Dinner Themes for a Wedding Rehearsal

eHow
June 26, 2011

The rehearsal dinner is the calm before the storm, a chance for the bride and groom to mingle with their families and wedding party before the wedding day frenzy begins. Treat your friends and family to an enjoyable rehearsal dinner to thank them for their support throughout your wedding planning process. A theme is a great way to distinguish the rehearsal from the reception and encourage your guests to relax in a less formal atmosphere.

Barbecue Bash
Throw a homey barbecue to counterbalance a super formal wedding. Grill out with burgers, hot dogs and the traditional fixins': baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad. Decorate picnic tables with checkered tablecloths and flowers in canning jars or large tin cans. Go chic by coordinating the décor with your wedding colors, making monogrammed sleeves for the flower jars and offering personalized jars of barbecue sauces as favors.

Asian Fusion
Asian-inspired décor is so romantic and whimsical — paper lanterns, orchids and jewel tones — it begs to have a rehearsal dinner planned around it. Have a Chinese restaurant cater all sorts of dim sum, like dumplings, steamed buns and soups in festive shot glasses. Have a sushi station with exotic and familiar rolls. For a large crowd, arrange for a hibachi station where guests can assemble their own stir-fry.

Classic Clambake
The New England tradition of a wedding clambake is a low-key event, but the grand show is a special treat for your guests. The clambake is an all-day affair, but the reveal of the pit can be timed perfectly with the guests' arrivals. The meal of corn, potatoes and clams is comforting, the perfect kickoff for a beach wedding. There is no need for decoration on a scenic beach, so to set the mood, have tiki torches or a bonfire in the sand and blankets with pillows weighed down with stones for seating.

Memory Lane
Take your guests back to where it all began. Host the rehearsal dinner at the place where you had your first date, whether it's a fine bistro or your favorite pizza joint. Everyone will appreciate the sentiment. Holding a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant has the added benefit of convenience. Make reservations well in advance, and the waitstaff and bar can easily accommodate your party. To make it even easier, arrange with the restaurant to have a limited menu for guests to choose from.

References
The Knot: Wedding Rehearsals: 10 Fun Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Ideas
Food Network: Clambake Recipes and Tips
“Brides”; How to Plan a Rehearsal Dinner

Resources
“Brides”; Ideas for Hosting a Budget Rehearsal Dinner; Laura MacNeil