Rehearsal Dinner

I hate when the wedding plans get to the point of rationalizing that everyone needs to be involved in everything for the parents of the bride/groom because they think the guests are going to be left out. When in reality only the crazy ones even care at all and they are going to be crazy either way.
 
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I am needing some help, we booked our rehearsal dinner for our wedding thinking we were just inviting our wedding party and parents. Well my future wife decided to change her mind and wants to invite everyone coming from out of town, like a crazy person. Does anyone know of a cheap BYOB and bring our own food place to rent in the des moines area?
I learned the hard way, but apparently the custom for a rehearsal dinner is to invite the wedding party as well as those from out of town.

See as how my family is from Minnesota and South Dakota and my wife's family is from California, our rehearsal dinner got expensive real quick.
 
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I learned the hard way, but apparently the custom for a rehearsal dinner is to invite the wedding party as well as those from out of town.

See as how my family is from Minnesota and South Dakota and my wife's family is from California, our rehearsal dinner got expensive real quick.

Bull ****. My wife's from Canada. I'm from Iowa. We got married in Houston.

No ******* way all out of town people were at the rehearsal dinner. It's for the people who are at the rehearsal. That's it.
 
Bull ****. My wife's from Canada. I'm from Iowa. We got married in Houston.

No ******* way all out of town people were at the rehearsal dinner. It's for the people who are at the rehearsal. That's it.
I guess you're lucky then.
 
No ******* way all out of town people were at the rehearsal dinner. It's for the people who are at the rehearsal. That's it.

Exactly. That's why it's called a rehearsal dinner. You have the rehearsal, and then everyone who participated in the rehearsal goes to the rehearsal dinner. (...and then to the rehearsal bar crawl later)
 
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We had out-of-towners at ours. My parents picked up the tab for it and they wanted to invite those people so they'd get a chance to chat with them in case they didn't get to wedding day. Their tab, their rules.

Now had I been funding it things would've been different...
 
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I think it depends. If there's only a handful of out of towners, then that should be OK. But if it's going to turn into a family reunion I'd politely suggest that you get together for brunch after the wedding instead. Don't overshadow those that are being a part of your wedding with a large family gathering.
 
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I guess you're lucky then.

Not really. The plan was we would leave the church in my Corvette (top down, looking classy) and drive to the reception. Less than a week out (so after I have the car detailed), she insists on a limo.

That was just one piece of the crazy that week.

So getting a win in the rehearsal dinner was a very small victory indeed.
 
Nobody actually wants to go to the rehearsal dinner anyway. Go to a bar after it’s over with everyone that came to town.

I actually avoid gathering too many close friends in part for the specific reason that I don't want to be included in weddings lol.

Also, my wedding cost total was +/- $700. I just don't have much use for them.
 
Well your probably stuck now, but we went early to a few and just met everyone after rehearsal dinner at the main hotel bar or just a casual beer in a few hotel rooms to say hi and meet people. One other one had the brunch the day after which is great idea.
 
My daughter did the same thing. Had it at the Walker-Johnson park shelter in Urbandale. Had Hy-Vee cater it. Not sure how much the shelter cost -- not much, might've even been free, just had to reserve it, and clean up after. edit: Just talked to my daughter -- she said it was something like $20 to rent it, as we are Urbandale residents. It has men and women RRs but you might have to clean them beforehand.
 
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Who is paying for the rehearsal dinner? Also, how far out is the wedding? If the wedding date is too close, you might not even get the venue you want. Was this really the fiance's idea or was she encouraged by her parents. If she is getting pushed to do this, they should help cover the cost.

If you are responsible for paying, just do a grill out for burgers and brats and buy some beverages. If you really want some booze, go to a bar after the dinner.

When planning for a wedding, rational decisions can go out the window.
 
I am needing some help, we booked our rehearsal dinner for our wedding thinking we were just inviting our wedding party and parents. Well my future wife decided to change her mind and wants to invite everyone coming from out of town, like a crazy person. Does anyone know of a cheap BYOB and bring our own food place to rent in the des moines area?

Start the relationship the correct way, tell her no.
 
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My daughter did the same thing. Had it at the Walker-Johnston park shelter in Urbandale. Had Hy-Vee cater it. Not sure how much the shelter cost -- not much, might've even been free, just had to reserve it, and clean up after. edit: Just talked to my daughter -- she said it was something like $20 to rent it, as we are Urbandale residents. It has men and women RRs but you might have to clean them beforehand.
I guess it will take the guy in Minnesota to correct this one for you...
 

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