nibble.

[lizardbnorton]

This got me to thinking. I was planning on having our rehearsal dinner as an informal thing. The American Legion in Prunedale does dinner on Friday nights. They do hamburgers, steaks, french fries, and onion rings usually. I was planning on having everyone go there. We would pay for it and then having a dj come in after the meal so we could have a little fun.

Does that sound ok?

[Danielle9608]

That sounds fine to me.

[Danielle9608]

Jon and I plan on paying for the rehearsal dinner. His parents are chipping in for a lot so I wouldnt feel comfortable having them pay. I think we are going for a less formal feel 1. because it will cost less 2. our wedding meal is a very formal 4 course meal ... who wants to do that two nights in a row.

[lizardbnorton]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but thanks.

1. That's up to you. We are since they are from out of town.
2. I think it's done by word of mouth, but I am not totally sure on that one.
3. I think your friend is a little over zealous about that. I've never seen favors at a rehearsal dinner.
4. I think appetizers and drinks is a good idea if you have it at a bar. Most people won't want to sit down and eat a meal at a bar anyways.
5. That's a difficult one. I think it would depend on the restaurant. I would recommend figuring out a location and if it is in a restaurant ask what they recommend. Some restaurants may be ok with having a lot of people just order whatever off of the menu. Others may want to limit the choices to make everything run smoothly.

[Doglover]

1. Are you suppose to invite grandparents to the rehearsal dinner? We did cause they were in town, one set was local but still invited them

2. If it is not a formal dinner to you need to send invitations, or can you formal invite them? NO!!! We didn't.

3. A friend of mine is making favors for her rehearsal dinner, is this something that is expected? NO!!!! never heard of it.

4. If you have the dinner at a bar is appetizers and drinks acceptable or does it have to be a full meal? UM i think it wouldn't really matter.....

5. If doing a full meal; do you normally set a few meals that they can choose from or let let selected from the full menu (if at a resturant). We had ours at a restaurant and we had salad. and then a buffet with either steak or chicken and then some sides. And then 2 kinds of desserts.

[Danielle9608]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but thanks.



no worries other people's thread on the subject got me thinking. Your dinner sounds like it going to be a lot of fun. How many people are you going to be inviting?

[lizardbnorton]

I'm not totally sure. Most of our family is from out of town. There are a few in the bay area, but most are a minimum of 4 hours away. I think it's going to be around 50 people. That is a lot though. The meals at the Legion are like 6 bucks a person though, so it's not too bad. I think I have 600 in my budget for it.

[Danielle9608]

Wow 6 bucks, can't beat that! I am trying to keep it around 16 pp. I think we will be having 20 ish.

[lizardbnorton]

Yeah, that's exactly why I was going that route. They cook good burgers too. I just have to talk to the commander ahead of time and tell him what we are planning and see if that's ok. I am hoping that they don't have a problem with it especially if I decide to hire a dj and leave the hall open to the public. I don't want to have to rent it for the evening.

[Joe's girl]

My rehearsel will be on a thursday so I think I am going to have everyone back at my house and get some catered stuff..nothing crazy.

[EarlyBird]

I know there are many questions already about the rehearsal dinner but I did not want to hijack someone's thread, so I started a new one. I am starting to think about the rehearsal dinner, we looked a few place last weekend. And now I have a bunch of questions, so here they are:

1. Are you suppose to invite grandparents to the rehearsal dinner?
2. If it is not a formal dinner to you need to send invitations, or can you formal invite them?
3. A friend of mine is making favors for her rehearsal dinner, is this something that is expected?
4. If you have the dinner at a bar is appetizers and drinks acceptable or does it have to be a full meal?
5. If doing a full meal; do you normally set a few meals that they can choose from or let let selected from the full menu (if at a resturant).

Ok I think thats all my questions

ok this is a GENERAL question answering according to the NORMAL rd i have been to (fmil throws 10k, mini weddings for rd so i have this anguish about that)
1. Usually the rd can be thrown with either Attendants or attendants + spouse/date if you are including DATE then iwould def include g-parents- i always would invite then anyway but there is no excuse if your bp is bringing dates to not have your gparents :)
2. you can shoot out an email like "hey we are going to eat at so and so after the rehersal as a thank you to the bp, hope you can join" or just call them, invites arent necessary if its not big and formal where YOU would need rsvp
3. favors are NOT expected but this is sometimes where you give the BP their gifts so thats why.
4. FULL meal is not required at ALL for rehersal dinner, sometimes just going to a bar for a younger crowd is enough :) But yes, ordering a couple apps per table is great - Maybe call the bar before hand and see if they will give you a discount or something. Also, a choice is NOT expected for meals if they are full meals.
Just a little advice here- when we have family gatherings, there are about 25 OR 50 of us and if we go to a restraunt we call and say "this is what we want to spend per person, please make a menu accordingly that when ordered from will be X per person + drinks" any place will usually do it-

[Danielle9608]

cool thank you for the advice :frogg: