Is it ok that i don't invite my wedding parties Sos to the rehearsal dinner?

When I had my rehearsal dinner I invited spouses and any children of the bridal party. I understand budget can be an issue, but you are asking your bridal party to take the time out of their day to practice for your wedding. Personally I think the least you can do is offer them a meal as a thank you. I understand hosting a wedding is expensive, but so is being in the bridal party. Treating your bridal party and their spouses to a meal is a nice thank your for the time and effort they have put in to be in your wedding.

I'm not sure if my rehearsal dinner was the norm, but we only spend about 15 minutes actually rehearsing for the wedding. The rest of the time was spent socializing with my bridal party, Could I have done that without their spouses? Probably, but I'm friends with the spouses so it would have felt weird without them. If we were inviting them out to dinner or to a party I would invite their spouses, so I don't see why the rehearsal dinner is any different. We had pizza and salad from a local pizza place because we wanted to be able to include everyone.

View Quoted Comment I'm not trying to be rude, but something about this line of thinking rubs me the wrong way. It seems weird to me to act like properly hosting a wedding is a thank you to your bridal party. I always thought a rehearsal dinner was a nice way to thank your bridal party for the time and money they have spent to be a part of your wedding. I would say as a bridal party member I wouldn't forget that I had to pay for dinner at the rehearsal dinner, even if the bride and groom bought me drinks.

While parents in the past have paid for the rehearsal dinner, this is often not the case. If a bride/grooms parents don't offer to pay it falls on them to pay for the dinner.

Im sorry but some people are so bold! I wouldn't invite them. we aren't. If people are rude and abrasive enough to say you SHOULD or that your wrong not too they aren't coming along to your wedding for the right reasons!

They should be invited, in my opinion. They'll be rehearsing and walking/standing all day. They'll be physically tired. And that's on top of all of their other bridal party duties. Having their SO there to take care of them and drive them, and enjoy the evening with is a must! Are you able to do a more affordable dining option?

I don't even think a sit-down dinner is necessary, especially if your rehearsal is short. You don't have to treat everyone out to a FANCY dinner for a short rehearsal. You can do a diner, cafe, brunch, lunch, buffet, or order pizza! One of my friends had a pizza/beers at her place after the rehearsal and we had a great time. It felt good to kick off our shoes and just hang out & be excited.

Wedding party + spouses/SO, officiant + spouse, & parents.

Spouses and significant others are always invited. Your bridal and grooms party are the closest people to you and that would be extremely offensive to them not to include their spouses.

When the dinner immediately follows the rehearsal, as an SO I never want to go to the RD, and think it great if it is just for participants, whether I am the one in the WP, or SO. If the RD is set for a relaxed meal, the weekend before or after a rehearsal that is not the night before, it is generally an enjoyable couples dinner, and SO should be invited. If not just a quick and casual thing, like a couple pizzas after a Tues evening after dinner rehearsal, a lot of people get really bent out of shape if SO not invited. First, ask yourself, do you actually need a rehearsal, at all? Or is it okay for just B and G to talk with the clergy or officient, and pass on the word. Most people find it unnecessary to practice walking down an aisle. For the couple to time a walk, for choosing length of music and such, does not take a rehearsal. Or a rehearsal dinner. But if you are going to have a wedding party meal, better to have SO invited ( not necessary to have dates, just committed SO.). If too expensive for your restaurant, better to scale down to burgers in the yard, than leave out SO at a fancy dinner.