Genius Backyard Rehearsal Dinner Ideas Perfect for Celebrating Love
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This post is about the best backyard rehearsal dinner ideas.
Right in the middle of wedding craziness, rehearsal dinners are a unique opportunity to spend time with the people closest to you before your wedding day.
Across the board, rehearsal dinners vary widely in formality. A backyard rehearsal dinner is the perfect in-between for most couples – it’s casual, yet in terms of a “backyard” party, very elegant.
This post shows you the best backyard rehearsal dinner ideas.
What kind of food do you serve at a rehearsal dinner?
When it comes to a rehearsal dinner, there really are no rules. You’ll find some rehearsal dinners that are nicer than people’s entire weddings and others that are pizza and pop in a church basement. Both of these rehearsal dinners are well-loved and totally appropriate!
Barbecue-type foods are popular for a backyard rehearsal dinner. They effortlessly fit into a backyard theme, whether casual or formal. Cooking the food can become a part of the party, and leftovers can easily be converted into other meals.
While barbecue foods are the most common at backyard rehearsal dinners, any food is acceptable. You might consider getting the event catered, hosting DIY wood-fired pizza, or even making a longtime favorite food of the couple getting married.
As long as your food choice is within budget and can be easily enjoyed outdoors, it will work out!
How do I make my backyard rehearsal dinner special?
It’s common to want your rehearsal dinner to stand out among everyone else’s. Even considering this, it’s important to remember that the people at your rehearsal dinner are your closest friends and family. This alone makes any backyard rehearsal dinner special!
Considering that your guest list for the rehearsal dinner is already tailored to your liking, you need to ensure you can focus on actually enjoying your time with everyone. To allow this, you must plan out the event meticulously.
A poorly planned event leaves everyone scrambling, and if there’s an opposite of a “special” rehearsal dinner, it would be one where everyone is trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
As the last event before the wedding, you cannot procrastinate planning and event tasks. Planning the party well in advance lets you relax and know that every detail of your rehearsal dinner is handled. Then, when it comes time for the rehearsal dinner, you put some final pieces into place and enjoy the rest of the evening with your loved ones.
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Who traditionally pays for the rehearsal dinner?
In traditional heterosexual couples getting married, the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner.
Keep in mind that this is just tradition, which may not reflect your rehearsal dinner. Many couples will pay for their own dinner, or both families will contribute. It’s important to communicate rehearsal dinner responsibility early, so there are no surprises as the wedding date draws closer.
Backyard Rehearsal Dinner Decor Ideas
Along with food selection and planning, you’ll need to complete some amount of decorating for your backyard rehearsal dinner.
The list below highlights some popular decor items that tell your guests this is a thought-out, special party. Along with your choice of decor, you may need to rent some tables, chairs, or even an outdoor tent. Reserve these items as early as possible to guarantee you’ll have them for your dinner.
LED candles are a great alternative that can be reused as home decor. They’re a bit more expensive than regular candles up front, but well worth it for some couples.
String lights are perfect for creating an elegant ambiance in any backyard. These 10ft string light poles are durable and perfect for your event space.
If you live in a climate with mosquitoes, do yourself a favor and order this bulk pack of citronella candles. No one likes a party where they get eaten by mosquitoes!
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As cheesy as it looks, giant Jenga is always a hit. Guests will want a few activities, and this is a great party pleaser.
While not a fit for all couples, these are super cute if you plan on having bag toss at your rehearsal dinner!
These glass orbs are budget-friendly for lighting walkways but give off an expensive vibe. They’re gorgeous in most yards, meaning you can leave them well past the rehearsal dinner.
A s’mores station is a fantastic two-for-one – it’s an activity that also feeds your guests!
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Fairy lights in jars are timeless and perfect for creating more aesthetic lighting in any outdoor setting.
Drink dispensers are a MUST at all backyard rehearsal dinners. People tend to spill pitchers universally, and they’re hard to label. Save yourself some headache and get these dispensers.
A key to hands-off hosting is making everything self-explanatory for your guests. With these chalkboard signs, you can label everything and save yourself from answering a million questions all night.
Depending on the size of your guest list, you may not have enough glasses for everyone. These plastic alternatives are classy enough to fit in at formal parties.
Sectioning off areas for dinner can be helpful in particularly large backyards. These curtain string lights make that easy while adding another ambient light source.
Even if you’re renting tables, you still need to cover them with tablecloths for your party. These stretchy tablecloths look very fancy and don’t fly away with the wind.
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