Who gets an invite to the rehearsal dinner? We’ll help you navigate this tricky etiquette question. Read on for more + subscribe for the latest to your inbox!
If you’re planning for your rehearsal dinner, chances are you’ve wondered… who am I supposed to invite? Who gets an invite to the rehearsal dinner? In this blog post, we’ll tackle this question and help you formulate the perfect guest list. Plus, we’ll answer a big question — do plus ones get an invite? — and share a few rehearsal dinner invitations to inspire you.
First, what is the rehearsal dinner?
What is a rehearsal dinner?
A rehearsal dinner is one of the traditional pre-wedding celebrations. Since you need to rehearse the ceremony before the wedding day, it is a nice time to get your closest family and friends together to enjoy a meal afterward. Everyone meets at the ceremony space, does a rehearsal for the ceremony, and then goes to dinner.
The rehearsal and dinner typically occur the night before or two days before the wedding date, whichever one is selected by your ceremony venue and/or officiant.
Who gets invited to the rehearsal dinner?
This is a close gathering of your wedding party, parents, and a few others. You should keep your rehearsal dinner guest list short and sweet. You should only invite those who will actually take part in the rehearsal, along with a few extra guests.
Here’s an easy list of EXACTLY who gets invited to the rehearsal dinner.
Rehearsal Dinner Guest List
• The Couple
• Both Sets of Parents
• Siblings (and Spouse / Partner / Plus One for Each)
• Both Sets of Grandparents
• The Officiant
• The Wedding Party: Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Maid of Honor, Best Man (and Spouse / Partner / Plus One for Each)
• Flower Girl
• Ring Bearer
• Musicians
• Readers
• Ushers
Optional:
• Additional close family members or friends
Your rehearsal dinner guest list includes, as you see above, the bride and groom, their parents, grandparents, and siblings; the officiant, the wedding party (and any child attendants like the flower girl and ring bearer), musicians, readers, and ushers.
If you have out-of-town guests, consider an invitation to them as well, as they will delight in an invitation to celebrate with you. You can include this as a multi-event RSVP card.
Do you invite plus ones to the rehearsal dinner?
Inviting plus ones is not a requirement. However, it is highly recommended to invite plus ones to the rehearsal dinner. This is especially important if the guest is a close family member.
How to invite guests to a rehearsal dinner
You’re probably wondering next: now that I know who to invite to the rehearsal dinner and why, how do I actually invite them?
Send an invitation!
You can send a mailed invitation (2-4 weeks before the rehearsal and dinner) prior to the celebration.
And how about these fun “practice makes perfect” invitations for the rehearsal dinner? Too cute! By Up Up Creative.
To browse more rehearsal dinner invitations, click here!
Do you have any questions for us? Just ask in the comment box below and we’ll swoop in to help!
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
1 comment
[…] where it held, the date, and the time. For the rehearsal itself, you will want to make sure your rehearsal guests know where the rehearsal is held and what time he or she will need to arrive. You will need to also […]