Learn how to Plan the Good Rehearsal Dinner Menu

Your rehearsal dinner menu is an opportunity to truly have some pleasurable, notably in case your marriage ceremony ceremony reception leans additional formal with a seated, multi-course dinner and standard entree decisions. Most {{couples}} want their rehearsal dinner to essentially really feel totally fully completely different and additional casual than their exact marriage ceremony ceremony day. Use yours to inject your persona and preferences as a pair with a meal that will set the tone for the rest of your marriage ceremony ceremony weekend.

We consulted trip spot event producer Stefanie Cove of Stefanie Cove and Agency (the mastermind behind quite a few beautiful celebrity weddings, along with these of Karlie Kloss and Molly Sims) for her expert tips to plan the final phrase rehearsal dinner menu.

Rehearsal Dinner Menu Planning Concepts

Referring to planning a rehearsal dinner menu, there are lots of points to ponder. All of the issues from the state of affairs of the get collectively to the number of people invited to the time of yr can problem into what’s being served.

Assume About Timing

“Keep in mind what your mates will take pleasure in, nevertheless in the end, serve what you want to eat. It is your marriage ceremony ceremony weekend,” says Cove. With that in ideas, there are lots of parts to think about whereas executing your imaginative and prescient. For example, think about logistics and timing. You don’t want to eat dinner too late. “Guests are touring from completely different time zones earlier that day, and likewise you don’t want to go to mattress late, each,” she notes.

Select Meals That’s Simple to Eat

When you’re keen about your rehearsal dinner menu devices, ensure that the meals is simple to eat. “Maybe mates are meeting each other for the first time at their desk that night. They don’t want to be embarrassed attempting to eat a complicated or messy menu merchandise,” warns Cove. She suggests choosing additional harmful devices as appetizers or handed hors d’oeuvres and going a little bit bit safer with the entree selection.

Keep in mind the Seen Presentation of the Meal

Moreover, referring to the meals, Cove suggests asking your chef or caterer what they like to organize dinner and what they do best. “Within the occasion that they aren’t a well informed sushi chef, don’t make them do sushi,” she says. In addition to, take into consideration the whole meal from a visual perspective. “Incorporate menu devices that spark dialog on the desk via the usage of pretty presentation and color or distinctive devices,” says Cove.

Forgo Customized

Who says it should be a rehearsal dinner? Flip customized on its head totally and do lunch in its place. “One factor I see trending is ditching the usual rehearsal dinner and doing a daytime event in its place,” says Cove. “Seaside barbecues and margaritas and ceviche come to ideas.”

Give a Nod to Your Roots

“Embody explicit menu devices (or a complete menu theme) to duplicate the groom’s family roots, whether or not or not it’s a beer from his favorite brewery once more dwelling or asking the caterer to utilize his grandma’s well-known apple pie recipe for dessert,” says Cove. “For a Spanish shopper currently, we designed the whole menu based on real Spanish delicacies.”

Go for Regionally Sourced and Seasonal

Let the season and your surroundings encourage the menu. For example, in case you might be getting married within the midst of winter, don’t push for a tomato, basil, and burrata crostini just because that’s your absolute favorite appetizer. “Correctly-sourced and in-season substances are on a regular basis the proper, says Cove. “On a regular basis request that your caterer use meals and produce from native farms.”

It’s OK to Mix and Match

“I often mix up the usual plated dinner with family-style sides or appetizers to make the format somewhat much less predictable,” says Cove. “French fries are on a regular basis a terrific crowd-pleaser for the sides and a bit sudden at a additional formal event.” Serve the french fries with additional distinctive dips, like truffle ketchup or sriracha aioli, alongside along with your standard ketchup.

Don’t Neglect a Sweet Take care of

“A rehearsal dinner is a nice format to stand up and switch spherical for the dessert course,” says Cove. “Whether or not or not you do an-old school ice cream bar (my favorite) or dessert stations full of assorted pies or truffles—it is good to eat this at your private tempo whereas mingling.”

Rehearsal Dinner Menu Themes

Whether or not or not it’s a yard barbecue, a seafood feast near the seashore, or old-school Italian served family-style, themes are a pleasurable strategy to tie a rehearsal dinner collectively. Listed under are quite a few strategies to make yours memorable.

Mediterranean Feast

“One different menu I’ve appreciated doing for a rehearsal dinner is a family-style Mediterranean dinner,” says Cove. “It is good, light, and may actually really feel very fully completely different from the elegant marriage ceremony ceremony dinner the following night. I like starting with standard chickpea tahini unfold, tzatziki, warmth pita, grilled octopus… I’d go on and on.”

Mexican Fiesta

“Mexican vibes truly work properly, counting on the state of affairs,” says Cove. “I am a fan of stations (not buffets), which can be separated by merchandise and manned by a chef, the place mates might make their very personal taco plates.” Have a great deal of margaritas and Coronas available, too!

BBQ Night

One different crowd-pleaser selection: barbecue stations with the entire works, along with pulled pork sliders, fried hen, cornbread, mac and cheese, and collard greens. Merely be certain you could have a great deal of moist naps and napkins available for mates to keep up their palms clear.

Catch of the Day

Let the state of affairs encourage your rehearsal dinner menu. “In case your event is by the seashore, I like an informal rehearsal dinner that features oysters, caviar, french fries, and Champagne,” says Cove. What could very properly be additional celebratory (and delicious) than that?

Crab Boil

“Crab boils are one different good strategy to include modern seafood,” says Cove. “Plus, all people likes to eat with their palms. We love a primary Cape Cod-style rehearsal dinner with modern crab and crawfish, mixed with corn and potatoes all poured out inside the center of the desk with cute gingham tablecloths.”

Conventional Italian

“An all-time favorite is on a regular basis an Italian theme,” says Cove. There’s one catch: “It’s essential to have a chef who might make the pasta fully for giant groups—that’s key.” Doing a pizza station could be a moderately protected guess, nevertheless mix points up previous straightforward pizza and add good seasonal greens for a singular twist. For fall, assume sweet potato and kale or, should you occur to’re getting married in spring or early summer season season, do a white cheese and ramp pizza.

Spanish Tapas

“We typically do stations made up of all Spanish tapas,” says Cove. Assume garlic grilled prawns, chorizo, mini paella pans, patatas bravas, and so forth. And although this may sound obvious, merely be certain you could have tons to your mates—it takes a great deal of small plates to fill people up, and likewise you don’t want mates hungover for the large marriage ceremony ceremony day.

Sushi Unfold

In case your go-to date-night meals is sushi, then flip your rehearsal dinner proper right into a sushi extravaganza. Nevertheless, in case your venue or caterer doesn’t concentrate on sushi, Cove suggests closing down the proper sushi restaurant in town for the night as a terrific numerous.