This Rehearsal Dinner For A Wedding Feeds 60 People For $600 | Rehearsal Dinner Menu Ideas
Do you have a rehearsal dinner for a wedding coming up with a lot of people to feed, but you have a tight budget? This guide will walk you through what my family did for my brother and sister-in-love’s wedding rehearsal. My mom had a budget of $600 to feed 60 people attending, and I’ll walk you through exactly how she did it.
The Average Wedding Rehearsal Cost
According to The Knot, the average price spent on a wedding rehearsal can be anywhere from $2,000 and up, and in 2023 the average cost was over $2,700. It may feel daunting when attempting to stay under $1,000 for a rehearsal dinner, but there is a way to achieve this and ensure all of your guests are loved and well-fed.
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REHEARSAL DINNER LOCATION
Location matters because the venue alone can take up a majority of your budget if you don’t choose wisely.
My mom was able to use the wedding venue itself as the location because the venue allowed everyone to stage everything the day before. If you don’t have this benefit, I’ll include a short list of venue ideas below:
Free Rehearsal Dinner Locations
- Hosting at the wedding venue the day prior to the event (if venue includes this for free)
- Your house or a friend’s personal residence
- A local park
REHEARSAL DINNER PREPARATION
Serving & Preparing The Food
To stay within budget, you’ll not only want to be mindful of your food options but how you serve the food as well. You’ll have a much easier time staying within budget if you prepare and serve the food yourself.
As stated earlier, you can spend anywhere from $2,000 or more for a rehearsal dinner, but you can greatly reduce the cost if you DIY the prep and launch of the dinner.
Be Practical About Your Level of Involvement
Nevertheless, be realistic with your time when considering catering the meal yourself. If you are juggling other responsibilities leading up to the wedding day, then this just might not be an option for you. A way around this may be serving readily prepared food such as pizza compared to making pizza at home. Another option may be to have a friend or relative assist you!
REHEARSAL DINNER MENU
Planning The Main Meal
My mom was in the wedding, so she needed a main meal that wouldn’t be too hands on. If she had tried to DIY a main meal then she would be juggling cooking along with participating in the rehearsal, so Domino’s delivery was a great option that checked all of the boxes: Ease of delivery, minimal prep work, and budget friendly.
Nevertheless, I’ll happily include a bullet point list of other budget conscious options to consider for your own event below:
Budget Friendly Rehearsal Dinner Options
- Pizza
- Burgers
- Hot dogs
- Pancake / waffle making bar
- Taco bar
- Fajitas
- Chili & soup bar
- Pasta bar
REHEARSAL DINNER APPETIZERS & DESSERT
Easy Dessert Ideas
- Macaroons
- Licorice
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Pies
- Tartes
- Donuts
- Chocolate covered strawberries
My mom provided a variety of macarons, cookies, and licorice for the dinner rehearsal, and these options were a great hit! Honestly the biggest surprise was how popular the licorice was! Particularly amongst the adults. Such a simple addition and yet we received a lot of appreciation from our guests.
We also had guests telling us how much they enjoyed these macarons which my mom purchased at Albertsons from their brand Signature Select. You just have to ensure you can keep them chilled leading up to the event.
Easy Appetizer Ideas
- Caesar salad
- Pre-made charcuterie or antipasto platters
- Pre-peeled shrimp cocktail
- Pinwheel sandwiches
- Veggie tray w/ dib
- Mini quiches (frozen or deli case)
- Sausage bites / cocktail smokies
REHEARSAL DINNER FOOD INSPO
REHEARSAL DINNER DRINKS
Drinks served at a rehearsal dinner can easily absorb your whole budget. An article written by Here Comes The Guide states the average cost for an open bar can range anywhere from $15-$45 a person. While this may not be a popular opinion, it is the most realistic option for protecting your budget…don’t serve alcohol. Alcohol is very pricey and difficult to squeeze into an already tight budget. Assorted sodas are the way to keep your budget on track.
REHEARSAL DINNER PARTY SUPPLIES
Mini Canvas
“All their canvases are a great quality and great value. I’ve bought quite a few of these and I’ve never had one rip on me nor damaged during delivery…” – Amazon Review
Mini Chalkboards
“Perfect little chalkboards! They’re sturdy, easy to write on, and look adorable for labeling or decorations. Great value for the price.” – Amazon Review
Advice Cards For Mr. & Mrs.
“These are perfect for our wedding. Great price for the quantity, great questions and saved me tons of time!” – Amazon Review
Silver Serving Trays
“I have used these for a few months in my bakery and after many washes they are still great shape. Will be ordering more soon!” – Amazon Review
REHEARSAL DINNER DECORATIONS
Quite possibly one of my favorite decorations hack is to load up your decorations from home. That’s right! If you have lovely decorations you think could look good at the center of a table, then strip your house of all your lovely decorations and take them to the event.
This does involve a bigger cleanup because you have to redecorate your home afterwards. However, the savings are well-worth it compared to buying everything new.
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This blog post was all about rehearsal dinner for a wedding
