Fun and Affordable Rehearsal Dinner Ideas
The rehearsal dinner which follows the wedding rehearsal is an important part of wedding tradition, but that does not mean that it must be a traditional formal party. In fact, the rehearsal dinner can be as laid back as you like, which also means that you can throw a great party without a huge budget. These are some fun and affordable rehearsal dinner ideas.
Cookout on the beach. A top pick for summer rehearsal dinners, find a beach that allows you to grill, and host a relaxed cookout. Beach food is at its best when it is simple, so think hot dogs and hamburgers, that sort of thing. Best of all, if your party runs into the evening hours, you can have a bonfire and make s'mores. Way more fun than doing your rehearsal dinner in a stuffy hotel and really affordable. Just be sure to check about any permits needed for the bonfire. Wear a sundress and maybe one piece of your wedding jewelry, such as a classic tin cup necklace. A cardigan or wrap for the late night hours would also be a good idea.
Bowling. Yes, bowling. This is one of those ideas that is so out there it is almost trendy. A bowling alley rehearsal dinner is great for families who know how to relax and have a good time together. Bowling a few frames will also help to relieve the last minute wedding stress. To make it even more fun, get vintage bowling shirts for the wedding party or make up mock bowling league shirts that say "bride" and "groom". Memorable and fun!
Backyard bash. If you or your parents have a spacious backyard, why not have your rehearsal dinner there? Keep the menu easy, and serve the same types of things that you would for any summer barbeque: grilled chicken and burgers, macaroni and potato salad, fresh fruit, and a sweet treat like cupcakes. This can be one of the easiest rehearsal dinners of all to coordinate, as long as the host is not the type to go crazy about remaking the garden to get it "perfect" before the party.
Family style Italian restaurant. Everyone loves Italian food, and it is great for feeding a crowd. An Italian restaurant is a terrific rehearsal dinner idea when you want to have a more traditional type of rehearsal dinner, but still want one that is going to be relaxed and inexpensive. Many restaurants have private rooms which are perfect for hosting parties. The most affordable option is to order large platters of food to pass or to have a buffet style dinner.
If your local Italian restaurant only offers the regular type of service where guests order off a menu, ask if you can create a limited menu of starters and entrees especially for your rehearsal dinner. This will allow you to keep costs under control by selecting entrees within your price range, and it should make it easier for the restaurant to get the dinner out more quickly and efficiently. Order bottles of white and red wine for the table, rather than having guests order wine by the glass as another cost cutting measure. For an indoor rehearsal dinner, you can feel free to dress up a little more. A pretty dress worn with a great pair of shoes and jewelry like your wedding earrings will be just right.
When it comes to planning an affordable and enjoyable rehearsal dinner, let your creativity be your guide. The party can be as offbeat as you like. The point of a rehearsal dinner is to bring the bride and groom's families and attendants together before the wedding, not to have a fancy or upscale evening. As long as the conversation is flowing, spirits will be high and everyone will have a great time!
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stressed out says:
when you host a bridal shower at a restaurant, who pays for the food?
I am hosting a Bridal Shower for my Sister, at a restaurant. I am providing dessert and party favors etc. but I am not sure about how the bill for the main course should go. Am i expected to pay for everyone elses food. Is it tacky to ask or even expect the guests to pay for their own meals.
catherine02116 says:
As hostess, it is your responsibility to provide all the refreshments for your guests. So yes, the bill at the restaurant is yours to pay—in full.
You may wish to consider not having the shower at a restaurant, but at your home, instead. That way you can make the lunch for everyone—chicken Caesar salad, for instance—or quiche comes to mind too. A few side dishes, some nice dinner rolls, a champagne punch, coffee, tea, and a special bakery cake should make the shower much more affordable for you.
Katie G says:
Hosting Bridal Shower in Dallas, TX?
