The rehearsal dinner menu isn’t always at the forefront of your mind when planning your wedding, but it isn’t a detail to let slip through the cracks! The rehearsal dinner can set the tone for the wedding day and/or wedding weekend.

These rehearsal dinner menu ideas are perfect for any type of rehearsal dinner, and are sure to impress your dinner guests! Whether you’re planning a restaurant rehearsal dinner or a backyard rehearsal dinner, there are tons of great menu ideas and add-ons to make your evening unique and reflect your personal bridal style!

Rehearsal Dinner Menu Ideas

Taste of Tuscany

Italian flavors are a classic and popular option, that also offers a ton of variety. Give guests a few different options and serve it family style, or on individual plates, depending on the size of your rehearsal dinner group. Choose from:

• Lasagna
• Eggplant Parmesan
• Chicken Marsala
• Shrimp Scampi
• Chicken Carbonara
• Fettuccine Alfredo

And top off the evening with one of Italy’s most delicious desserts: Tiramisu, panna cotta, or cannolis!

Small Plates & Tapas

Want your guests to experience loads of different foods at your rehearsal dinner? Make your evening a small plate tasting where everyone gets to try lots of gourmet dishes, and some surprising items they may never have had before. Think small plates of lobster, oysters, duck, lamb, and creative veggie dishes.

Crawfish Boil

This is a super fun Southern idea for your rehearsal dinner, whether you’re celebrating down South or not. Give your guests a unique rehearsal dinner experience with a crawfish boil!

If you’ve never hosted a crawfish boil before, read this Thrillist article on how to do it properly. However, it tends to be a dirty job and you may be better off hiring a catering company to take care of the details for you!

Tacos & Tex Mex

You can’t go wrong with Tacos and Tex Mex cuisine! These are favorites for a reason – they’re delicious, easy to personalize with toppings, and there are usually a lot of caterers or restaurants that you can order big portions from.

Whip up a bunch of taco meat and fixings ahead of time and serve it buffet style, or elevate the evening with catered dishes that offer a fancier take on it. Think gourmet grilled shrimp tacos, steak fajitas, and of course, spicy margaritas!

Backyard Barbecue

If you’re planning a backyard soiree before your wedding, a barbecue is so tasty and a definite crowd pleaser. This is an easy style of meal that you and your family can cook yourself in large portions, or many catering companies will come and barbecue or smoke meats right at your party. It’ll smell delicious and create a cool atmosphere for your guests!

Rehearsal Dinner Tips

Buffet

Everyone loves a good buffet! Wow guests with a killer spread of snacks, appetizers, dinner entrees, sides, and of course, dessert options. We love these ideas below!

Serve Your Guests

Hire serving staff to make your rehearsal dinner guests feel extra special and catered to on the eve before your wedding. This also takes a lot of stress off of you! If you aren’t dining in a restaurant or ballroom that already has serving staff, this is definitely a great idea to make your evening feel formal, special and super stress-free.

Set Up a Bar

Hiring a bartender can make the process much smoother and give guests a chance to order what they’re craving that evening. However, if a full bar and bartender set up isn’t in the budget or something you want to do, have a bar cart or table where guests can mix their own drinks or choose from a selection of beers, wines or pre-mixed drinks.

Champagne Wall

Add champagne or Prosecco to a wall for easy toasts at dinner, and celebrating with bubbly all night long! It’s super trendy and cute, but also an easy way to keep guests drink glasses full.

Old Fashioned & Whiskey Sour Station

Do you have some whiskey lovers in your life? A whiskey sour and/or Old Fashioned station gives guests a chance to sample different whiskeys and the ingredients to make these two iconic drinks.

You can have the ingredients pre-portioned or have a cute sign with the drink recipes instructing guests how to make the drinks. This works best with small groups.

Beer Bucket or Trough

Fill up a bucket, trough, or cooler with a selection or beers, sodas and seltzers so your guests can easily grab a drink during your dinner and the rest of the evening.

Wine Bar

Set up a table with a selection of vinos that guests can pour at their discretion. Make sure to have a few different kinds and keep an ice bucket nearby to chill the white and sparkling wines!

Make Your Own Margarita

This fun idea is perfect for a rehearsal dinner with tacos and Tex Mex! But really, you can add it to any evening, we doubt your guests will complain about delicious make-your-own margaritas! Set up a table with a couple different types of tequila (silver and gold), as well as various mixers and add-ons so guests can make their custom creation. Some great mixers and add-ons are:

• Margarita mix (obviously!)
• Lemon slices
• Lime wedges
• Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and/or raspberries
• Lemonade
• Sparkling water
• Jalapeño slices
• Blood orange slices
• Rock salt for the rim

Dessert Bar

Don’t forget dessert! Your guests deserve a little sweet treat (or a lot!) after dinner – or before, we don’t make the rules. Here are a few of our favorite ideas so you can choose what works best for your and your rehearsal dinner vibe.

Cupcake Towers

Not only do they look impressive, cupcake towers are so cute and so delicious! Show off a bunch of different cake flavors and frostings, and don’t forget the sprinkles!

Ice Cream Sundae Station

Make your own sundaes with all the toppings you love! Give guests options like chocolate chips, syrup, sprinkles, nuts, fruit, and more. This is especially fun if there are kids at your rehearsal dinner, but adults will love it too!

Donut Wall

Trendy and tasty, a donut wall is perfect for a rehearsal dinner or wedding! Order a bunch of different types of donuts with colorful frostings and sprinkles, and display them on a donut wall for guests to enjoy.

Candy Table

Sweetness galore! Deck your candy table out with everyone’s favorites, nostalgic candies, and all the colorful sugary sweets you can think of! We love the idea of getting candy dishes that spell out “Love” or “Mr & Mrs” for a unique touch, and pretty jars for gummy worms, skittles, and chocolates.

The Whole Spread

Give your guests a taste of a wide variety of desserts with a complete dessert bar! This spread includes everything a dessert lover needs:

• A variety of freshly-baked cookies
• Pudding cups
• Cheesecake cups or bites
• Cupcakes
• Cake
• Macaroons
• Chocolate dipped pretzels
• Cream puffs
• Brownies
• Blondies