Answering Your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Invitations Questions!
When it comes to planning a wedding rehearsal dinner we want you to start it off right with rehearsal dinner invitations that fit the event. So, we’re answering all of your questions about wedding rehearsal dinner invites from cost to when to send to etiquette to budget to who to invite and so much more. This rehearsal dinner planning advice post is filled with all of the rehearsal dinner invitation tips and advice you need to set the right vibe for your rehearsal dinner and wedding welcome party.
Don’t stress over the invitations for this wedding event before the big day! The rehearsal dinner and wedding welcome party is supposed to be a relaxed, stress-free event meant to kick this off the wedding weekend on the right note. We’re sharing everything you need to know, plus some inspiration for wedding rehearsal dinner invites, so that you can get a jump start on an amazing wedding weekend of festivities!
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Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
Who Should I Invite To The Rehearsal Dinner?
While traditionally the wedding ceremony rehearsal and the dinner celebration following the ceremony rehearsal are typically reserved for anyone with a role at the wedding ceremony, including readers, officiants, the wedding party etc, close or immediate family of the couple, and wedding guests traveling from out of town, the new norm for rehearsal dinners and pre-wedding celebrations is that you can invite whoever you’d like! This may look a little different depending on your wedding weekend location, rehearsal dinner type and the rehearsal dinner venue.
PRO TIP: Regardless of who you invite to your pre-wedding celebration, whether that’s a rehearsal dinner or a welcome party, we do recommend that you only invite those involved with the ceremony to the rehearsal portion of the event.
If you are hosting a wedding weekend where most, if not all, of your guests are traveling to attend, it is recommended to invite all guests to the wedding rehearsal dinner or wedding welcome party. Alternatively, if you’re hosting a large guest-count wedding in your home town, we suggest sticking with the traditional rehearsal dinner guest list of wedding party, wedding ceremony participants and out-of-town guests.
You can also “split the difference” and get the best of both worlds by having a more traditional wedding rehearsal dinner with immediate family and wedding party members and then spread the word for all of your wedding guests to meet up at a local bar or restaurant for an un-hosted pre-wedding kick off party!
Related: Be sure to check out our exclusive collection of helpful wedding rehearsal dinner specific organizers and budget planners.
Do We Need Separate Invitations For The Rehearsal Dinner?
If you’re thinking of separate invitations for the wedding rehearsal dinner that are different than the wedding invitations, the easy answer here is ‘yes!’ It’s important to have separate invitations for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding for two top reasons:
First, there will likely be a separate guest list for the rehearsal dinner to the wedding itself. Not everyone on your wedding guest list will be on your rehearsal dinner list. But, everyone on your rehearsal dinner list will be on your wedding guest list.
Related: If you need help keeping track of your rehearsal dinner RSVPs, be sure to get our signature Rehearsal Dinner Guest List Tracker built just for the night before!
Secondly, the rehearsal dinner is a separate event from the wedding and needs its own invitation to explain the details and set the vibe. Yes, this is true! There will be important information that is exclusive to the rehearsal and the dinner or welcome party that you will want guests to know, including arrival time, dress code and more.
Related: For help with putting together your wedding rehearsal dinner itinerary, we suggest printing in timeline and important information on the back of the rehearsal invitation or sending a separate wedding rehearsal dinner itinerary. Or you can pop one a rehearsal itineraries or timeline in their wedding welcome gift at hotel check in.
What Type Of Invitation Do I Need For My Rehearsal Dinner?
Your rehearsal dinner invitation should fit the theme and spirit of your wedding rehearsal dinner. After all, an invitation is the first taste that your guests will get of your event and it sets the tone. For a more casual rehearsal dinner, you can opt for digital or e-mailed rehearsal dinner invitations, or you can do modern printed invitations that are totally opposite the wedding’s theme. For formal rehearsal dinners, guests expect to receive a printed rehearsal dinner invitation in the mail.
With so many resources available for rehearsal dinner invitation designs, it’s easy to find a design that fits the theme of your rehearsal dinner. Many digital templates are available to purchase that can be customized with your details and sometimes you can also customize the colors used! Plus making and designing your own invitations is a simple easy way to save money on the rehearsal dinner!
Don’t miss the rehearsal dinner invitations in our Let’s Get Rehearsed shop - or be inspired by our blog post of Unique Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Invitations.
Who Buys and Sends The Rehearsal Dinner Invitations?
Traditionally, the host or hostess of the rehearsal dinner is responsible for purchasing and sending the rehearsal dinner invitations. This may be the engaged couple themselves but often, this is the host parents, or another family member.
