7 Casual Rehearsal Dinner Ideas That Wow
Your rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones and introduce family members and friends who haven’t met before your wedding. While your ceremony and reception may be formal events, many couples choose a more laid-back atmosphere at their rehearsal dinner. These seven wedding rehearsal dinner catering ideas can help you plan a casual get-together that still feels special and memorable without breaking your budget.
1. Taco Bar
Taco bars are the easiest way to please your guests and ensure everyone has something to eat. Guests are welcome to completely customize their meal — adding the ingredients they love and leaving out those they don’t. This customization also makes taco bars perfect for catering to those who don’t eat meat, are avoiding dairy, or want to take a healthier approach to their meal. Taco bars are even perfect for wedding receptions for these same reasons.
Restaurants like Burrachos offer affordable taco catering packages, and with different tiers to choose from, you can find the right fit for your guests and budget.
2. Build-Your-Own Burritos
On a similar note, a BYO burrito bar gives you and your guests the ability to create your own perfect entrees. You can stuff your burrito with delicious carnitas, smother it in the world’s best queso, or even skip the tortilla to build a tasty burrito bowl.
3. Pasta Buffet
Pasta is another rehearsal dinner idea guests — and your wallet — will love. You can offer a variety of noodle types (angel hair, bow tie, penne), different sauces (alfredo, marinara, pesto), and toppings (parmesan, broccoli, meatballs) so guests can mix and match their ideal bowls. You can get as fancy or as simple as you want and even save extra money by buying ingredients in bulk and prepping them yourself ahead of time.
4. Backyard Cookout
Depending on where you host your rehearsal dinner, a good ol’ fashioned barbecue could be the perfect meal. Serve hamburgers (and veggie burgers!), hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, corn on the cob, chips, fresh-cut fruit, and other barbecue favorites. A cookout is an especially great idea if you’re already hosting a backyard wedding and reception.
5. Pizza Party
From flower girls to grandparents, everybody loves pizza. For a stress-free, easy-as-”pie” rehearsal dinner, order a bunch of pizzas from your favorite spot, grab a couple of beverages, and kick back with your loved ones. Be sure to offer a variety like pepperoni, cheese, meat lovers, and vegetarian — and don’t forget gluten-free crust if needed. You can also add some side salads so everyone gets their veggies in.
6. Local Food Truck
Food trucks are a unique option for a rehearsal dinner. Renting one may cost more than other ideas on this list, but a food truck is still usually less expensive than traditional catering with service. Look for local vendors you enjoy, whether that’s hamburgers, pizza, or even ice cream for dessert.
7. Sandwich Buffet
Sandwiches are another delicious option that can accommodate dietary restrictions. You can place a catering order with your favorite local sub shop, or head to your nearest big-box store, like Costco or Walmart, to purchase a pre-made platter. Offer traditional turkey, ham, and vegetarian sandwiches (with and without cheese) on different types of bread. Guests can customize with condiments and other toppings like pickles, olives, and lettuce. Serve chips and fruit on the side to round things out.
Tips for Planning Your Rehearsal Dinner
Choosing what to serve may be the most important part of planning your rehearsal dinner, but you don’t want to forget about the other details. These tips will set you up for success, so celebrating can be your only concern night of.
Plan to Host Your Rehearsal Dinner the Day Before Your Wedding
Rehearsal dinners are typically held the afternoon or night before your actual wedding. They follow the wedding rehearsal, which you want to have as close to your wedding as possible. Plus, if you have anyone traveling from out of town, you don’t want to add unnecessary days to their itinerary. Keeping the dinner to the eve of your wedding is easiest for everyone.
Keep Your Invite List to the Wedding Party and Immediate Family
A rehearsal dinner isn’t meant to be your wedding reception 2.0. It’s time to spend with your closest loved ones and to let relatives from both sides meet each other before your actual wedding. You typically want to invite the wedding party (who will be at the rehearsal anyway), parents, grandparents, siblings, and any other close family members.
Send Invitations with Plenty of Time
The rehearsal dinner is usually a more casual event, so you don’t need to send out fancy invitations on stationery like you do for your ceremony and reception. However, you still want the invitation to feel personal and ensure everyone knows when and where to be. You can send a quick e-vite or buy blank cards at the store and handwrite invitations for your group.
Take Note of Dietary Restrictions
Like your reception meal, you want to ensure all your guests have something they can eat. When inviting guests to your rehearsal dinner, double-check their dietary restrictions, even if they were noted in the wedding RSVPs.
Limit Your Celebration Time
Yes, you want to spend quality time celebrating with your guests — but you still have the main event coming the next day! Bridesmaids likely have early mornings for hair and makeup, and other guests will want time to recover before the rest of your wedding festivities. Don’t keep them too late and give everyone plenty of time to get their beauty sleep
Make Your Rehearsal Dinner Casual and Delicious with Burrachos Catering
Planning a laid‑back rehearsal dinner? Let Burrachos handle the food while you focus on the celebration. Our customizable taco bars and burrito stations suit every taste and budget, and our team handles delivery and setup. Explore our catering options and request a quote today.
Nail Down Your Location Early
Since you’ll be rehearsing at your wedding venue, choose a location nearby or the venue itself. It’s important to book your reservation as early as possible to ensure you have a spot. You can have your dinner at your venue, a nearby brewery, a local park, or a hotel banquet room, depending on how many guests you have.
If you’re planning your celebration in western Wisconsin or the La Crosse area, Burrachos catering can bring fresh Mexican flavors right to your event space.