There’s something about weddings that make them magical and special. Maybe it’s the love that fills the air, the stunningly decked out wedding venue, or the gathering of support and excitement from friends and family (some you may not have connected with in a while). Whatever the case may be, the big wedding day is an important milestone that’s the highlight of many people’s lives, second only to giving birth.

But the beauty and thrill for weddings don’t just start or end on the wedding day. There are plenty of events that happen leading up to the big day, one of them being the wedding rehearsal dinner.

Today, I’m helping you come up with wedding rehearsal dinner ideas so you can eliminate some of the guesswork, make life easier during one of the most stressful crunch times of your life, and serve options that your guests will appreciate and love.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Ideas

Before we can dive right into the wedding rehearsal dinner ideas, I first need to explain for those who may not know what a wedding rehearsal dinner is so you can further decide what to add to your menu.

What Is A Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

There’s a lot of planning that goes into throwing a wedding. Part of that planning includes doing a walkthrough practice of the wedding ceremony with those who will be participating in the wedding. This includes the event planner or wedding coordinator, bride, groom, officiant, parents of the couple, and wedding party.

The wedding ceremony rehearsal is usually followed by a wedding rehearsal dinner to conclude the evening over a meal with those involved in the wedding and finalize wedding plans with close friends and family members.

Today, I can help you decide on what to include on your wedding rehearsal dinner menu.

10 Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Food Ideas

Want to know what to eat night before wedding? We’ve got you covered with this list of great ideas to try out for your wedding rehearsal dinner.

Make life easier with either of these simple, filling and easy to make rehearsal dinner ideas. They are all packed with nutrition, loaded with lean meats and veggies to give you the boost of energy you’ll need for your wedding day. Bonus: These can also be simple to make in large batches in case you have a larger crowd coming for your rehearsal dinner.

Chicken Cheesesteak Skillet

417 calories

Keep things healthy and hearty with this cheesesteak skillet recipe your guests will love.

Ingredients

6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories

¼ Bell pepper, red, medium - 9 calories

¼ Bell pepper, green, medium - 7 calories

¼ cup Mushrooms, small, whole or sliced - 4 calories

¼ Onion, yellow, large - 14 calories

⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 112 calories

2 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) - 82 calories

⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt - 0 calories

Instructions

Slice veggies and chicken into thin strips
Add oil to a pan
Stir fry veggies and chicken, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes on low-medium heat
Mix in seasonings, and top with cheese
Let cheese melt ~5 minutes
No cheese? Use more oil, or top with diced avocado at the end.

Big Mac Salad

410 calories

Bring out this rendition of an American classic, but make it healthier. You’ve got to try this Big Mac salad for an energy boost and satisfying bite.

Ingredients

2 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 10 calories

4 oz Ground beef, 90% lean, raw - 185 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar - 114 calories

1 oz Pickles, chip-cut - 0 calories

½ cup Tomatoes, grape - 16 calories

¼ Onion, red - 11 calories

1 Tbsp Creamy dressing (e.g. ranch), regular (more than 50 calories per 2 tbsp) - 74 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

Instructions

Spray a pan with an oil spray. Add in beef & stir fry until no longer pink, ~7 minutes.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Top with salt & dressing.
Note: I’m using a sriracha ranch dressing here, but you can use ranch, 1000 island, or whatever else you like.
No beef? Use ground turkey, tofu, or beans. No dairy? Use bacon or avocado, and a vinaigrette.

Easy Salmon Sheet Pan with Rainbow Veg

Salmon Pan Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Ideas

535 calories

Can get much more easier than this.. Throw all the ingredients on a pan, sit back, and cook this one hands free. It’ll be ready in 40 minutes, and worth the wait!

Ingredients

4 oz Salmon filet - 200 calories

1½ cups Squash, butternut, chunks, fresh (uncooked) - 95 calories

1½ cups Brussels sprouts - 84 calories

½ Onion, red - 23 calories

1 Tbsp Mustard, regular (brown, deli, etc.) - 15 calories

1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt - 0 calories

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil & spray it with an oil spray.
Chop the ends off the Brussels sprouts and halve each one. Chop up the squash, and onion into medium sized chunks. Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
Add oil, mustard, pepper, and garlic salt to the bowl. Mix contents so that all is coated.
Add the bowl’s contents to the baking sheet in a single layer. Also add salmon, and top salmon with additional pepper and garlic salt.
Bake ~40 minutes, mixing contents halfway through.

2-Step Marry Me Chicken

484 calories

As if the name isn’t fitting enough, it’s also exactly what you’ll want to be eating the day before the wedding. Lean meats and veggies. Plus, it’s yum yum good.

Ingredients

6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories

¼ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) - 86 calories

1 Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) - 103 calories

¼ cup Milk, whole (cups) - 37 calories

2 Tbsp Broth, chicken or beef (Tbsp) - 4 calories

1½ cups Broccoli, frozen - 47 calories

1 Tbsp Tomatoes, sun-dried, oil packed - 17 calories

¼ tsp Oregano - 0 calories

¼ tsp Basil, dried - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt - 0 calories

Instructions

This recipe works best when making 2-3+ servings at once. So multiply the ingredients above, and then divide by that number of servings once cooked.
Add butter to a large pan, and heat on low until melted.
Brown chicken for 2 minutes on each side.
Add in the rest of the ingredients – frozen broccoli, sun dried tomatoes, broth, milk, Parmesan, and seasonings.
Simmer on lowest heat for 20+ minutes, until chicken is cooked (internal temp 165 degrees F) and broccoli have cooked through, and most of the liquids have evaporated.
Serve and enjoy.
No chicken? Use tofu and vegetable broth. No dairy? Use a higher fat dairy free milk/cream e.g. coconut cream, and use oil instead of butter and Parmesan.

