Rehearsal/RD questions - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

maroki13 · #1 05-12-2006, 03:24 PM

We've just recently finalized plans to have our rehearsal dinner at FH's grandma's house. We are banking on the weather and hoping to spend the evening outside, barbequeing. FH's parents are paying for the RD and putting it on. Are they required to send out invitations? Or do people going to the RD mostly already know, since they are in the wedding?

Also, do we request a certain dress code if we want one, since we aren't having it at a restaurant that dictates formality? I guess I personally want to dress up, since I'm the bride and I want to look nice for the rehearsal.

Finally, did any of you decorate for your RD? I'm trying to decide if that is something I need to talk to FMIL about, or if the RD is just food and people.

I can't tell you ladies how excited I am to be doing all this wedding planning.

I've always been excited, but I have 3 months left (see the ticker) and it is so great to see all the details coming together!!!

ljeagle · #2 05-12-2006, 03:28 PM

I didn't decorate for mine and I didn't send out invites. I just told every one about it! But if you want to send out invites I would just tell your FIL thats what u want.

Jennifer · #3 05-12-2006, 03:49 PM

I have always been under the assumption that the family throwing the RD needs to send out invitations just so everyone is clear on date, time and directions. I don't know about any of you...but I had a problem with my rehearsal dinner b/c some of my friends didn't have any money so they didn't come...they thought they had to pay their own way

I felt horrible but how do you say...come to the rehearsal dinner...it's free! I just thought everyone would know that.

Also, if it was an outside BBQ I would assume it was casual, so if you want people to dress up you may want that to be on the invitation as well. My brother and SIL had a backyard BBQ in June and it was so hot outside, but my SIL wanted everyone dressed up. She didn't tell anyone and everyone just wore casual clothes and she was disappointed. Just make sure everyone knows what you want and it shouldn't be an issue.

ladedah · #4 05-12-2006, 03:50 PM

Hey there.....this is the fun part, isn't it!! We did have a "theme" for our rehearsal dinner...or wedding was pretty formal so we had a barbecue at DH farm where he grew up....we decorated with red gingham tablecloths and put big galvanized pails on each end filled with peanuts in the shell...this served as centerpieces and also as weights to hold the tablecloths in the wind. we had a horse trough with ice and drinks.....we also had a hay-rack ride, played horseshoes and had a short texas hold 'em tournament. It was alot of fun.

We also did send out invitations because we invited alot of people besides "the regular" RD crowd....for example...any family coming from out of town that we knew would be here the night before we invited. We made them ourselves, so they were inexpensive....red gingham cardstock with a vellum overlay that had the information on it, and we tied it together with raffia.

feb-bride · #5 05-12-2006, 04:05 PM

We did send out invitations for our RD, but I know many people who do not send out invitations.

If I was invited to an outdoor RD, I would assume that the dress would be casual.

Heather · #6 05-12-2006, 04:55 PM

We didn't send out invitations for the RD. We just shot an e-mail to the bridal party with location and time. For our family we did it by word of mouth. Ours was at a nice restaurant so everyone kind of new to dress up a little, business casual I guess.

labeadel · #7 05-12-2006, 07:44 PM

Invitations did go our for our rehearsal dinner to be sure everyone had the address at the restaurant and the time. On the invite it said "Hosted by so and so Jones." Therefore there wasn't any confusion on if they would need to pay.

We are attending a wedding and have been invited to the rehearsal dinner and just received an Evite. Backyard fun and swimming. I thought it was perfect for what they are doing. This is a very casual wedding though too. Groom is wearing flip flops, I think. Anyway, others might think that this type of invite is tacky, but I think if you are having something at someone's home and most of your friends have email, I think it's fine.