Ideas For A Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

Throwing a wedding rehearsal dinner and need some ideas? Here are some possible rehearsal dinner themes you may not have thought of.

The wedding rehearsal dinner usually takes place immediately after the wedding rehearsal the night before the wedding. The entire wedding party is present, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, officiants and the parents of the couple. Some couples often invite out-of-town guests who have traveled far to see the couple get married. First and foremost, the rehearsal dinner should be a relaxing and carefree event where the wedding party can have a few moments of downtime before the big day. Of course, you can make the rehearsal dinner as extravagant or as casual as you would like. Remember, though, this is the night before the big day, so try to avoid a rehearsal dinner that will leave you feeling stressed out. If your wedding day is fast approaching, here are some ideas for themes to help make your rehearsal dinner a fabulous affair.

* Instead of booking a reservation at the five star restaurant downtown, throw some paper tablecloths on the picnic tables and fire up the grill for a barbeque-style dinner. Have the groom and his groomsmen prepare brisket, hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage and barbeque chicken for the family and set up some lawn chairs in the backyard for friends and family members to sit in and mingle. Serve the barbeque on butcher paper and make some homemade lemonade and sweet tea. For decorations, throw out a few hay bales (that will also serve as seating areas) and play some country music. Set up an area of the yard where your wedding party can participate in some country line dancing.

* Live near a beach? Have an old-fashioned clam bake. All you need is some firewood, a big pot for boiling, potatoes, corn and some fresh seafood (lobster and clams) to get your dinner started. Put out some beach blankets (and umbrellas, if it is sunny) for guests to sit on. If the beach permits it, you can have a bonfire later in the evening where guests can roast marshmallows and eat s'mores for dessert.

* Another theme to incorporate the beach would be a luau. Serve banana bread, grilled chicken, fried rice, fresh seafood and grilled pork to your guests and be sure to give them all leis to wear. Have some Hawaiian music playing and be sure to throw a hula dancing contest.

* Throw a dinner based on your heritage. For example, if you or your fiancé is Italian, have an Italian feast for dinner. Set out lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs and other favorite Italian dishes. Put red and white checkered tablecloths on the tables and put candles in wine bottles as the centerpieces. Serve delicious red and white wines and have Italian music playing softly in the background.

* Nobody says the rehearsal dinner has to be a "dinner," per se. Instead, opt to have a rehearsal brunch or breakfast. Meet up at a favorite breakfast spot for some delicious breakfast entrees and mimosas.

* For a nostalgic touch, have the rehearsal dinner at a spot that is special for the couple. Perhaps the dinner can be held at the restaurant that was the site of their first date or the site of the proposal.

© Demand Media 2011