Rehearsal dinner alternatives?

We are doing a food truck- it’s stationary, so we don’t have to track down the location, and i already emailed the owner who was super cool. Our wedding is pretty formal, but FH has wanted a food truck for YEARS- even brought it up 2-3 years before making it all official lol. If FMIL doesn’t shut it down, this is our plan.

You could do a cook out at your house unless you have a super small space? 20 people would fit in our current house, but def not in the last one

We will have a quick walk through at the venue (hotel) then we will order pizza delivered before we (the wedding party are all staying at the hotel the night before

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It is not traditional to have a rehearsal in a Jewish wedding. Many couples today do not observe that tradition, but it doesn't mean it isn't a tradition. See, for example:

https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-plan-a-jewish-rehearsal-dinner-12124787.html

"According to tradition, a Jewish wedding is not to be rehearsed."

Or this:

https://forward.com/sisterhood/190887/my-jewish-wedding-felt-like-an-intermarriage/

"Of course, we would have nothing to rehearse, as most Jewish ceremonies do not come with a run-through."

I could give you more citations, but having had two Jewish weddings, I would know.

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You don't run through the ceremony, you run through the walking and placement.

But you've had two Jewish weddings, you'd probably know that.

We aren’t having a rehearsal or rehearsal dinner. We were going to have a big family dinner the night before the wedding, but when we realized it would be 20+ people and over $1000, we decided it wouldn’t fit in the budget. We are taking our parents out to dinner that night and meeting up with guests and family later that evening for a night on the town.

A lot lot of people do more casual types of rehearsal dinners, I think a welcome party could be a lot of fun, or just something at your home.

One of my best friends did a rehearsal breakfast that was nice. We had doughnuts and bagels with coffee, juice, and milk. It turned out quite nicely.

We rented out a community club house which was cheap and did pizza, water and juice. Some of our friends and family helped by purchasing plates, napkins, etc for us so it only ended up costing us like $300. I'm really glad we had the rehearsal because we had a larger bridal party and most of us had not been in weddings before so we really needed a run through. Plus it was nice relaxing with some pizza with our parents and friends.

Side note: If you need to cut down on your budget cut down on the little things like decor, flowers, don't do favors, do cheaper invites. The most important part of the reception is the food, and music, no one (including you) will notice anything else!

View Quoted Comment No I know, we’re budgeting to $300 total for flowers and decor (including bouquets and DIY centerpieces), we aren’t doing favors, and I’m budgeting $100 for invites plus postage. I really feel like there isn’t much else we can cut :/

Here is what we are doing:

We aren't having a formal rehearsal, but since the bridal party is saying at the lodge the night before the wedding, we will be rehearsing informally as we decorate. To cut the expense of having a big dinner, we are having a cookout at the lodge with hamburgers and hot dogs, which are totally inexpensive. That way we still get to be together with family and friends, but it doesn't have to be a big expensive thing!

Im sure you won't be able to work it out exactly like we did, but it is an idea. and also what we have done with most of the weddings I have been in. Even if the ceremony is SUPER formal!

We went to a baseball game.

If you have a rehearsal you need to have dinner. No one is saying that you have to have dinner at a 5 star restaurant something as simple as pizza and beer is appropriate. We have considered party trays, pizza, pasta, having it at Olive Garden or another local restaurant, etc. We still haven't made decision but anything is open.

I dont have a bridal party so obviously not having a rehearsal but we are doing a "welcome cocktail party" for everyone since we are destination.

Maybe only serve light bites (platters of meat, cheese, veggies, fruit, dips, breads) and maybe some a sub platter. Serve beer and wine and see if you can find a "free" place to host, or if you know someone that has access to a "community room" in their housing development, so you don't have to worry about your house or theirs getting dirty.

We are just doing an at home dinner for immediate family. Making a couple lasagnas and just having a family dinner then I'm leaving to the hotel with my mom and my 3 little girls.

I know for us we will just be taking our bridal party and parents and siblings to the ceremony venue just so they can see it beforehand and then we will just have them do a couple walkthroughs to the music so they can feel comfortable walking down the aisle. I'm not concerned with pace or walking straight, just want them to know where to enter and where to go after they are at the end of the aisle.

After that, we will probably just have everyone come to our house and we can do some homemade chili, cornbread, and drinks!

We aren’t doing a rehearsal dinner but since we’re having an out of state wedding (for most of our guests) we’re having a welcome reception. We’re meeting at a pub (during their non busy time so we don’t have to pay to bring in 50 ppl) and plan to buy about $200 worth of apps for guests. After the $200 cut off guests have to pay for themselves. It’s a nice way to meet with guests before the wedding.

At my venue, we are doing a rehearsal, but it is super casual. Pizza, wings, side salad for 25 people, $325 including tax and tip.

Rehearsal dinners are nice, I would suggest doing one, but make it casual. Go to a local park and do pizza or hot dogs.

To cut costs, only have people in the wedding go to the rehearsal.

Sorry, at the risk of sounding dumb who is invited to the rehearsal dinner and can it be a potluck?

In the majority of non family weddings I have been in, and my own, the bride and groom were the only ones to meet with Clergy or other officiant. This well before the wedding, as on weekends they are booked at many churches and venues. Before the ceremony, B & G fill people in. No rehearsal, no rehearsal dinner. At some point you should give a small gift to your bm and gm, but that cam be done individually, not at a group meal. A lot of people hate that because of a rehearsal dinner the night before, they have to take off work Friday or whatever, and get to the wedding location a day early. For what? Just one of the PITA things about being in some wedding parties is that extra day for a totally unnecessary rehearsal. If a rehearsal is done a week or two ahead on a weekday evening, if you want a rehearsal dinner, it can be a few days before or after the actual rehearsal. Best in my opinion, no rehearsal. I do not know of any graduation after grade school, where the 50-500 graduates needed any rehearsal at all. 5 minutes before lining up , everyone reads an information card, if they have not before, and everyone is always able to get through. As long as B and G talk a few minutes with officiant, and at some point talk with WP, I have never understood why anyone over 12 cannot figure it out. Little kids rehearse best when whole wedding party is not there.

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No, it can't be a potluck. The purpose is to thank the people who rehearse for taking the time out; you don't ask people to host themselves at their thank you. The people invited are those who participate in the rehearsal and their SOs as well as immediate or close family, usually. Sometimes people choose to also invite out-of-town guests, though this is not required.

We aree planning on having burgers and dogs instead of throwing a (*nother*) party. I mean,itll be us, the kids, and my parents and my sister and her family, so 10 to 11 of us. So why not have burgers and dogs, right? Oh and possibly our best man/moh and their kids so, 15 ish people.