Shrimp Scampi

277 calories

When you’re serving a number of guests, it’s always easy to whip up a casserole styled dish. This one is lean and refreshing. Your guests can eat this one guilt-free.

Ingredients

½ cup Squash, spaghetti - 23 calories

5 oz Shrimp, fresh or frozen - 140 calories

⅓ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) - 115 calories

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings
Note: ½ medium spaghetti squash yields 2 cups “spaghetti”
Cut spaghetti squash in half (be careful!); scoop out seeds
Bake squash, face down on top of a parchment paper-lined baking dish for 30 minutes
While squash is baking, stir-fry shrimp from frozen on stove top with oil spray. Drain shrimp – there will likely be excess water
Take out squash & shred with fork
Combine all ingredients
Spray casserole dish with an oil spray; add ingredients to casserole dish
Bake for 20 minutes

Salmon and Asparagus Packet

346 calories

Another easy dinner to whip up. Premake these little packets and cook them hands free in the oven. Will be ready in 20-30 minutes!

Ingredients

4 oz Salmon filet - 200 calories

1 cup Asparagus spears, chopped - 27 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

4 slice Lemon, slice - 0 calories

1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Cut off hard ends of asparagus.
Place salmon & asparagus inside tin foil, add in olive oil and mix around so is coating food.
Add lemon slices and seasonings.
Fold tin foil around food as shown in picture.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, until salmon flakes easily.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

467 calories

One of the best options you can go with when catering to a large crowd is some type of soup or chili. This chicken tortilla soup is one you’ll definitely want to try, especially if you’re looking for something slightly casual and easy to throw together last minute, that will also be a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

½ cup Canned, diced tomatoes - 28 calories

1 Carrots, whole, large - 25 calories

½ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half - 8 calories

½ Onion, yellow, large - 28 calories

6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories

¼ cup Beans & legumes, black beans, cooked - 57 calories

½ oz Tortilla chips - 62 calories

2 cups Broth, chicken or beef (cups) - 70 calories

1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Chili seasoning - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Cumin - 0 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

Instructions

Spray pan with an oil spray.
Cut raw chicken into small pieces. Chop veggies into small pieces.
Spray a pot with an oil spray. Add in garlic, heat for 1-2 minutes on low heat.
Add in veggies, beans, chicken, and seasoning, cook for ~10 minutes, until chicken has cooked through.
Add in tomatoes and broth.
Turn the burner to low heat & let simmer at least 10 minutes.
Top with tortilla chips (crumbled) at the end.

Chickpea, Artichoke & Goat Cheese Salad

483 calories

Not only is this one beautiful to see, it also tastes just as good as it looks.

Ingredients

½ Cucumber, small - 16 calories

½ cup Tomatoes, grape - 16 calories

½ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked - 134 calories

1½ slice Artichokes, canned (pieces) - 15 calories

2 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 10 calories

6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories

½ oz Cheese, goat - 52 calories

⅓ Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 39 calories

¼ Onion, red - 11 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

¼ tsp Basil, dried - 0 calories

¼ tsp Oregano - 0 calories

Instructions

Dice chicken.
Spray a pan with an oil spray & add in chicken.
Stir frequently until chicken has cooked through, ~8 minutes on medium heat.
Chop cucumber, tomatoes, and onion.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese or additional Tbsp oil.

Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

451 calories

You’ve got to try this copycat olive garden zuppa toscana soup. Your guests will be impressed, and surprisingly it’s actually easy to make.

Ingredients

1 Sausage, chicken - 140 calories

¼ Onion, yellow, large - 14 calories

2 cups Leafy greens, kale, raw - 20 calories

¾ cup Broth, chicken or beef (cups) - 26 calories

¼ cup Milk, 2% (cups) - 31 calories

1 Potato, Russet, medium, 5 inches - 160 calories

1 Uncured bacon, slice - 44 calories

1 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) - 17 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

¼ tsp Garlic powder - 0 calories

Instructions

Dice sausage, onion, and potato.
Fry bacon on the stovetop (or microwave or oven if you prefer), then cut into small pieces.
Spray a pot with an oil spray. Add in sausage, onion, potato, and spices, and stir for 5-6 min.
Add in broth and milk, simmer (lid on) on low heat for 20 min, until potatoes and sausage have cooked through.
Add in kale and Parmesan for ~3 minutes.
No dairy? Use soy milk and skip the Parm.
Note: I personally like these brands of sausage – but choose whatever brand you have access to! Trader Joe’s; Fra’Mani; Teton; Open Nature; Aidells

Easy Italian Wedding Soup

504 calories

What’s a wedding without this easy Italian wedding soup. If you’re not having this on your wedding reception menu, definitely add this as a must-have to serve at your wedding rehearsal dinner.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories

2 cups Broth, chicken or beef (cups) - 70 calories

½ Carrots, whole, large - 13 calories

½ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half - 8 calories

1 cup Leafy greens, kale, raw - 10 calories

4 oz Ground beef, 90% lean, raw - 185 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

¼ tsp Basil, dried - 0 calories

¼ tsp Oregano - 0 calories

½ cup Pasta, cooked - 100 calories

Instructions

Cook pasta as instructed on package.
Dice carrots and celery.
Add oil to pot. Stir fry beef, carrots, and celery, until beef is no longer pink, ~8 minutes, on medium heat.
Add in broth, kale, pasta, and seasonings. Set heat to low. Simmer at least 5 minutes.
No beef? Use chicken, fish, tofu, or beans.

Looking for more ideas for how to plan a wedding reception menu? Check out this comprehensive list!