Obviously, it is imperative that the couple work together with whoever is hosting the rehearsal dinner to complete the guests list for those invited and furthermore work on selecting, purchasing, addressing and sending the wedding rehearsal dinner invitations.
Related: For help on the rehearsal dinner organization, be sure to get our signature Rehearsal Dinner Budget Spreadsheet and our Rehearsal Dinner Guest List Tracker.
What Information Should Be Included On The Rehearsal Dinner Invitations?
When it comes to wedding rehearsal dinner invitations, there are some key pieces of information you want to be sure to include on the invitation. While you can’t stop all the questions that you might get from guests, you can certainly do your best to put as much information as you can on your rehearsal invitation.
Including important logistical information on the rehearsal dinner invitation is helpful to your guests because remember that you are technically planning two different events with the ceremony rehearsal and the dinner or party to follow. (Some find that it is helpful to include the timeline and detailed information for the rehearsal dinner on the back of the invitation.)
Here’s a quick checklist to help:
Name of event (Don’t forget to mention the names of the couple who you are celebrating!)
Date
Time (include time for rehearsal and dinner)
Location (include location for rehearsal and dinner, if different)
RSVP Information (Be sure to include RSVP by date)
Guest Information (i.e. if they are invited with a guest, plus one or children)
Dress Code, if necessary
Parking or Transportation information, if necessary
Do Rehearsal Dinner Invitations Need To Match The Wedding?
If you’re wondering if the wedding rehearsal dinner invitations need to match the theme of the wedding invitations, this answer is an easy… ‘No!’ You don’t need to ‘match’ the wedding with your rehearsal dinner invitations or any part of your rehearsal for that matter.
While rehearsal dinners are often inspired by the wedding or the couple tying the knot, don’t feel like you need to plan a rehearsal dinner that matches the wedding. You want these events to stand out against each other…and the invitations for each should stand apart as well!
Related: Check out our advice on how to make the rehearsal dinner different than the wedding or be inspired with the 10 most popular rehearsal dinner theme ideas.
When Should I Send Out Rehearsal Dinner Invitations?
We know you’re wondering how far in advance should you send rehearsal dinner invitations. A good rule of thumb for wedding related events invitations is to send them to guests 4 to 6 weeks before the event.
Sending your invitations four to six weeks before the rehearsal date provides ample time for your guests to determine if they will be able to attend, make plans and arrangements to attend and provide you with a response regarding their attendance.
PRO TIP: Please note that you should check in with the couple, if you are not the couple getting married, but you are the ones planning the rehearsal, to make sure that the wedding invitations have already been sent out prior to sending the rehearsal dinner or welcome party invitations. The last thing you want is for a guest to receive an invitation to a rehearsal dinner before they’ve received an invitation to the wedding.
Related: Be sure to get our advice on what to do about overshadowing our out-doing the wedding with the rehearsal dinner.
Who Should Be The RSVP Contact On Rehearsal Dinner Invitations?
If you’re wondering who should be the RSVP contact for the rehearsal dinner invite the short answer is the event host should be the RSVP contact.
If there is a specific person or couple hosting the rehearsal dinner that is not the soon to be newlyweds themselves, these hosts should be the contact of the rehearsal dinner RSVPs.
For help with collecting the RSVPs for the rehearsal dinner and keeping the guest list organized, be sure to get get our signature Rehearsal Dinner Guest List Tracker.
PRO TIP: It’s also a great rule of thumb to make your host information available to guests so they have someone to ask questions too, without feeling like they are bothering the engaged couple.
Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
If you’re planning a rehearsal dinner, don’t miss some of these must-read resources:
Help! I’m Really Unhappy With The Rehearsal Dinner My Fiance’s Family Is Planning
From One Couple to Another: Advice for Planning a Rehearsal Dinner
How to Assemble Wedding Welcome Gifts for Distribution at the Rehearsal Dinner
About Let’s Get Rehearsed!
Welcome to stress-free and easy wedding rehearsal dinner planning and ideas! Let’s Get Rehearsed is the best, most helpful planning and inspiration resource for all things wedding rehearsal dinners, wedding welcome parties, and the night before the wedding celebrations. If you’re in rehearsal dinner planning mode or looking for unique ideas, check out our real rehearsal dinner and welcome party photos, rehearsal dinner ideas and inspiration, advice for planning a wedding rehearsal dinner, and a rehearsal dinner printable and download shop.
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Let’s Get Rehearsed is all about getting you rehearsed before the wedding, so you can get to the celebration!