Rehearsal Dinner Ideas

Knot Your Average Events... Rehearsal Dinner Options

Besides the all-important wedding day, there are a few other pre-wedding activities surrounding your wedding that will need planning. One such event, the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner is usually held the night before the wedding. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner was only for immediate family, the wedding party, and their dates. Also, rehearsal dinners can include everyone traveling from out of town. You have full control of how big or small you would like to make your dinner. Remember, the rehearsal dinner is an opportunity for both the couples' sides of the families to get to know each other, if they don’t already, as on the wedding day the focus will only surround the couple. This special dinner will allow the couple to spend quality time with their wedding party and close family members where they otherwise may not have to socialize on the big wedding day.

The night before the wedding has become just as important and memorable as the big day itself. I have a few planning tips and ideas to get you started on planning your special intimate dinner before joining as one. As creating a unique wedding is special, creating a rehearsal dinner reflecting the personalities of the couple can also become unique and creative. 

• Back Yard BBQ

Photo Cred: Google

A backyard BBQ is perfect for the relaxed, laid-back couple who would prefer to celebrate their joining of families at home. Offer everybody’s favorite cookout foods, or simply have a potluck. You also could put out lawn games to stir up some friendly competition between the wedding party and other guests.

• Cocktail Hour rehearsal Dinner

Photo Cred: Google

This works great as an arrival style party. You pick a location near your wedding venue and hotels and a set time frame to reserve and your guests can come and go as they check in and arrive. This could be at a fun bar with pool and darts, or tell everyone to dress up for a fancy fun cocktail hour at a lounge.

• Restaurant Rehearsal Dinner

Photo Cred: Google

Having a Restaurant Rehearsal Dinner is pretty traditional. Most restaurants will help you do a partial or full buyout so that you and your whole crew of guest will be well taken care of. You could go with somewhere fancy, somewhere laid back. Go with something you and your partner both love so you can share it with your family and friends.

• Afternoon picnic

Photo Cred: Google

The rehearsal dinner doesn't have to be dinner. Host an afternoon picnic the day before the wedding to give family and friends more time to meet and get to know each other.

Try not to let the rehearsal dinner plans be the thing that stresses you out. Ask for help and have fun, remember it’s just another opportunity to spend time with your family and friends while they’re all in the same place at the same time celebrating the couple and their forever happiness.

~Riddim Hackett (KYAE Spring Intern)