Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Custom suggests that the groom's parents host the rehearsal dinner and, therefore, issue its invitations. The rehearsal dinner takes place on the night before the wedding and is given as a courtesy to the bride's family. The rehearsal dinner invitations are usually worded formally, but many times just first names are used. This less formal style can be a way to let guests know how you, your fiance, and your fiance's parents wish to be addressed.

Just as the rehearsal dinner should not compete with or upstage the wedding, the invitations to the rehearsal dinner should complement the wedding invitations, although they should not match them. For example, a rehearsal dinner invitation on a flat white card engraved in navy blue ink nicely complements a formal wedding invitation.

Who is invited to the rehearsal dinner?

Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner was held for just the wedding party in order to get them fed after the rehearsal -- and to give the bride's mother one less thing to be responsible for. While many rehearsal dinners are still reserved for the wedding party, others have expanded to include the wedding party, their spouses or dates, and out-of-town guests.

When are rehearsal dinner invitations sent?

The invitations are sent two weeks before the wedding.

Very few people are being invited to our rehearsal dinner. Do we need engraved invitations?

For small dinners, it is appropriate for the groom's parents to use their "Mr. and Mrs." informals or fill-in invitation. (Informals are small fold-over notes that are always ecru or white and engraved in black ink with the name(s) centered on the front.) If they choose to use their informals, they may either write the information on the front of the informal or write a short note inviting their guests on the inside.