What kind of food do you serve at a rehearsal dinner?
Here are some great and easy ideas for your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner:Burrito Bar. Prepare meats and rice ahead of time and rewarm them in crock pots before serving. ... Lasagna. This meal is always a hit with most people. ... Sub Sandwich Bar. ... Simple Grilled Chicken. ... Easy Enchiladas. ... Grilled Burgers and Brats.
What activities do you do at a rehearsal dinner?
Here are 16 ways to make your rehearsal dinner epic.01 of 16. Hire a Local Band. ... 02 of 16. Have a Picnic-Style Setup. ... 03 of 16. Serve Drink-Friendly Escort Cards. ... 04 of 16. Embrace a Cool Bar. ... 05 of 16. Set Up a Fire Pit. ... 06 of 16. Make a Photo Montage. ... 07 of 16. Incorporate a Grazing Table. ... 08 of 16. Create an Experience.More items...•
Do you serve dessert at rehearsal dinner?
Dessert. At a traditional rehearsal dinner, the groom's cake normally concludes the dinner. Of course, not every rehearsal dinner has to have a groom's cake. Other treats can be served, but every good dinner should end with a yummy dessert.
Who speaks at rehearsal dinner?
Who Gives a Rehearsal Dinner Toast? The host of the rehearsal dinner (traditionally the father of the groom in a heterosexual couple) gives the first speech. This person is followed by members of the wedding party that won't be speaking at the reception (typically anyone other than the maid of honor and the best man).
Do people play games at rehearsal dinner?
After choosing the location and deciding whether your event will be formal or informal, you might want to consider including appropriate games and activities to keep your guests entertained. Plan, shop, and prepare the games, activities, prizes, and supplies in advance.
How long do rehearsal dinners last?
Two to three hoursTwo to three hours is a typical length for a rehearsal dinner. You can budget about 30 minutes for people to arrive and get settled, 60 to 90 minutes to eat, and another 30 minutes for speeches, gift-giving, or anything else on your agenda.
Do you decorate for rehearsal dinner?
When it comes to rehearsal dinner decorations at a restaurant, try to keep it to a minimum unless your budget is a little more generous than the average American. This event doesn't last nearly as long and very few people will see them. There's not much sense in spending money you don't really have to.
Who pays for the rehearsal dinner?
the groom's familyTradition dictates that the groom's family pays for the full cost of the rehearsal dinner, even though the bride's family and friends attend the event as well. That includes food, drink, venue fees, entertainment, and transportation. Often the groom's family cherishes this responsibility.
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Taste of Tuscany
Italian flavors are a classic and popular option, that also offers a ton of variety. Give guests a few different options and serve it family style, or on individual plates, depending on the size of your rehearsal dinner group. Choose from:
Small Plates & Tapas
Want your guests to experience loads of different foods at your rehearsal dinner? Make your evening a small plate tasting where everyone gets to try lots of gourmet dishes, and some surprising items they may never have had before. Think small plates of lobster, oysters, duck, lamb, and creative veggie dishes.
Crawfish Boil
This is a super fun Southern idea for your rehearsal dinner, whether you’re celebrating down South or not. Give your guests a unique rehearsal dinner experience with a crawfish boil!
Tacos & Tex Mex
You can’t go wrong with Tacos and Tex Mex cuisine! These are favorites for a reason – they’re delicious, easy to personalize with toppings, and there are usually a lot of caterers or restaurants that you can order big portions from.
Backyard Barbecue
If you’re planning a backyard soiree before your wedding, a barbecue is so tasty and a definite crowd pleaser. This is an easy style of meal that you and your family can cook yourself in large portions, or many catering companies will come and barbecue or smoke meats right at your party.
Buffet
Everyone loves a good buffet! Wow guests with a killer spread of snacks, appetizers, dinner entrees, sides, and of course, dessert options. We love these ideas below!
Serve Your Guests
Hire serving staff to make your rehearsal dinner guests feel extra special and catered to on the eve before your wedding. This also takes a lot of stress off of you! If you aren’t dining in a restaurant or ballroom that already has serving staff, this is definitely a great idea to make your evening feel formal, special and super stress-free.
Who takes care of the rehearsal dinner?
Traditionally, the bride’s parents foot the bill for the wedding and the groom’s parents take care of the rehearsal dinner. Even if you’re a non-traditional couple, this is still the recommended format. When you’re getting married both sets of parents will be hassling you for some involvement and responsibility.
