How to Make a Rehearsal Dinner Guest List

A rehearsal dinner can be a chance for the bride, groom, families and bridal party to relax before the big day. It is a special, often more intimate, affair that gives the bride and groom a chance to show appreciation to everyone that has helped in wedding preparation and to help prepare with those who will take part in the next day's festivities. These pre-wedding events are often hosted by the groom's parents, but some couples choose to handle the dinner on their own. Regardless of who is throwing the bash, it's important to generate a well-thought-out guest list in order to avoid an embarrassing oversight. Make a list of those who will be included in the rehearsal dinner and review it as the wedding date approaches to make sure it is complete.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start with the parents of the bride and groom. Include all sets of parents if either couple has separated.

2. Add step-parents if a parent has remarried. If not, reserve a space for him or her to bring a date.

3. Include siblings of the bride and groom. If the brother or sister is an adult, you must reserve space for him or her to bring a date as well.

4. Add the grandparents of the bride and groom to the guest list.

5. Include the entire bridal party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and ring bearers). Reserve space for a spouse or date for each adult member of the bridal party. Invite the parents of child participants.

6. Include close friends of the bride and groom if their presence is important to make the event special for the couple.

7. Consider inviting out-of-town guests who may not be familiar with the city in which the wedding will take place.

8. Invite the ceremony officiant if he or she will be participating in the actual rehearsal.

9. Include ceremony musicians if they will be taking part in the rehearsal that will precede the dinner.

Tips & Warnings

• If the person trying to make the guest list is not the bride or groom, it is crucial to seek input from the engaged couple. Determine their idea of the perfect event and with whom they would like to celebrate on the eve of their wedding.
• If the guest list is expanded to include friends outside of the bridal party or relatives beyond immediate family, be consistent with the invitations. If you invite one cousin of the bride, you may have to invite her other cousins to avoid hurt feelings.

[amudmom]

on 4/20/2008 We paid large hotel bills twice for the weddings of my sister's son. We were not invited to the rehearsal dinners, so both times we asked the hotel to help us find dinner for the evening. We felt VERY left out as the wedding party, along with our parents returned to the hotel. At one of the weddings, we were asked to attend a "Groom's Party" and bring a gift, but we had to WAIT until after 10 p.m. for them to arrive back to the hotel from the rehearsal dinner. Needless to say, at our son's rehearsal dinner this August, they will ALL be invited. I hope they enjoy the free meal and learn the kindness of inviting out of town guests to the rehearsal dinner. By the way, we are also inviting all out of town guests to a golf scramble the morning of the wedding, complete with a brunch for the non-golfers at our home. We hope our out-of-town guests will be glad they came to our friendly li