Is the rehearsal dinner necessary?

I was told the rehearsal dinner isn’t necessary if you don’t have a rehearsal. We are doing a cookout at our complex the night before the wedding just as a get to know each other for the party.

It's not. I had a rehearsal so it only felt natural we had a dinner after.

You don't have to have anything you don't want

If you have a rehearsal, you need to have at least some kind of food to thank people afterward. However, a rehearsal really isn't necessary. Your officiant can tell people when to walk and where to stand just before the ceremony.

It’s all about you and your FH and you can have things however you want it. Do what makes you guys happy!

Hello! My two cents are that after the rehersal people are hungry...lol...its nice to hang out with the people that will be there for the rehersal...the dinner does not have to be extravagant...for instance, I had maybe 10 ppl including myself and we went to in n out

A rehearsal dinner isn't necessary unless you have a rehearsal.

As far as rehearsal dinner, it’s certainly not required as PPs have said. For your second question, bridal showers and bachelorette parties don’t have to be elaborate and expensive. If your BMs want to throw those parties for you, they should do something within their budgets and if you can/want to pitch in funds let them know how much. To me, the bachelorette party is a time to go out together and have fun, and you can do whatever interests you. For a shower, if someone has a house they can host it at, a few decorations, some drinks and small appetizers, and you can find tons of free activities and games online.

The rehearsal dinner is so you can practice a couple times to make sure everything runs smoothly for the wedding. A lot of times it's important and helpful. Most people say that the dinner afterwards is supposed to be kind of a thank you to the bridal party for everything they've done and for being part of your big day. But I've seen people do it differently. One I went to, for my aunt, it was just the bridal party and my grandfather paid for it. I don't think my sister had dinner before or after hers, we practiced, went over a few things, and then went to set up/decorate the reception. For mine, we're just having the wedding party and parents do the rehearsal, then we're going to a restaurant to eat but everyone is paying for themselves. We cant afford to buy everyone's meal. The wedding party knows and is fine with that.
It's up to you to have it or not. With people coming in from out of town, maybe a quick run through later in the evening would work better for you

I think the rehearsal dinner is only required if you have a rehearsal. It’s like “thanks for taking the time out to come and rehearse”. That being said it doesn’t have to be extravagant. It can be as simple as ordering some pizza.

I should of said rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. But thank you all for your comments. Will definitely discuss with my fiancé.

If you have a rehearsal you should have a dinner after. It can be super lowkey like pizza or subs and at someone's house if they are willing to host. We are having mine at my brothers house.

Whether you need a rehearsal depends on your ceremony itself. How much is involved? Are there a lot of moving pieces? A unity ceremony? Readings? All those will factor into how smooth it will go. We have 2 reading, and a hand fasting ceremony so we have to have a rehearsal to practice the hand fasting so it goes smooth the day of.

We're having a rehearsal so a rehearsal dinner felt pretty responsible but we're not going out anywhere were bringing a Crock-Pot and just making something nice afterwards (our venue said we could but I know that's not a viable option for everyone)

If you skip a rehearsal, you don't have to do the dinner! I'd just pick something super laid back for the bachelorette!

The rehearsal generally isn't necessary. people know how to walk and where to stand. IF you do have a rehearsal you need to host something after, but you don't need to invite anyone other than those actively involved in the rehearsal (bridal party, parents..)

The rehearsal dinner isn't necessarily a must. It is generally seen as a thank you to your bridal party for participating in the rehearsal with you.

But it also doesn't have to be extravagant, or even at a restaurant. I know lots of people who have done a backyard BBQ for their rehearsal dinner. Even pizza and beer would work, and is a more affordable option.

If you don’t do a rehearsal then a dinner is not necessary. Also the rehearsal and dinner can be limited to those in your wedding party, you don’t have to include out of town guests. If they want to throw you a party I say let them, they can set their own budget for that and you can just let them know you want it to be low key.