ask carley

Q My fiancé and I are paying for our entire wedding and we really don’t want to spring for a rehearsal dinner too. Do we have to host one?

When it comes to your wedding (especially one that you’re paying for yourselves), you hold the keys to the party, so whether you have a rehearsal dinner or not is really up to you. That said, the rehearsal dinner is a great way to thank your parents and wedding party for their support throughout the whole planning process and also to let off some steam before the wedding day. Plus, it’s a nice way to get your out-of-town guests together. It doesn’t have to be formal—throw a barbecue in your backyard or even have a pizza party.