Creative and Fun Wedding Ideas Made Simple Creative and Fun Wedding Ideas Made Simple
A wedding rehearsal dinner is usually a casual affair, often held right at home. The wedding party gathers for a quick run-through of the ceremony and enjoys a nice meal afterward. But what if you’d like something a bit more fancy? You envision a stylish table setting, pretty decorations, and a special menu—all tied around a theme and set up in the lovely outdoors!
So we’ve gathered four of our own wedding party sets to give you some ideas for an al fresco rehearsal dinner. These may be just the inspiration you need!
Under the Tuscan Sun!
How romantic was that film “Under the Tuscan Sun”? Whether you’re actually flying off to Italy for your honeymoon or just dreaming that you were, wouldn’t this be a fabulous theme for an al fresco Tuscan-inspired tablescape?
Our tablescape sought to capture the famed allure of Tuscany with a rich palette of gold, red, and deep green. We set out lush red rose arrangements, candles on jeweled coasters, and carved gold frames used as mini trays to create an opulent look. Then, of course, we offered teasers of the Italian dinner to follow—cheese and fruit platters with biscotti and chocolate truffles, crunchy bread sticks standing in champagne flutes, and bottles of fine Italian wine. The members of your wedding party are sure to be impressed!
A Havana-style Happening
Perhaps one of you is of Cuban descent, or you both just love the allure of sultry Havana or the flavors of Cuban cuisine? Whatever the reason, you may find this Havana Nights theme a fun option for your rehearsal dinner.
We chose a distinctive aqua, burnt orange and brown palette to set a casual, yet stylish look. Then we applied this via the basic table elements—a bright sea blue table cloth, chocolate brown napkins (rolled up to mimic Cuban cigars with gold seals!), a bird-of-paradise centerpiece in a cigar box, and favor bags filled with Cuban sweets. For chair accents, we used colorful straw hats and jaunty fedoras!
Pacific Island Paradise
If your rehearsal dinner falls within summertime, you’d surely want to take advantage of the balmy weather, right? So a table setting inspired by the exotic Pacific Islands would be a fabulous choice.
You’ll notice, though, that our tablescape is a blend of rustic, organic elements with classic pieces. The place settings feature ivory chinaware with an embossed border, topped with shell dishes filled with white Jordan almonds and a leaf-shaped favor tag. But it’s the centerpiece that truly makes a tropical statement! A bold floral-print runner brings in the colors of an island paradise, while towering glass cylinders wrapped in raffia create a stunning candlescape. A charming touch are the yellow napkins folded into a flower shape and tucked into each guest’s glass.
Jamaican Holiday
Another great theme choice for a summertime rehearsal dinner would be to go Jamaican! Just imagine the members of your wedding party unwinding from all the pre-wedding stress at a relaxed outdoor gathering like this.
As we did here, you can get the party started with a sizzling color scheme of golden yellow, hot orange, and leafy green. Use elements made from natural materials, like our square wooden plates, sinamay table overlay, and lots of tropical greenery. In fact, our centerpiece in this set (not shown here) is a DIY coconut tree that towers over the entire table. Serve refreshing tropical fruit cups, chilled juices, grilled chicken and corn on the cob, and tropical cocktails—just like you’re on a Jamaican holiday!