Who should be invited to a rehearsal dinner?
Anyone involved in the wedding ceremony must be invited to the rehearsal dinner. It should also include any family members considered to be very close, and you should also consider inviting guests from out of town since they went through the trouble of traveling all that way.
What to serve at a family get together?
Oh, and don’t forget the great food! Serve corn, kebabs, salads, and a variety of chicken, pork (if religion permits), beef, and lamb to make sure that everyone has more than enough options.
Can rain ruin rehearsal dinner?
Wind can easily make any rehearsal dinner speech difficult to hear and rain can ruin the food. Make sure that there is a mic and speaker so that everyone can hear the beautiful speeches, and make sure that there are rented tents set up overactivity and eating areas. Everyone will love the appearance of a food truck.
Can you dish out thousands of dollars for a wedding rehearsal dinner?
If you’re not into dishing out hundreds (or even thousands) of extra dollars on a full-blown wedding rehearsal dinner, you may want to do the exact opposite. The ceremony and reception will be sewn with tons of nerves. There are speeches, routines, and responsibilities for many people involved.
Can you use your best ideas for rehearsal dinner?
You can’t use your best ideas for the rehearsal dinner, those games are best reserved for the reception. But, you do have to provide some sort of entertainment. Since this is a smaller group comprised of people that you know very well you have the luxury of being a little more intimate.
Is there a time limit for rehearsal dinner?
Space is free, there’s no time limit, there’s plenty of room for decor and games, and you decide what you’re willing to pay. There is only one potential downside. You can’t predict or control the weather. Wind can easily make any rehearsal dinner speech difficult to hear and rain can ruin the food.
Some General Rehearsal Dinner Ideas
Naturally when you’re planning your wedding, most of the energy & attention is focused on the wedding day itself.
SIMPLE WEDDING REHEARSAL DINNER IDEAS
If you’re in the thick of planning, I can totally appreciate how even thinking about your rehearsal dinner may feel overwhelming. You’re swamped, frantically adding things up, having nightmares about dollar signs, and on top of it all, you have to plan and host, and pay for a separate party on top of everything else. #nothanks!
WEDDING REHEARSAL DINNER IDEAS ON A BUDGET
Essentially, as with most things in wedding planning, you can spend as little, or as MUCH as you’d like on the rehearsal dinner. There are a million ways to go in either direction. I’m guessing you’re not here trying to make things as expensive as possible, so let’s turn the other way shall we? 😀
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What is rehearsal dinner?
"When we're planning rehearsal dinner menus, we always try to differentiate from the wedding menu and bring in a sort of 'theme' that relates to the couple."
What is formality in rehearsal dinner?
A venue's formality level will often dictate the format of a rehearsal dinner, including the menu. For example, if the rehearsal dinner is taking place outdoors, you'll have fewer restrictions around needing it to feel formal.
What is the purpose of rehearsal dinner?
Rehearsal dinner planning is often the largest responsibility for the groom and his family in the wedding process. This event, which immediately follows the wedding rehearsal, is an opportunity to honor the bride and groom one final time before they take their vows. It also gives the couple a chance to thank their families and the wedding party for their support and for being a part of the wedding. While the reception will be the biggest party of the weekend, there’s no reason the rehearsal dinner can’t hold its own.
Why do we have rehearsal dinners?
Rehearsal dinners provide a casual, less stressful environment for the wedding party to get excited for the big day. The rehearsal dinner is a time to celebrate a marriage with more immediate friends and family. This also gives the party a chance to get to know each other better and relieve pre-wedding nervousness.
How to determine who pays for rehearsal dinner?
Another good way to determine who should pay for the rehearsal dinner is by breaking down how much everybody has spent. Along with this, asking the person/group who has spent the least on the whole wedding can be a good way to approach who pays for the rehearsal dinner.
What to remember when choosing a wedding venue?
When choosing a venue, the most important thing to remember is head count. You’ll need to know if you have enough room for everyone. It’s a safe bet that most, if not all, of your wedding party will be attending the rehearsal. Therefore, it should be easy to get a solid idea of the rehearsal dinner size.
What to consider when planning a rehearsal dinner?
Something to consider is the size of your guest list and the different types of guests you’ll be hosting. You’ll want to make sure you have something for everyone without blowing your budget.
