The rehearsal dinner is a unique and very important aspect of the wedding festivities. It’s usually the first opportunity for the entire wedding party – including friends, family, and out-of-town guests – to come together. While the wedding ceremony may be more formal, your pre-wedding soiree can be casual and relaxed. It’s also the perfect venue to incorporate special touches that represent you and your significant other.
Pick a Theme
What do you and your future spouse enjoy doing as a couple? Camping? Trips to the beach? Sports? The rehearsal dinner is the perfect place to showcase your common interests. Once you’ve settled on a theme, brainstorm different ways to incorporate this into the dinner throughout the dinner.
Above: Ernest Hemingway themed rehearsal dinner. (Source: Theo Milo Photography for MyDomaine)
Below: Wedding Rehearsal Fiesta (Source: Victor Sizemore Photography for Style Me Pretty)
Special Cocktail
As guests arrive, present them with a special cocktail for the evening. This signature drink can also tie into the theme. Have the recipe printed on custom note cards for each guest to take home. Craft cocktails in the piano bar at Table 100 in Flowood can be customized or created to suit your theme.
(Source: Table 100)
Serve your Favorite Foods
If you and your future spouse a love of a certain regional food or want to honor their ethnic heritage, choose menu items that are special and represent your taste or background. Discuss your preferences and expectations with the chef, caterer and venue coordinator. Table 100 enjoys working with guests to create a dinner that showcases a couple’s personality. Our event planner and chef will take your ideas and find creative ways to incorporate them into the evening, adding little touches will go a long way towards creating a rehearsal dinner that your guests will enjoy. Lauren Vicknair, the banquet coordinator at Table 100, regularly discusses special requests with Chef Mike.
(Source: Table 100)
Incorporate Pictures or Family Heirlooms
Rather than putting together a slide show of the couple, strategically place a few favorite photos around the room. Take it a step further and include snapshots of the bridal party as well. Each person in your wedding party was chosen for a special reason. What better way to honor them than by displaying some of your favorite memories together?
Family heirlooms are another great way to feature loved ones who are near and dear to the couple. Consider using special serving pieces, linens, or a collection of items as decoration.
This Retro Bowling Club theme incorporated old family photographs, vintage LPs and an antique phonograph.
(Source: Lara Hotz Photography for Rock n Roll Bride)
Party Favors
During the rehearsal dinner, the bride and groom often present the wedding party with a gift to show their appreciation. Food-related favors tied to your theme are a fun way to thank your guests. Think of a local or regional novelty your guests might enjoy, such as a region-specific food item, locally distilled spirit, or a small handcrafted item made from materials unique to that area. Guests will appreciate the novelty and the thoughtfulness.
Clockwise: hot sauce (Jenna Marie Photography for The Knot), potted herbs (Kate Preftakes Photography for Bridal Guide), personalized honey (beau-coup) and DIY infused whiskey (Wedding Paper Divas) are just a few ideas.
Follow our Rehearsal Dinner Ideas board on Pinterest for more inspiration.
This is the second post in a three-part series with Table 100. Read the first post in this series, Kickoff to the Wedding: What to Consider When Planning a Rehearsal Dinner. Table 100 is a casual restaurant featuring a piano bar with craft cocktails and euro-american bistro fare in a turn-of-the-century New Orleans atmosphere. The Flowood, MS restaurant’s chefs and staff enjoy working with guests to create a dinner that showcases a couple’s personalities. Their event planner and chef will take your ideas and find creative ways to incorporate them into the evening, adding little touches that go a long way towards creating a rehearsal dinner that your guests will enjoy.