Rehearsal dinners are pretty much a necessity when it comes to planning a wedding. It’s a chance for the wedding party and important guests to gather for one last meal before the big day, and do a quick run through of the ceremony. The thing is, rehearsal dinners can seem like tired affairs and just an excuse to run through the motions. Additionally, brides spend an average of $1,184 on their rehearsal dinners. Here are a few lower cost alternatives to the traditional dinner.
1. A Wine Tasting
For the wine aficionado couples, a wine tasting (or a beer tasting) can serve as an excellent stand in for a rehearsal dinner. Wine tastings are a group affair, and each person can choose what he or she tastes for an individualized but cohesive experience. Find the right place to do it and the right food pairings, and you have the perfect event to celebrate the end of the stressful planning stage and to thank your wedding party.
2. A Wedding Brunch
Wedding brunches are also becoming popular alternatives to having a traditional rehearsal dinner. Brunch dishes are a crowd pleaser and even brunch buffets are a pretty cost effective way to feed a large group of people. Since brunches take place earlier in the day than a dinner would, you, your spouse-to-be, and your wedding party will be free for a night of relaxation. Besides, Sunday brunch is practically as compulsory as church these days, it’s that popular.
3. An Ice Cream Party
If you’re not a fan of wine and you’d rather do something even more unique than a brunch, you might opt to have an ice cream party instead. This you can do pretty much anywhere, as long as you have to space to lay out a good spread of different toppings. Again, this is a less expensive option than paying for an entire dinner and can be done virtually any time of day.
Are you considering having an alternative and unique rehearsal dinner? Feel free to share your ideas with us in the comments section below! More like this blog.