Is it commonplace now to have a rehearsal dinner without the actual rehearsal?

Question

Our son has informed us that there is just going to be a dinner....NO rehearsal! Apparently the people at their wedding palace has told them that there is no need for one. Hmmmm, I don't think so!

Answer 1

no i never heard of that.. every wedding i've ever been in, we had a rehearsal.

Answer 2

No, you really should have an actual rehearsal.  It makes the day of go so much smoother.  

Answer 3

My cousin actually did the same thing, dinner with no rehearsal.  I was so worried I had no idea what to do.  It ended up being fine.  Don't worry about it. I am sure the day will be great, Congrats.  

Answer 4

We didn't have a rehearsal either.  The place where we got married told us we didn't have one so we all just met up at a restaurant and had a nice dinner together.  It all went well and we had no problems.  

Answer 5

Unless you're having some kind of huge, elaborate ceremony, it probably won't be that bad.  Most rehearsals are less than a half hour anyway.  I didn't technically have a rehearsal either.  2 of my bridesmaids ended up in New York (we got married in the Poconos area) and we only had a couple hours of day light left (the got to the rehearsal at 10pm).  The day of the wedding, our officiant ended up walking everyone through the steps before the wedding anyway.  

Answer 6

Wrong.  A rehearsal dinner is for AFTER a rehearsal and frankly, is not a requirement.  Most people I know don't have one unless everybody is going dutch.  Have a rehearsal dinner without the rehearsal is probably just another way for the wedding industry to make money.

Answer 7

I guess it would depend on the type of ceremony, but I don't think I would ever want to do something like that. If anything do it for the sake of the pastor or officiant so they can feel comfortable with the whole thing. If you think about it there is quite a bit of pressure on them to do it perfectly.