Whom Should You Invite to Your Rehearsal Dinner?

When it comes to issue invitations – regardless of the event – there is always concern of leaving someone out.  However, there are some occasions that are most successful when kept small and intimate.  For most brides-and-grooms-to-be, this certainly applies to the rehearsal dinner.  So, let’s break it down, so you are sure to invite those that should absolutely be there, but don’t end up with a too-large guest list.

The Typical Musts

(Remember, everyone is different and every situation is different, so you may choose not to follow tradition.  That is okay, but for the sake of this article, we’ll go with the classic approach.)

The rehearsal dinner is aptly named, as it generally follows a ‘practice run’ of the big day’s events.  That means that the rehearsal dinner is really meant as a meal for those who are participating in the ceremony.  Therefore, the guest list will typically involve at least all those listed below.

Bride and Groom’s Parents

Bride and Groom’s Grandparents

Bride and Groom’s Siblings

Bridal Party

Flower Girls, Ring Bearers, and Parents/Guardians

Minister, Priest, Justice of the Peace, or Officiant

Anyone Else Serving a Distinct Role in the Wedding Ceremony

Others Who May Be Considered

Through the years, though, the rehearsal dinner has changed a bit.  It is more common, today, to make this a sort of extension of the wedding day.  Therefore, you may choose to invite the follow, in addition to those listed above:

Guests from Out of Town: This does tend to be a more intimate setting than the wedding, which often means that the bride and groom can spend more time visiting with those that they don’t get to see overly often.

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins: In some families, cousins are nearly as close as siblings.  If that is the case in your situation, you may choose to invite these extended relations.

Close Friends: If you have a lot of friends and relations, you may not have been able to work all of them into your bridal party.  In some cases, couples will opt to pay honor to these friends by inviting them to the rehearsal dinner as well.