Coming up with rehearsal dinner ideas for your wedding celebration can feel like a tricky feat. You will need to find a venue conveniently near your ceremony that can fit your curated guest list of your family and friends, decide on the perfect menu, and curate an atmosphere that fits within your wedding aesthetic. But don’t worry—planning a rehearsal dinner isn’t impossible. In fact, this intimate night can easily become one of the best moments of your wedding weekend.
To give you some inspiration, we chatted with wedding planner Dani Blasena of Hautefêtes to provide some of her favorite ideas for this pre-wedding feast. Ahead, find 15 rehearsal dinner ideas to help kickstart your wedding planning.
1. Traditional Restaurant Rehearsal Dinner
A restaurant rehearsal dinner is a favorite for a reason. Not only do you already have catering in place, but you can also rely on the established décor of an eatery you love to liven up your party. Based on your guest count, consider doing a buyout of a restaurant or look for options with a spacious, well-designed private dining room. You can always add additional florals, custom menus, or linens to make it your own.
2. At-Home Dinner Party
If you’re planning a local wedding, consider hosting your rehearsal dinner at home. Bring in an excellent catering team to fill your table with delicious food, and rent décor and furniture to transform your home into the dinner party setting that you have always dreamed of. If you have a large backyard and the weather is temperate, this can also be an amazing spot to host your soirée. Just be sure to have a backup plan in case there is a chance of rain.
3. Tuscan-Inspired Rehearsal Dinner
A couple who loves both Italian cuisine and la dolce vita might appreciate a rehearsal dinner that takes inspiration from the Tuscan countryside. “A Tuscan-inspired rehearsal dinner channels the warmth and romance of the Italian countryside, blending rustic charm with effortless elegance,” says Blasena. “Details include long communal tables, olive branches, citrus accents, hand-painted ceramics, and family-style Italian fare. Think pizza, fresh pasta, antipasti, and flowing wine under a canopy of string market lights.” While Blasena advises this is best hosted outdoors from spring to early fall, you can adapt the theme for indoors, in spaces like a wine cellar or barn filled with candlelight and rich textures.
4. Open-Air Barbecue Dinner
There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about attending an outdoor barbecue full of family and friends. So, why not bring that homey feeling to your wedding weekend? There’s no need to have your dad handle the grill at this big wedding event. Instead, bring in a catering team that has open-air flames and a farm-to-table curation of grilled meats and veggies for a delightful BBQ with your closest wedding guests. As for décor, you can curate the design however you wish, but you might not want to make this too much of a formal affair with a black-tie dress code.
5. Tacos and Tequila Fiesta
Hosting a destination wedding in Mexico, or simply want to celebrate your culture during your nuptials? Consider hosting a tacos and tequila rehearsal dinner. Blasena describes this party as “a lively, color-forward celebration inspired by Mexican hospitality, featuring taco stations, tequila or mezcal tastings, mariachi or acoustic guitar, and vibrant tablescapes layered with Mexican pattern and texture.” She adds, “It immediately sets a festive tone and encourages mingling. Interactive food and drink experiences keep the evening lively and memorable without feeling overly structured.” Décor like fringed napkins, colorful votives, and terracotta pottery can help tie the look together.
6. A Dinner in Wine Country
A couple that loves sharing a bottle or two may wish to take inspiration from a visit to wine country for their rehearsal dinner aesthetic. “A wine country rehearsal dinner feels refined yet relaxed, drawing inspiration from Napa, Sonoma, and classic American luxury,” shares Blasena. “Unlike the more rustic Tuscan approach, this style leans polished—tailored tablescapes, layered textures, and thoughtful details.” Consider serving a multi-course dinner with pairings that emphasize the dishes on the menu. For décor, consider tactile details like embossed place cards, leather menus, and organic florals. Bonus points if the event is actually hosted at a vineyard or wine cellar.
7. Candlelit Soirée
This style of rehearsal dinner is all about the glow. Set the mood for an intimate celebration at a table filled with candlelight. “This style has an inherently Old World European look and feel and works best with minimal florals and hundreds of flickering flames illuminating stone walls, vaulted cellars, or outdoor terraces beneath the stars,” says Blasena. “Stick to a neutral, restrained palette for the tablescape and let the candlelight do the work. If using florals, keep them low and minimal so candlelight remains the star and you avoid blocking sight lines.”
