Wording For Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

Find the best way to invite guests with advice and rehearsal dinner invitation examples

Unlike with your more formal wedding invitations, invitations for rehearsal dinners are usually less formal and more casual, so the wording for rehearsal dinner invitations doesn't have to follow the same invitation wording etiquette.

For instance, you don’t need to address the envelope to your sister as “Ms. Susan Wheeler” you can just address it to “Susan” or even “Sister Susan” and still be in line with correct wording and etiquette. You can also include a quote or saying that has personal meaning or just fits well with the theme of the rehearsal dinner (like “Eat, drink and be merry!”)

While there are no strict formal rules, there are some things that should absolutely be included in the invitations and some things that would be inappropriate to include. So it is important to use the correct wording for rehearsal dinner invitations. Read on to find advice on wording your invitations and also some examples for rehearsal dinner invitations.

Do include the 5 W’s

Like any good news story, the wording for rehearsal dinner invitations should encompass the who, what, when, where and why of your rehearsal dinner. You’ll want to make sure that you have the reason for the invitation, the host’s name(s) the name of the venue, the address, the time and date and the bride and groom’s names in the wording on your invitations. If there’s a particular theme to the rehearsal dinner (like a luau or hoe down) you should also include it on the invitation.

Do let guests R.S.V.P. to the rehearsal dinner

Unless your guest list is very small, you’ll want guests to R.S.V.P. for the dinner in order to anticipate how much food and drink needs to be served and how many place settings and tables you’ll need. It is appropriate to put R.S.V.P information in the wording for rehearsal dinner invitations.

correct wording for rehearsal dinner invitations You have two options for the R.S.V.P. Guests can respond via telephone – in which case you’ll need to include a phone number in the rehearsal dinner invitation wording or you can insert a response card and a self addressed stamped envelope in the invitation.

It will be much easier and less expensive to take responses over the telephone, but either response method will work. For guests who haven’t responded in a timely fashion, simply phone them and inquire about their attendance.

Don’t give too much information

Messages like whether children are welcome, the dress code or the option of a cash bar should not be a part of the invitation wording. These items are inappropriate and look tacky on an invitation, so if there’s an extra message that you’d like to send to guests, do it by word of mouth or by a polite phone call.

Do have fun with the invitation stationary

Your rehearsal dinner invitations don’t have to follow a particular color scheme or theme, so have fun with selecting the paper and ink color for the invitations. Funky colors, shapes and pictures can all be a part of your rehearsal dinner invitations. Let your personality be your guide.

Do include a map

So people won’t have a hard time finding the location of the dinner, you should include a map and directions in the rehearsal dinner invitation. This is especially important for out of town guests. These days, it’s very easy to create a map using an online source like Google maps or Mapquest. You can print out copies of the map and directions and insert them in each rehearsal dinner invitation. You may even want to suggest the option of carpooling or offer a shuttle service if a lot of guests are all staying in the same hotel – this is best done by word of mouth and shouldn’t be included on the invitation.

Rehearsal Dinner Invitation Examples

Sample Invitation #1

Come join us and celebrate
A Rehearsal Dinner for
(Bride and Groom)
Hosted by
(Host name)
On (day, date, month and year)
At (location)
(Address)
(Time including a.m. or p.m.)

Invitation Example #2

(Host name)
Request(s) the
Honor of your presence
At a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner for
(Bride and Groom)
On (day, date, month and year)
At (location)
(Address)
(Time including a.m. or p.m.)

Sample Invitation #3

You are cordially invited to
A Rehearsal Dinner Barbeque
Honoring (Bride and Groom)
On (day, date, month and year)
At (location)
(Address)
(Time including a.m. or p.m.)
R.S.V.P. (phone number)

Invitation Example #4

Party like its 1999
On the eve of (Bride and Groom)’s Wedding
Dinner, Drinks and Dancing
On (day, date, month and year)
(Time including a.m. or p.m.)
(Location)
(Address)
R.S.V.P (phone number)