By the time the rehearsal dinner rolls around, after months and months (and sometimes years!) of planning, the countdown is on. Out of town guest have arrived and settled in, friends and family wait with baited breath to officially begin the celebration of your tying the knot. While rehearsal dinners have traditionally been pretty predictable–a more formal affair the night before, regardless of the style or feel of your actual wedding day–they can occasionally, dare we say, give the party at the reception a run for its money. With more and more couples infusing every single element of their nuptials with their personality, we’ve rounded up some fresh, inventive ways to kick off the weekend festivities with the ultimate rehearsal dinner.
Photography by This Modern Romance | Florals by Wild Club Design
1. Serve feel-good food
If you’re a foodie, opt for a killer menu featuring all your faves. Have your favorite restaurant be the star of the show for dinner or dessert (or both), and make a presentation out of each and every dish. Pay homage to a dish you and your future spouse shared on a first date for the ultimate sentimental move, introduce rehearsal dinner guests to dishes you can’t live without, or let the entire menu consist of bite-sized morsels for dinner with an epic dessert to end the night with. Bite into the groom’s cake early to guarantee everyone gets a little slice of heaven before the next day’s reception festivities!
Photography by Koman Photography
2. Host a rehearsal brunch
Kick off the wedding festivities with a rehearsal brunch! Even if your rehearsal won’t take place until later in the day, breaking bread with your nearest and dearest over a breakfast or brunch spread might give you a little extra cushion time the night before the big day, guaranteeing you’ll at least have the opportunity to call it a night early and catch some extra zzz’s.
Photography by Erich McVey | Linens by La Tavola Fine Linen Rental | Design by French Kiss Events | Stationery by La Happy
3. Entertain yourselves
Save the band and the DJ for the big day, and let your friends and family hear your vocal chops–and show off their own. Load the karaoke playlist with all the hits, and be sure to add a tune or two that’s perfect for a duet or trio, something that’s sure to emerge once the music’s started and your bridal party gets in on the action!
Photography by This Modern Romance | Rentals by Elan Event Rentals
4. Pick a location with a story
We love when things get personal: why not give guests a unique perspective of your love story with a rehearsal dinner ripe with meaning? Maybe the site of your proposal or the restaurant you hit on your second date are the perfect spots to welcome guests to.
Photography by Oliver Fly Photography
5. Go with a theme
Go all out with everything from decor to the menu; make it a fiesta, or a seaside clambake, or a country-themed hoedown that calls for cowboy hats and spurs. It might be night and day different from the design of your wedding the next day, but take the theme and run with it!
Photography by Rebecca Yale Photography
6. Make it a costume party
Everyone loves a chance to dress in costume, and that’s a fact! Give your guests a chance to spend the rehearsal dinner in character for a few hours; choose a theme that’s easy for everyone–like your favorite decade–or assign your guest (and their plus one) a character that might perfect for them. Make sure you hire a photographer willing to capture the night before…chances are you’ll want to remember everyone’s creativity in years to come!
Photography by Greg Finck Photography | Dress by Gössl | Headpiece by Miss Lillys Hats
7. Give guests a taste of the town
Have a large percentage of your guest list traveling near and far to make it to your celebration? Show off the city of your nuptials the best way you can, by selecting a rehearsal dinner venue that’s either a key to the city, talk of the town, or showcases all the best things about where you’ve gathered. Consider the hidden gems that only locals know about, and treat your guests to what feels like a best kept secret.
Photography by Lacie Hansen | Venue: San Francisco Ferry Building
8. Head to a unique location
Turn tradition on its head and host a rehearsal dinner somewhere completely unconventional: maybe at a bowling alley to keep things light-hearted and fun or even host a ‘field day’ for friends and family at the park with a casual barbeque dinner. Rent out one theater at the movies and treat everyone to all the movie snacks their hearts can stand–and see if management will let you stay a little longer after flick is over to so you can turn the lights up and make time for speeches. Guests will love the idea of getting to do something out of the ordinary as part of your weekend celebration.
Photography by Jose Villa Photography
9. Pick a place with a killer view
On the beach, at the dock, or tucked away in a mountainside hideaway, a stunning location can serve as the perfect backdrop. With an unbeatable view, the rest of the details, from tablescapes to food to music, will lend themselves to an unforgettable experience that you’ve offered guests, and perhaps even hint at what’s the come the next day as you say “I do.”
Photography by Katie Grant Photography
10. Hold an official game night
If you’ve got a competitive streak, or perhaps want to provide a more relaxed, casual environment, providing games are the perfect way for guests to have fun, but also get to know each other, as members of both sides of the family might want the opportunity to not only catch up, but embrace new members too. You are, afterall, joining two families together, and they’re there to celebrate it! Lawn games are always a hit, as croquet or lawn chess or even jenga are universal games that pass time for young and old alike. But step it up a notch by perhaps dividing into teams for a classic round of charades or the like, and offering a great first place prize–like being served dessert first!
Photography by O’Malley Photographers
Francesca Barger is a wedding enthusiast and the founder and CEO of First Vangarde, the first management group facilitating the representation and management of talent within the bridal industry. Based in the Midwest, she’s worked with companies coast to coast, elevating the careers of a robust portfolio of artists through a commitment to the championing and celebration of their creative talent.
