candy4brandi's Pink wedding

I plan on just inviting those in the wedding party and parents/immediate family. However, I am not sure we are going to do a TRUE rehearsal dinner. I am thinking I may ask my sister (my MOH) to maybe do some finger foods and snacks at her house afterwards. That way, we are not paying $20/person for some fancy meal when we are spending so much on a wedding the next day. I say do whatever fits in your budget. These people have to understand we brides aren't made of money! haha.

Anyone who has to know what's going on the day of your wedding should be there.  

This includes the bridal party, minister marrying you, parents, readers, program distributors, ushers, the "team" you have for taking decorations and stuff out of the church, musicians playing during your ceremony, sound tech people, etc.

It's also a nice gesture to invite any out-of-towners who are already there.  It's a chance to "catch up", and an additional Thank You for the effort/expense in travelling a large distance to make your wedding.

Like Soon2bepayton says, you don't have to do a full dinner.  Snacks are fine, especially if you schedule the rehersal for non-supper hours, like 2:00pm.  Just be sure the rehersal doesn't run late!  

You can also request that dates not come. I don't know if it's "proper" or not, so beware.  But, if you worded it like this "because of the chaotic nature of rehersal dinners, we are trying to limit the number of people attending to those who need to be there in an effort to reduce the time it takes."  On second thought, It sounds kind of like lawyer-speak, but I'm really sleepy right now.  I hope it makes some sense.

Good luck with your rehersal dinner!

Also if you are having the rehearsal after dinner time, you could cut cost by doing a dessert buffet style , like make your own sundaes with cookies and such

I've heard the same, those in the wedding, immediate family and out-of-towners. Letting them know about the dates is tricky. Honestly, if there is any possible way to pay for the dates, I would. To keep it more exclusive, send out invites for the dinner. My recently married niece didn't do this and no one knew who could and couldn't go. Technically, I'm not immediate family but I couldn't imagine not being invited to the rehearsal dinner since her and I are very close, so I went.  But it was an ackward phone call, checking whether or not I was invited. The word will get out if you send invites as to whether or not they should attend.

Well typically the Groom's parents pay for the dinner.  Both sets of parents should be there, people in your wedding party, officiant, and if you so choose - very special out of town guests. You can look into a buffet spread vs paying per person to see if you can do it cheaper.