Who is attending your rehearsal dinner?

[GlobalDiva]

Hello all

Being that technically, Disney weddings are a destination wedding, do most of you invite all your guests to the rehearsal dinner?

I know that's a common practice for destination weddings. Granted, we live in South FL, so it's only a 3-hour drive for the majority of our guests (and being that our guest count is at about 300, I'd rather not invite everyone as that would add a big expense to the budget, unless I could find a great deal).

But still...what are most of you doing with this issue?

*Wedding Pavilion**Grand Floridian**2009*

 

[PrincessBride07]

We didn't have 300 guests, but most of our guests were invited. The only people that I chose not to invite were the couple of guests that live locally in Orlando. We had our dinner on a Monday night, and they would have to get up the next day to go to work.

Find out how many of your guests will be in Orlando area the day before. If they only live 3 hours, I would guess that many will travel the day before the wedding and not make it in time for dinner. Not only that, but with 300 guests you would be better off doing a dessert party or renting out a space like Mickey's Backyard BBQ. I really don't see any of the restaurants making a reservation for 300. I would only invite the guests that are involved in the rehearsal. I don't think the other guests will get upset with you for that.

 

[Keira1387]

I live only an 1 hour from disney. So, for me this is not going to be a true destination wedding. We are only inviting the people that are coming to the rehearsal. (bridal party, immediate family, and the pastor and his family)Sp, in total probably 20 people at the RD. HTH

 

[Janet2k]

...do most of you invite all your guests to the rehearsal dinner?

GlobalDiva, you've got quite the guest count so I can understand your dilemma.

For my FTW VR, after the rehearsal, I invited all of my guests (and even a few extra folks) to a Welcome Party that I was hosting at the Grand Floridian. This was the first time that many of my guests were going to meet. It worked out well and was a very relaxing evening.

But, honestly, most folks only invite the wedding party & close family members to their rehearsal dinners. This has been the norm for as long as I can remember, and it doesn't matter whether or not it was a destination wedding. Since your guest list is large, I don't think anyone will be expecting you to invite them to your rehearsal dinner. Remember, they're attending your wedding because they love you and want to share in your joy. They're not there for any other reason, have no fear.

Good luck with your decision. Please keep us posted.

 

[Janet2k]

GlobalDiva, I forgot to say, "Welcome to the Dis!"

 

[GlobalDiva]

Thank you so much for all your advice and encouraging words! I love this messageboard!!

And thanks for the welcome Janet2K!

 

[scottish/canadian]

We will most likely be having the bridal party and their significant others, our parents and my Grandma. We were thinking of having it someplace like Raglan Road or Margaritaville at Citywalk and inviting everyone to join us afterwards for a night out (since it will actually be a couple days before the wedding). Where is everyone having theirs??

 

[PrincessBrideKatie]

In my case, it was up to my FMIL, since she and FFIL are paying for the rehersal dinner. They figured just the bridal party, the parents, the minister, and DF's grandmother. I would have liked to do a Welcome meal but, I wasnt going to push it.

 

[zetalove08]

I was having the same dilemna!

I wanted to invite everyone (we're having around 50-60) and have it more like a welcome dinner but since FMIL and FFIL are paying and didn't really want to do that, I didn't want to push it... especially since they surprised us and paid for our honeymoon cruise!!!

What we were thinking though, and I'd love to get everyone's input and opinion on this, is in our invitations and/or newsletter we will be sending out word it something like as follows:
"The rehearsal dinner will be held at Ohanas and accommodations have been made for the wedding party. However, we would love for everyone to attend! The cost of dinner at Ohanas is $25 for adults and BLANK (sorry, I can't remember) for children. Please let us know if you would like to attend so we can add you to the reservations. We hope to see you there!"

My aunt actually suggested this (she'd seen it done before) because she made a good point... if they are already in Disney, they're going to have to eat SOMEWHERE for dinner and pay for it. May as well eat with everyone, and $25 isn't bad for all you can eat IMO...

Any thoughts?

 

[orangetiggs]

We are asking everyone only 30 of us going and I'm going to ask people to pay for it we are going to ohanas. We cant afford to pay for the wedding and all the extras like rehursal dinner as well. I know its bad but they are already in disney and have to eat so I dont really see anything bad by asking them to pay. We dont really have rehersal dinners and welcome dinners in the uk anyway so no real precident to live up to

 

[BaBeeCee14]

We are having a rehearsal/welcome dinner the night before the wedding. Everyone will be invited since they have all come from the NY/NJ area. There will be 40-50 people attending.

 

[wiserabbit]

We had everyone invited to the wedding at RD....groom's mom and dad paid for it and she did the "Lady and the Tramp" buffett in a private salon at the GF.....it was really very nice and the food was excellent.....there were wait staff to serve the drinks and clear the plates, etc.....it worked out great and everyone felt a part of the celebration

 

[Lisacope]

we are having a Rehearsal Dinner at Citricos just with BP and family (about 15 people) and then we are having a Welcome Dessert Party at the GF Marina Patio that everyone is invited to after that. (About 45-55 people)

 

[pink_tink8i8]

300 guests? wow! I definitely don't think you need to invite them all to your rehearsal. That would be crazy and expensive with that many people. That's what the wedding is for. I think it is perfectly acceptable not to invite everyone. Just your wedding party and close family.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We werre originally going to invite everyone that was down there but as our list keeps growing now I am not sure. As of now we will be having the bridal party and their guests, our dads, and DF brother and sister and their families.

I am not sure about asking all other if they want to join us to pay for their meal like zetalove08 suggested. I think this is a great idea and it is something we will definately discuss.

What we are also doing is asking everyone else to meet us at Port Orleans French Quarter to listen to Elliott Dyson in the Kit Cat Club. He performs there Wednesday through Saturday and we always go over to listen to him when we are down in Disney. So after our dinner, those that want to can head over there and all others that are not attending the dinner can meet us there for a Welcome Party. He usually starts playing around 9:00pm to midnight. The bar is right there and so is the food court so we can get drinks and snacks.

Linda

Linda