Rehearsal Dinner Invitation Etiquette
Rehearsal dinners are a very important prelude to the big day. They are generally held the evening before the ceremony and are not only a way for the family to relax and enjoy being together before the big day but it’s also a way to let everyone know exactly what will take place the day of the wedding and make sure that everyone understands what’s expected of them. However, this all starts with the invitations, which set the tone of the dinner and can also make a great start with the proper etiquette.
Are Invitations Necessary?
Unlike other events associated with your wedding such as your bridal shower, your engagement party, and all the other celebrations, invitations to the rehearsal dinner are not actually necessary. If you choose not to send out invitations, you can invite the guests by simply spreading the message by word of mouth. However, invitations can not only give the members of the wedding party something to remember the whole occasion with! Invitations can also be a good reminder to those who are the busiest just before the wedding (you!) and will have a lot on their minds.
Who and When
Traditionally it is the groom’s parents who host the rehearsal dinner and so the invitations should be sent by them. Of course, if someone else is hosting the dinner, such as your parents or the best man, invitations should be sent by them.
Rehearsal dinners are generally small affairs and this is one of the reasons why proper invitations are not actually necessary. The only people to be invited are generally the wedding party, both sets of parents (if no set is doing the inviting) and any other close friends you choose to be there. The officiate of the wedding should also be invited.
Rehearsal dinner invitations are usually sent two weeks before the wedding but if you think that everybody will have too much on their minds to send out the invites then, they can be sent as early as 6 weeks before the wedding.
The Design of the Invitation
It’s perfectly acceptable that the rehearsal dinner invitations be ordered at the same time and from the same vendor as the wedding invitations. This is also a very practical solution as the vendor may offer a discount for the bulk order. However, because it is the bride’s parents that send out the wedding invitations and the groom’s parents that send out the invites for the rehearsal dinner, the groom’s parents may want to do something separate and special for the invitations. The design can be anything from formal, engraved invitations to informal fold-outs. They can also be ordered from a stationer or they can be created at home. One of the greatest things about rehearsal dinner invitations is that there aren’t a lot of rules attached to them!
