How To Make Your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Different From Your Wedding
By Amanda Zack, Lantern Room Creative
Break out the glasses and pop the bubbly because it's time to celebrate! With wedding and wedding rehearsal dinner plans in full swing, this is an excellent chance to showcase your personality and relationship. However, as the planning process continues, it is natural to lean into wedding norms for the big day, like traditional attire, venue, and cuisine.
Fortunately, you can remain true to your personality and embrace ideas that don't fit into your wedding day vision. That's where your rehearsal dinner comes in! The rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity to explore quirky themes, feature your favorite foods, and celebrate in a casual setting.
If you want your rehearsal dinner to stand out from your wedding, here are four ideas to add a personal and memorable touch to the traditional event.
Photo credit: Love Life Images from Casual Pizza Party Rehearsal Dinner in Washington, D.C.
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!
Consider your rehearsal dinner style
Before organizing your rehearsal dinner, think about your special day and how it will feel. Most weddings embrace traditional elements, from floral arrangements to wedding party attire. Will it be a luxurious black-tie affair with lavish bouquets and gilded décor? If so, consider hosting a laid-back rehearsal dinner to counter the formal aesthetic, like a backyard BBQ or dinner at a comedy show.
Keep in mind that your chosen venue determines the vibe of the rehearsal dinner, including the attire. For instance, a backyard party calls for T-shirts and jeans, whereas a five-star restaurant may require dresses or slacks.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more on dress codes, check out these ideas for guest dress codes at your wedding rehearsal dinner.)
If you’re leaning towards a casual atmosphere, a local brewery or favorite restaurant are both excellent contenders. However, you may also enjoy an evening at the park or in someone’s backyard for a cozy ambiance if the weather permits. Discuss styles and themes with your partner to gain clarity as you plan for the evening.
Switch up the menu
The cuisine is one of the best ways to elevate the experience and offer a tasty menu for guests with discerning palates. With your wedding menu in mind, try to set your rehearsal dinner apart from the main event by selecting a different cuisine. Are you a fan of sushi and potstickers or tandoori chicken and naan bread? Take time to explore your favorite flavors with your partner. (Call it an excuse for a few special dinner dates!)
In addition, you may gain inspiration from your local restaurants, like a tiki bar with authentic Hawaiian food, a Korean BBQ with plenty of soju, or your go-to brunch spot with eggs and pastries.
Remember, though: Your rehearsal dinner is the day before your wedding, so you'll want to steer clear of heavier options and opt for lighter entrées or appetizers.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more on unique dinner alternatives, check out ‘How To Host A Perfect Wedding Rehearsal Brunch’ and ‘Before They Say I Do, Let’s Have A BBQ Themed Rehearsal Dinner.’)
Photo credit: Love Life Images from Casual Pizza Party Rehearsal Dinner in Washington, D.C.
Cut down the guest list
The rehearsal dinner is typically an intimate gathering with your inner circle, which means a smaller guest list. Not sure who to invite? Traditionally, the guest list includes the couple, immediate family, wedding party, and officiant. Those who don't make the cut can enjoy the rest of the weekend’s festivities, so don't worry about leaving anyone out.
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more on guest lists, check out our article breaking down the wedding rehearsal dinner guest list!)
By inviting only your VIPs, you'll enjoy a tight-knit celebration with loved ones — the perfect way to kick off the wedding experience! A smaller crowd also provides a warm and relaxing atmosphere, allowing you to socialize and celebrate with all your guests. Allow yourself to unwind with your closest friends and family while expressing your authentic self before the wedding day arrives.
Decide on a theme (and run with it!)
Choosing a theme is a fun and easy way to differentiate your rehearsal dinner from your wedding. A central theme will guide your decisions as you and your partner review venues, décor, cuisine, and attire.
For instance, you can lean into a retro 50s theme with poodle skirts, diner food, and skating at the local roller rink. Or travel further back in time to the Roaring 20s with glamorous flapper dresses, speakeasies, and jazzy vibes. Cocktails and light appetizers like deviled eggs perfectly complement the Roaring 20s style!
Whether you revel in French romance, Mexican fiestas, or globetrotting wanderlust, the options for rehearsal dinner themes are endless. This is your chance to showcase your relationship, so consider your favorite foods, destinations, and hobbies to plan accordingly.
It may help to organize your ideas on Pinterest or with a vision board, as visuals allow you to determine your ideal aesthetic, color scheme, and overall theme. From there, roll up your sleeves and be ready to bring your rehearsal dinner vision to life!
(Let’s Get Rehearsed editor’s note: For more fun theme ideas, check out our article on how to create a locally inspired wedding rehearsal dinner and this couple’s baseball themed wedding rehearsal dinner.)
Photo credit: Love Life Images from Casual Pizza Party Rehearsal Dinner in Washington, D.C.
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!
A rehearsal dinner unlike any other
Your rehearsal dinner is an exciting introduction to the upcoming festivities, but it's also an intimate gathering meant for loved ones. So rather than going the formal route, consider paying homage to the things that make you and your partner one-of-a-kind. You can get as creative as possible because your rehearsal dinner doesn't need to feel like a replica of your wedding!
Think of this occasion as an opportunity to diverge from the main event. For example, if you can't decide between Japanese and Italian food, book Italian cuisine for the wedding and host the rehearsal dinner at a sushi bar (or vice versa!).
Rather than dwell on what could have been, you can achieve the best of both worlds by adding your personal spin to your celebrations. So go to the drawing board, brainstorm with your other half, and enjoy each magical moment leading up to your big day!
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About Let’s Get Rehearsed!
Welcome to stress-free and easy wedding rehearsal dinner planning and ideas! Let’s Get Rehearsed is the best, most helpful planning and inspiration resource for all things wedding rehearsal dinners, wedding welcome parties, and the night before the wedding celebrations. If you’re in rehearsal dinner planning mode or looking for unique ideas, check out our real rehearsal dinner and welcome party photos, rehearsal dinner ideas and inspiration, advice for planning a wedding rehearsal dinner, and a rehearsal dinner printable and download shop.
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Let’s Get Rehearsed is all about getting you rehearsed before the wedding, so you can get to the celebration!
Amanda Zack is the owner of Lantern Room Creative, a boutique copywriting agency that specializes in brand messaging and digital marketing solutions for creatives and wedding professionals.