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Luxe Prestige Chronicle

who is invited to rehearsal dinner

Author

Sarah Martinez

Updated on May 17, 2026

Family. Of course your parents should be in attendance at your rehearsal dinner along with your grandparents and your siblings. You are not obligated to invite your extended family, but most couples do include aunts and uncles; especially ones they are close to.

Do grandparents get invited to the rehearsal dinner?

This might seem fairly obvious, but the immediate family of the soon-to-be newlyweds should always be invited to the rehearsal dinner. This means parents, siblings, and grandparents. Your wedding symbolizes not only the joining of you and your soon-to-be spouse in marriage but also your families merging.

Are out-of-town guests invited to the rehearsal dinner?

Is it necessary to invite all out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner? We have so many I fear the rehearsal will be nearly as large as the wedding. Out-of-town guests can be invited if your budget and the circumstances allow, but it’s by no means a must.

What is the etiquette for rehearsal dinner?

Generally speaking, you should invite “immediate family members, the wedding party, their guests, and sometimes out-of-town guests if they’ve traveled a long way,” Povey says. Additionally, the officiant and any readers or ushers may be added to the wedding rehearsal dinner guest list.

Who pays for rehearsal dinner etiquette?

While it’s a common custom for the bride’s parents to pay for the wedding ceremony and reception, the groom’s parents traditionally pay for the rehearsal dinner. It’s the way to go if you’re following traditional rehearsal dinner etiquette, and the groom’s family is willing to host.

Who customarily pays for the rehearsal dinner?

Both the groom’s parents traditionally organize (and pay for) the rehearsal dinner. This can range in size from a small occasion for members of the wedding party only to a grand soiree (never to outdo the wedding, of course) that includes half or more of the wedding guests.

Who attends the wedding rehearsal?

Who attends the Ceremony rehearsal? The wedding couple, the bridal party and their significant others, child attendants (flower girls and ring bearers) and their parents, the wedding couple’s parents, and any other family members, including grandparents who will be participating in the processional.

What does the groom pay for in a wedding?

The groom is traditionally expected to pay for the marriage license and officiant’s fees, and buy the bouquet for his “date” (the bride), as well as her engagement and wedding rings and a gift; he should also purchase boutonnieres and gifts for his groomsmen.

Do grandparents go to wedding rehearsal?

Wedding Guest List. How will your rehearsal dinner guest list differ from your wedding day guest list? As mentioned above, “Your rehearsal dinner should consist of your bridal party, their spouses, your parents, grandparents, and siblings,” Tolento says.

Who goes to the rehearsal?

The most important people to have at your ceremony rehearsal are anyone who will be participating in some way, whether it’s walking down the aisle or doing a reading. Of course, the bride, groom, parents, and officiant need to be present (since you’ve all got starring roles!).

Is rehearsal dinner necessary?

The rehearsal dinner is not a required event, but it does give the couple’s immediate families and members of the bridal party the opportunity to socialize before the wedding.

How do you invite someone to a rehearsal dinner?

What should the rehearsal dinner invitation include?
The host of the rehearsal dinner.The names of the couple.The event date, time and location.The RSVP deadline and method (email is often easiest)Any additional information to know: wedding website information, dress code and so on.