Why You Need Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Planning a wedding means planning so much more than just the wedding day. Between the engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette weekends, and rehearsal dinners, it’s a full celebration season. This means that in addition to your wedding, you're having to think about wedding showers, engagement parties, bachelorette parties, and a rehearsal dinner! And with each of those events comes more details to coordinate… especially when it comes to stationery.

Thinking logistically, many rehearsal dinners are planned by the groom’s family. This makes a couple wonder: do I need a rehearsal dinner invitation? If so, how do I get the details to my guests? Is this included with my invitation suite? Is this a separate invitation altogether? Who decides on the design? When do I let people know the details?  

Note: I use the terms “bride” and “groom” in this post for simplicity, but I wholeheartedly celebrate and support all couples. The advice here is meant for everyone, regardless of gender or identity.

The question: Do I need Rehearsal Dinner Invitations?

The Answer: YES! 

Rehearsal dinners are a key part of the wedding weekend. It’s often the first time your VIPs—your wedding party, close family, or out-of-town guests—gather to celebrate. There are two easy ways to approach rehearsal dinner invites:

1. Include them as an additional insert in your main invitation suite.

2. Send them separately as their own invite—either printed or digital.

It sounds simple, but rehearsal dinner invitations do take a little extra coordination. You’ll want to connect with whoever is hosting the rehearsal dinner, and see what they prefer. Some hosts love having full ownership of the invitation as a way to show up as the official host. Others are more laid-back and just want guests to get all the details at once, included with the main invitation suite.

Traditionally, your wedding party and out-of-town guests are in attendance at the rehearsal dinner. If EVERYONE on the guest list is invited to the rehearsal dinner, things are really simplified. 

But if you’re choosing guests based on the traditional guidelines, and only including select people, you'll want to be a little more strategic. In that case, you should mail the rehearsal dinner invitations separately, either right alongside your wedding invitations or just a few days later, so you’re sure your guests receive everything in the right order.

You absolutely CAN include it with your main suite, but keep in mind you may need a little extra postage for those envelopes, as you’ll have at least 2 extra pieces of paper.   

Have Your Stationery Artist Help Coordinate

When we work together on your wedding invitations, I can help you coordinate rehearsal dinner details that complement your wedding suite beautifully, without adding stress. Whether your future in-laws are hosting and want their own unique design, or you’re trying to stick with one cohesive look, I’ll create something that fits everyone’s vision. Bonus: if they want something a little different, I can still keep it in the same “visual family” as your other pieces so everything feels polished and intentional.

SHOP OUR REHEARSAL DINNER INVITATIONS

Need a Rehearsal Dinner Invitation Last Minute?

What if you don’t have all the rehearsal dinner details finalized yet? That’s okay! 

Over at Invited by Laura Mays, my wedding invitation template shop, you’ll find elegant, timeless rehearsal dinner invitation designs that you can customize instantly. These templates are editable through a free, easy-to-use online platform called Corjl, so there is no software to download and no design experience needed.

Just personalize the design right in your browser, download your finished file, and print at home or through your favorite print shop. It’s perfect for last-minute planning or if you want something simple, fast, and still stylish.

Order Your Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Whether you’re including them with your main suite or sending them separately, I’ll help you create something beautiful, clear, and completely stress-free. Let’s make sure your guests know exactly where to be, without you having to figure it all out alone! Shop our Rehearsal Dinner collection to get started today!