Planning guide
A rehearsal dinner timeline, with games
A rehearsal dinner is usually two to three hours, straight after the rehearsal, with the wedding party and both families. It's often the first time everyone is in one room. One short game in the right place breaks the ice without turning the night into a party.
Updated October 29, 2026
The short answer
A rehearsal dinner typically runs two to three hours: drinks and a welcome, dinner, then toasts. If you add a game, play one short couple quiz or trivia round between the main course and dessert, before the toasts, for 10 to 15 minutes, and finish by 9pm so the wedding party gets some sleep.
A typical evening
- 6:30 Guests arrive from the rehearsal; drinks and appetizers.
- 7:00 Welcome from the hosts, then sit down for dinner.
- 7:45 Between the main course and dessert: one game, 10 to 15 minutes.
- 8:00 Dessert, then toasts from the parents and the wedding party.
- 8:45 The couple thanks everyone and hands out wedding party gifts.
- 9:00 Everyone home early. Tomorrow is the big day.
Which game to play
Rehearsal dinner trivia about the couple lets each family show what they know. He said, she said gets laughs from both sides. For a crowd that doesn't know the couple well, try wedding traditions around the world, especially when two cultures are joining.
How well do you know them
Rehearsal dinner trivia
Trivia about the couple and the wedding for the rehearsal dinner, when the families are meeting and everyone is seated.
8 questions · Rehearsal dinner
How well do you know them
He said, she said: who's more likely to say it
Twenty he said, she said lines for a bridal shower or reception. Guests guess which partner says it, then the couple reveals. Print free or play live.
20 questions · Bridal shower, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner
Ladder climb
Wedding traditions around the world trivia
Ten questions on wedding traditions from around the world, from jumping the broom to the Scottish quaich. Easiest first; miss one and you're out.
10 questions · Wedding reception, Bridal shower, Rehearsal dinner
Keep it short
One game is enough. The toasts are the main event, and the wedding party has an early start. See rehearsal dinner games for more ideas.
Questions people ask
- How long does a rehearsal dinner last?
- Two to three hours, usually starting right after the rehearsal and finishing by about 9pm.
- Should you play games at a rehearsal dinner?
- One short game works well, especially when the two families are meeting. Keep it to 15 minutes and play it before the toasts.
Play it on the big screen
Questions on the TV, answers on guests’ phones, scores kept for you. Free for up to 15 guests.
Plan a live game