8. Western Welcome
If you’re hosting a barn wedding or just want to introduce a little outdoorsy flair, have your rehearsal dinner lean into a Western aesthetic. “This theme works just as beautifully in an adobe courtyard in New Mexico or Santa Barbara as it does in a field in Idaho or traditional Midwestern barn,” shares Blasena. “Décor-wise, incorporate plaid through blankets, napkins, or runners, as well as leather accents and raw wood through furnishings and paper goods. Add a round wooden bar serving cowboy-inspired cocktails, with custom napkins printed in Western motifs. Single product florals in pops of cobalt blue, plaid linens, and wood and leather chairs add Western details that avoid kitsch.”
9. Picnic Party
If you want your rehearsal dinner to have a charming, laid-back feel, consider hosting a picnic outdoors. Long wooden tables adorned with florals and linens, along with breakout lounge areas and blankets on the ground, will create a fun high-low moment for this kind of fête. “It lowers the pressure and encourages guests to relax, mingle, and enjoy the surroundings—perfect for daytime or early evening events in the summer, where evenings are long and warm,” describes Blasena. Consider light palettes in tones of sage, soft blue, or butter yellow, and placing out chic umbrellas to create shade for your guests. “Wildflowers in casual arrangements and collected vases add a gathered feel, while gingham, stripes, and scalloped china create a casual but pretty look for place settings,” notes Blasena. “Add wicker baskets, picnic hampers, and galvanized metal accents like tin frames for bar signage.”
10. Tropical Retreat
Need a festive kickoff to your destination wedding in a fun tropical locale? Lean into your environment with a tropical-inspired rehearsal dinner with bold colors, plenty of greenery, and playful energy. Blasena advises layering greens with pops of coral, fuchsia, and gold, along with woven textures, bamboo, and patterned linens. Another tip if hosting an outdoor affair? “Offer chic bug spray at the bar or in baskets so guests stay comfortable,” suggests Blasena.
11. Dinner on the Beach
Hosting a seaside celebration? Then bring your guests for a kickoff rehearsal dinner at the beach. “Beach dinners feel effortlessly celebratory and immediately put guests into vacation mode, especially if guests are traveling into town for the wedding,” says Blasena. “Set [this event] either directly on the sand or just alongside the water, complete with seafood-forward menus, breezy linens, and sunset views.” Consider giving the décor a slight nautical touch, and define the dining area with charming string lights to give your evening a perfect glow as the sun sets.
12. Family-Style Feast
While a buffet or multi-course meal are classics at weddings, consider serving up your rehearsal dinner family style. Since this meal often is one of the first get-togethers of your wedding weekend, the family-style service can be conducive to a more communal experience and help guests who aren’t as familiar with each other get acquainted. Choose a few of your favorite dishes that everyone will be excited to pass around.
13. Garden Soirée
Gardens are one of the trendiest wedding venues right now—and for good reason. Already filled with flowers, this scenic oasis can cut down on your floral budget and create a romantic atmosphere for your celebration. There’s no need to wait until the wedding to host in this pretty spot—lean into the preexisting setting and host a garden party rehearsal dinner. “An elegant summer fête evokes English garden parties and timeless outdoor entertaining—think strawberries and cream, Pimm’s cups, lawn games, seasonal florals, and afternoon light,” says Blasena. “Layer tables with silver place card holders, gold-rimmed china, and abundant florals, and embrace all the Bridgerton-inspired elegance you can muster.”
14. Fall Fête
“More seasonal than themed, a fall-inspired rehearsal dinner celebrates texture, warmth, and color—perfect for cozy lakeside settings, cabins, or New England estates,” suggests Blasena. “Enjoy warm seasonal comfort food and Bourbon-spiked cocktails.” An autumnal celebration can also infuse natural foliage and embrace the cozy tones of the season, like deep purples, forest green, burnt umber, and gold.
15. Chalet Celebration
Weddings in December or during the cold winter months can take inspiration from their favorite snowy destinations for the rehearsal dinner. Embrace the feeling of a ski chalet in a space with warm wood, cozy blankets, and a menu filled with favorites like fondue and mulled wine. Plenty of lights and other holiday décor can also set the tone for this celebration.