I’m my best friend’s MOH this coming September, and i’m trying to work out the planning of her bridal shower. She is having one big shower thrown by her mom and aunt this easter in South Texas because that’s where all of her HUGE family is. I’m not attending that one. I am hosting a smaller one for her friends and the 1 family member that lives in-town (Dallas). The invite list has 15, but she doesn’t think they’ll all be able to attend. Perhaps 10 or so, but i’ll budget 15 just to be safe.
I’m planning on having it at a restaurant for lunch on a Saturday, and i’ve looked online for cool restaurants in Dallas with nice atmosphere. She lives there, and I live in Houston, so i’m not that familiar with Dallas. She is on-board with the restaurant thing, but I really want it to be a surprise where I have it. This leads me to question #1: If you’re familiar with the Dallas area, do you know of any cool, unique restaurants (with normal food, she doesn’t like indian or anything very different) that might be appropriate for a group of 15 girls to have lunch and mimosas?
Question #2: How would you go about decorating? I know i’ll just be reserving a large table, but i’d still like to inform the restaurant that i’ll be arriving early to set things up. I was planning on getting a small cake and I know i want to decorate in her wedding colors (David’s Bridal Canary Yellow and Wine). I know i’ll do some handmade favor boxes, name tags for seating, any more ideas? I’m also not sure where I can get the stuff to make the favor boxes in her wedding colors. I’ve seen other people do it, is there a good website to go to? Does Michael’s or Hobby Lobby have a big selection of stuff like that?
I’m not interested in a chain restaraunt, but i’ll check out Eddie Dean’s, i’ve never heard of that. Thanks!
Darn, Eddie Dean’s is WAY too big. I only have max 15 people, that’s a private catering place for hundreds of people.
Jammy says:
–I don’t know about a non chain restaurant in that area. Maybe you could post this question in the travel section of yahoo answers (but title it: Non chain restaurants in Dallas, TX so you get more responses).
–I wish I could be more of a help to you. Good luck!
Jellybean says:
What’s a good restaurant to hold a bridal shower at?
I need to host a bridal shower for my friend and I’m looking for a restaurant in the LB surrounding area. I want something to fit 30 people and my budget is around $400. Can i get some suggestions as to where it should be?
PugMom says:
Any good restaurants to host a shower in Chicago South Suburbs?
We, the bridal party, are looking to host a bridal shower at a restaurant for about 30 guests. Does anyone know of any good restaurants that have facilities and menus for a shower luncheon in the Orland Park area? I’m not looking for a church or hall. We are looking for a restaurant that serves good food, where they take care of everything and all we need to do is provide the guests, some decorations and pay for it. Thanks!!
I know there are tons of restaurants, I’m looking for suggestions from people who have actually been to one for a shower.
jezerboo says:
I threw a shower at the Flossmoor Train Station and it was beautiful. Great food too.
Galaxie Girl says:
Do people often hold a bridal shower at a place like a restaurant, as opposed to someone’s home?
I just got an invite to my husband’s sister’s shower, and it’s being hosted by their same relatives who hosted my shower earlier this year (my shower was at the home of one of the relatives, and they made lunch for everyone who came). I thought showers were normally at someone’s house – is it common to have it at a restaurant? Seems awkward to me, since we’d be doing shower games and all that in a restaurant, not to mention quite snobby (someone has to pay for all that food, which will be a lot more than if they made something at home themselves).
Curious how often this is done.
Don’t know how much this varies by region – we’re in SoCal.
Kristy says:
I’ve been to both. At the restaruant parties we had our own private room and there was nothing awkward about it, it was nice. I think alot of it has to do with the size of the party and the size of the host’s home as well as distance. Restaraunt parties are pretty common where I am from (NJ) but both are done. At one shower the hostess had us all to her father’s estate, they had 120 people and it wouldn’t have fit into a restaruant without renting a reception facility lol…
As for the cost, the lower cost of having a nice party at home can be ofset by all the preparation time and clean up. The restaraunt option is a lot more streamlined and you don’t have to do any cleanup or serving! Nothing snobby about that lol…
Either way, showers are nice!!!