Why do we have dinner the night before a wedding?
Just because it’s practice doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun. This is a chance for your wedding party to party before the party. Traditionally held the night before the wedding, the dinner is a way to kick off your wedding weekend with the people who mean the most to you.
Does a rehearsal dinner have a groom's cake?
At a traditional rehearsal dinner, the groom’s cake normally concludes the dinner. Of course, not every rehearsal dinner has to have a groom’s cake. Other treats can be served, but every good dinner should end with a yummy dessert.
Serve a Delicious Showstopper
"I love to kick off a weekend wedding with a dinner made to impress. Our 'Golden Egg' amuse bouche is the perfect start to a fun and impressive dinner. Our version includes smoked custard, a vichyssoise sphere, truffle, and whipped crème fraiche." —Carla Ruben, Owner and Creative Director, Creative Edge Parties
Focus on Fresh Ingredients
Should You Ask Your Wedding Venue's Chef to Create a Custom Dinner Menu?
Be Strategic with Your Starters
"Combine fresh melon and prosciutto to make a flavorful and refreshing hors d'oeuvres. Cantaloupes have high water content and tons of vitamin C, which is essential for getting the party started. Plus, it serves as a perfect addition to a whole variety of hors d'oeuvres." —Claudia Hoste, Owner, Hoste Events
Embellish Favored Cocktails
"Whether your rehearsal dinner is outdoors, on a beach, in an event venue, or your home, having a seasonal cocktail awaiting your guests is always a good idea.
Utilize Seasonal Produce
"With the long, heavy winter behind us, it's time to take advantage of the bright and vibrant seasonal vegetables! What better way to welcome the season than letting the ingredients shine on their own? Asparagus, english peas, and artichokes are all wonderful vegetables that bring the perfect pop of color to any dish.
Highlight Regional Staples
"We suggest having a bit of fun with the rehearsal dinner menu. We love to feature Northwest-inspired dishes (our homebase), whether it's a wild salmon or a bite that represents some of Seattle's most iconic ingredients. For nibbles, some of our favorites are oysters, salmon, clams, mussels, pears, and rhubarb.
Source Local Ingredients
"Create and display charcuterie boards with items such as local cheeses, meats, and nuts for your guests to enjoy." —Miki & Sonja, Owners and Photographers, Miki & Sonja Photography
When is rehearsal dinner?
The rehearsal dinner schedule is traditionally held the night before the wedding, most often on a Friday. Usually, the ceremony rehearsal begins around 5:30 p.m. and typically lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. The dinner takes place immediately after the rehearsal, usually around 7 p.m.
How long does it take to have a rehearsal dinner?
For many couples, rehearsal dinners have evolved into full-blown events, but there's no need to stress out about planning your own. With less than 24 hours until you and your partner tie the knot and the arrival of your friends and family, it really is the perfect time to throw a celebratory bash. But there are a few things to consider as you're ...
What is the traditional time to present gifts to members of the wedding party?
The rehearsal dinner is the traditional time to present gifts to members of the wedding party (especially if the gifts are items you'd like them to wear during the wedding). Feel free to also take a moment to thank your parents for their love, guidance, and support—any gifts you have for them can also be handed out at this time.
How to plan a rehearsal dinner for a wedding?
1. Decide who will host. Traditionally, the groom's parents take care of the rehearsal dinner, but these days, anything goes. If both sets of parents are splitting the cost of the wedding, then perhaps you and your partner may want to pay for the rehearsal dinner.
What to do before dinner?
Before the dinner comes to an end, take a moment to slip in any announcements about the wedding day. Double-check that everyone in the wedding party knows what items they're supposed to bring and when and where they're expected to arrive to get ready. If you have a larger audience, remind guests about any activities for them the next day as well as any pick-up times and locations for transportation you've arranged to get them to and from the ceremony.
What is the general rule for a rehearsal dinner?
For all couples, a general rule is to have an open and honest discussion, similar to that of who's footing the wedding bill, about your plans, budget, and hopes with both families to ensure a drama- and stress-free rehearsal dinner.
Can you invite someone to a rehearsal dinner?
For a rehearsal dinner, an online invitation or phone call is perfectly acceptable. Typically, more formal affairs come along with a formal invitation via post, and more casual, laid-back gatherings come with a phone call or e-vite.
