Photo: Bright Bird
Are you hosting a rehearsal dinner for the night before your wedding and working on your guest list? If you are planning one, are you confused about who needs to be invited? And what if you are hosting a destination wedding—should everyone be invited to the rehearsal dinner, too? Follow our advice! Our wedding etiquette experts are here to answer your rehearsal dinner questions in our daily post.
Who is usually invited to the rehearsal dinner?
The rehearsal dinner guest list typically includes close family members and anyone participating in the wedding ceremony (including your officiant), plus their spouses or dates. But it is also considerate to invite your out-of-town guests to attend as a kind gesture of thanks for traveling all the way; it is especially considerate, as you're providing another meal for them. If you end up with a long list of people to include, you can keep costs down by serving only cocktails and hors d'oeuvres or desserts, as opposed to a full meal. Encourage guests to give toasts or share stories to keep the mood buoyant in the absence of a plated dinner. However, if you're hosting a destination wedding, technically, that means all of your guests are "out of town guests," so you should considering inviting the whole gang. Just call it a "welcome party" and let guests know to join you for celebratory drinks once the rehearsal has concluded.
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