2024 Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Trends
By Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting
Rehearsal dinners have long been a pre-wedding tradition, providing a chance to share a meal and thank wedding party members after the ceremony rehearsal. In the past, this celebration has typically been a casual, scaled-down event, with most of the attention (and budget) dedicated to the wedding day itself.
With 2024 around the corner, though, experts predict that wedding rehearsal dinners will get their turn in the spotlight. More couples are invested in pre-nuptial events, putting more time and money into turning an average dinner party into a memorable, standalone affair.
Most notably, wedding professionals reveal that rehearsal dinners are no longer restricted to only a handful of VIPs. Instead, inclusive guest lists are on the rise as couples look to invite all their wedding guests to celebrate with them before the big day.
“The small bridal party rehearsal dinners will fade away in 2024,” says Nora Sheils of Bridal Bliss and Rock Paper Coin. “Most guests, or at least out-of-towners, are included, so it's less of a rehearsal dinner and more of a welcome party. This allows for more time with guests throughout the weekend and also makes guests feel loved and included!”
SoiréeSmith’s Andrea Smith agrees, adding that “more invites and more cocktail-style experiences are the trend.” She recommends picking a venue that accommodates mingling, encouraging couples to look for “spaces that are more open yet intimate, perhaps on the smaller side and round in shape. Longer tables and spaces limit people from mingling with the entire group.”
In addition to a more inclusive welcome party vibe, here are four more rehearsal dinner trends to watch in the next year.
Photo Credit: Mandee Johnson Photography
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Mindful Menus
Food tells a story, and more couples want input on the dishes served at their rehearsal dinner rather than settling for a pre-set menu. In particular, “global flavors and sustainable menus are among the most significant trends,” according to Mangia and Enjoy!’s Sarah Chianese.
“Couples have strong ethics on where their caterer sources the ingredients and how they serve the meal,” she explains, noting that “farm-to-table dinners, organic produce, and world flavors represented through global spices” are all in high demand.
If you want to curate a unique rehearsal dinner menu, take time to interview restaurants and caterers before making a selection. Ask about collaborative menu creation, sustainable values, food sources, and their chefs’ experience with your preferred cuisine.
Interactive Food Stations
Looking for a fun, casual alternative to a formal plated meal? Jacqueline Vizcaino of Tinted Events Design and Planning reveals that couples increasingly opt to host interactive food stations to promote mingling and enhance the guests’ dining experience.
“The traditional sit-down dinner with plug-in speeches is getting sunsetted by the experience of interaction and laughter,” she confirms. For example, “guests can choose their adventure with DIY sushi rolls, build-your-own taco bars, and custom pasta stations.”
In addition to an engaging experience, food stations also allow guests with dietary restrictions to customize what’s on their plate. Offering choices means everyone gets to enjoy a meal that suits their palate!
Photo Credit: Caroline’s Collective
Bursts of Color
Weddings might call for bridal white and black tie, but rehearsal dinners give couples a chance to play with colors beyond the wedding theme. Chianese suggests bold hues for “themed table settings, napkin choices, floral decor, menus, and dress codes for guests.”
Couples also incorporate color into their own rehearsal dinner outfits, with patterned dresses, colorful jackets, and funky socks making frequent appearances.
“It has been a trend for the bride to wear white not only on the wedding day but for the rehearsal as well,” Kelley Nudo of Momental Designs notes. “However, many brides are choosing colors that coordinate with the wedding color palette for their rehearsal attire.”
Whether you carry over your wedding colors or adopt a whole new palette for your rehearsal dinner, don’t be afraid to infuse your celebration with color!
Elevated Productions
Historically, rehearsal dinners have been low-key gatherings with little fanfare. But couples have begun embracing the event as another opportunity to pull out all the stops. Following the rising trend of multi-day wedding experiences, rehearsal dinners deserve to have their own moment as part of the overall wedding festivities.
“Rehearsal dinners are becoming more elaborate,” Mary Angelini of Key Moment Films affirms. In addition to inclusive guest lists and culinary enhancements, couples are “adding entertainment and additional speeches from extended family members and friends.”
(Be sure to check out more advice on who gives a toast at the rehearsal dinner and tips on how to nail your rehearsal dinner speech.)
Live bands, DJs, luxury decor, and top-notch catering are all becoming common elements of modern rehearsal dinners. As such, Angelini has also observed the “growing importance of having professional photos and videos for the rehearsal dinner.” Capturing special moments beyond phone selfies “reflects the increasing trend for large, memorable rehearsal dinners that set the tone for the entire weekend,” she states.
There will always be room for the laidback, no-frills style of rehearsal dinner (who doesn’t love a good potluck?). However, 2024 is poised to usher in the era of extravagant rehearsal dinners, and it’s safe to say that it’s long overdue!
Photo Credits: Caroline’s Collective
Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!
So what do you think? Will you be on trend with your rehearsal dinner in 2024? If you’re planning a rehearsal dinner, don’t miss some of our must-read resources:
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Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.