Have a barbecue
If the weather around the rehearsal dinner is generally nice, a barbecue can be a fun theme. You can have it in your backyard, at a local restaurant, or in the park.
Good luck decorating. Add a classic, such as a chessboard. Use something outdoors as decoration, such as wildflowers.
If you go this route, have a backup plan if you plan to dine outdoors. It could always rain.
Rent a bowling alley
Bowling is a fun activity that guests can play between meals and drinks. If you or your spouse enjoy bowling, try renting a bowling alley for the night. You’ll have to rent several lanes to accommodate everyone, and may have to talk to the manager about your plans.
A bowling competition with prizes at the end of the night might be nice entertainment.
Go to the beach
If you live near the beach, consider having a rehearsal dinner there. This can be a great choice if you are having a tropical style wedding. You can let your guests enjoy the waves while you have a picnic for everyone.
Familiarize yourself with local beach restrictions regarding food and drinks.
Be sure to have a backup plan in case it rains.
Serve fondue
Instead of traditional dishes, fondue will make your wedding even more fun. You can provide cheese fondue for dinner and chocolate for dessert, giving guests a variety of sauces to try with meat, bread and fruit.
If you have a fondue dinner at home, you may have to hire a cleaning crew, as the fondue is messy.
Make sure you have enough napkins.
Pick a night at the casino
Include classic casino games such as roulette and blackjack in your rehearsal dinner. Invitations can be sent out on individual playing cards. You can also draw prizes or play bingo. You can deal the cards yourself or hire a professional dealer for the night.
Guests will be moving around a lot, so the event may seem less intimate. Consider grabbing a snack between games.
Plan activities around the venue
When deciding on an event, think about the venue. Choose events appropriate to the location you choose that will fit in with the overall theme.
For example, invite guests to play golf before the rehearsal dinner at the golf course.
If you’re doing something outdoors, such as having a picnic or dinner at the beach, play some outdoor friendly games. You can play something like beach ball or cornhole at an outdoor rehearsal dinner.
If you have a rehearsal dinner at a local entertainment center, consider having guests compete with things like arcade games.
Try to think of ways to keep your guests entertained
Event and wedding planner Karen Brown says, “If you have an outdoor rehearsal dinner, try playing lawn games such as cornhole, bocce ball and horseshoes. This will give your guests a chance to socialize and get to know each other. can also provide entertainment, such as hiring a mentalist or magician to walk around and interact with guests. They will think he or she is another guest and then be in awe of their tricks! “
Conduct a wine or beer tasting
A wine or beer tasting can be a fun event for a rehearsal dinner. You can help your guests understand how to pick the perfect wine or beer for different dishes. Contact local distilleries or restaurants that can do tastings.
Be sure to provide enough food for such an event. You don’t want anyone making too much noise before your big day.
Show a movie
If you and your partner love movies, this can work especially well. You can rent a projector and show one of your favorite romantic movies during dinner. Provide snacks such as classic movie candy and popcorn.
Consider renting a popcorn machine for the day to get real popcorn from the movies.
Play games
Games can be a great way to entertain any event. Think about board games, especially group games like Jenga. You can also play charades or Pictionary.
Try a trivia contest. You can host a quiz night or even go to a bar that offers quizzes.
Try sports games. Bring baseballs and gloves to the wedding and play baseball.
Provide a dessert buffet
A dessert buffet is a fun option for wedding desserts. Put lots of tasty treats on the buffet table in the back. If you’re having a formal dinner where guests are served one dish at a time, a dessert buffet can be a fun treat.
You can make your own desserts or hire catering.
Invite the right guests
The rehearsal dinner requires less stringent invitation requirements. You don’t need to invite the entire wedding party. It’s usually an intimate gathering of your closest friends and family members, so invite the people who make you and your partner happy. A small group of very close friends and family members would make a fun rehearsal dinner.
However, be careful not to neglect anyone. If there is a friend or family member waiting to be invited, always include them.
Choose fun people to give the toasts
Traditionally, the toasts are made by the host of the party, the father of the bride, and then the best man.
However, there is no reason to strictly follow this rule. In addition to what traditional people can toast, let someone fun and funny make a toast to your big day. For example, if you have a bridesmaid who does comedy, ask her to make a toast.
Loosen up on formal restrictions
There are many formal rules and regulations during wedding rehearsals, but they don’t have to be strictly enforced. To have fun, allow your guests to relax a little. Emphasize that your dinner is more about enjoying each other’s company than following formal rules.
Don’t enforce a strict dress code. Allow guests to dress as they feel comfortable.
Don’t make a seating chart. Allow guests to sit wherever they want.
Avoid too strict a schedule. Introduce toasts infrequently while people are eating, instead of setting aside time for toasts separate from the meal.