The rehearsal dinner is the evening before the wedding, when the wedding party and close family gather after the ceremony run-through. It is smaller and more relaxed than the reception, often hosted at a restaurant, and full of toasts. This place card is made for that night: a flat card in deep wine red with a gold frame, a pair of gold champagne flutes clinking in a round medallion, and the guest’s name in flowing cream script above the date and restaurant.
What the Card Looks Like
This is a flat card, not a folded tent, measuring 3.5 x 2 inches in landscape. The background is a deep wine red. A thin gold line frames the card just inside its edge. On the right, a slightly lighter wine circle holds a pair of gold champagne flutes tilted toward each other in a toast. On the left, Rehearsal Dinner sits in small, spaced gold capitals with a short gold rule beneath. The name Benjamin Clarke is set in Great Vibes in warm cream, and a line in italic below gives the date and venue: Friday, June 13 · Bella Vita Trattoria. A small gold logo sits in the lower left.
Why a Flat Card for the Rehearsal Dinner
Restaurants often have smaller tables than wedding venues, with less room around each plate. A flat card lies on the napkin or the plate and takes almost no space. It can also be tucked into a napkin fold, slipped under the stem of a wine glass, or placed in a small card holder. Because it is the size of a business card, it is quick to print and trim and easy to slip into a pocket as a keepsake.
Names, Nicknames and the Venue Line
Rehearsal dinners are personal, so first names or nicknames often suit them better than formal titles. The venue line is useful because rehearsal dinners are frequently hosted somewhere different from the wedding, and guests appreciate a reminder of where they are. You can replace it with a short note: Thank you for standing with us, To the best wedding party, or Let the toasts begin.
Personalising Each Card
- Click the cream name and type the guest’s name.
- Edit the date and venue line once; it stays the same for every card.
- Download the card.
- Then replace the name with the next guest’s and save another copy.
Because the venue line repeats, finalise its wording before personalising, so you do not have to correct it later on every card.
Roles to Seat Carefully
| Guest | Seating tip |
|---|---|
| The couple | Centre of the main table, facing the room |
| Parents and hosts | Near the couple, so toasts can be heard |
| Wedding party | Mixed with their partners, close to the couple |
| Officiant | Near the hosts, as a guest of honour |
| Out-of-town relatives | Beside people they know, to help them settle in |
The Champagne Medallion
The flutes are an editable vector, tinted gold to match the frame. Select them to change the colour, for example to silver for a cooler palette or rose gold for blush. The circle behind them is a simple shape; change it to black or navy if you change the background. You could also replace the flutes with a different icon from the editor’s library, such as wine glasses for a winery dinner or a pizza slice for a casual pizzeria rehearsal dinner.
Swapping Wine Red for Your Wedding Colours
Wine red is warm and celebratory, perfect for Italian restaurants and autumn weddings. For a spring wedding, try a sage background with gold; for a black-tie weekend, black with gold; for a beach wedding, navy with silver. The frame, rule, small capitals, and flutes should share one metallic colour, and the name should be a light cream or white for contrast.
Printing Small Flat Cards
Print on business-card stock or any heavy cardstock of 110 to 130 lb cover, so the card feels substantial in the hand. Pre-perforated business-card sheets save trimming time, but check that the card’s frame lines up with the perforations by printing a test sheet. Use a matte cardstock setting so the wine red prints evenly.
Displaying the Cards
Lay each card on top of a folded napkin, centred on the plate. For a classic restaurant look, use small silver or gold card holders. For a relaxed look, tuck each card into the napkin fold so only the top half shows the name and flutes.
Toast-Ready Extras
Rehearsal dinners are famous for toasts. Some hosts print a short list of speakers on the back of the couple’s card or the host’s card as a running order. Others place a small card beside each plate inviting guests to write a wish for the couple, collected at the end of the night.
Other Uses
This flat card suits welcome dinners for destination weddings, post-wedding brunches, anniversary dinners, retirement dinners at restaurants, and business dinners where space is limited. Change the top label to the event name.
Who Is Invited to the Rehearsal Dinner
The guest list usually includes everyone who took part in the rehearsal: the couple, the wedding party and their partners, parents, grandparents, the officiant, readers and any children in the ceremony, plus the people hosting the dinner. Many couples also invite out-of-town guests who have travelled a long way. Knowing your list early lets you choose a restaurant room of the right size and print exactly the number of cards you need, with a few spares for last-minute partners.
Rehearsal Dinner Card Questions
Is this card folded?
No, it is a flat 3.5 x 2 inch card.
Can I add a table number?
Yes, add it to the venue line or replace the venue with Table 2.
Can I make it a tent card?
For a tent card, try one of the folding designs in this collection, such as the classic gold script card.
Will gold print as metallic?
On a home printer, it prints as a warm yellow-gold tone. For a true metallic shine, ask a print shop about gold foil or metallic toner.
