How to Choose a Menu for Your Rehearsal Dinner

Choosing the menu for the rehearsal dinner is very important, especially if those hosting the rehearsal dinner are not the ones hosting the wedding reception. It is very important to remember that the rehearsal dinner cannot upstage the reception. Follow these steps to planning a menu for a rehearsal dinner.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine the menu being served for the wedding reception before selecting anything for the rehearsal dinner.
   

2. Do not choose anything that is considered more of a delicacy that what is being offered at the reception. If the reception will include baked chicken, do not serve lobster at the rehearsal dinner.

3. Almost always, rehearsal dinners are sit-down rather than buffet. Having a buffet will not breach etiquette, but it is worth noting tradition.

4. Plan items that traditionally go together. In other words, you may not want to have spaghetti with green beans on the side.

5. Stick to the same type of food. If you are going with Italian food, be sure that all of the courses are Italian.

6. Ask the people at the location of the rehearsal dinner their favorite menu combinations. You may find that they have very helpful insight into which dishes are compatible with one another.

7. Remember that drinks are part of the menu as well. Be sure they coordinate with the food you serve.