Rehearsal Dinner Etiquette?

Buffet or fixed menu is fine. Drink tickets are not. Host wine and beer.

Okay, I just needed someone else to say it! Same wedding involved a cash bar after cocktail hour so my gut instinct is tickets weren't going to be appropriate either. Thank you!!

Have you looked into a consumption bar option? My side of the family tends to do this for all of our formal gatherings and then someone picks up the whole tab (the host or sneaky generous family member). You would need more than one bottle of wine per table if you're going that route. Drink tickets sounds a little tacky for a formal dinner.

As for the catering, either option sounds okay. I personally would prefer a sit down dinner, but if you are getting decent food with the catered option, I don't see why not.

Either menu option is fine. Unpopular opinion here: I don't think it is necessary to pay for alcohol at the rehearsal dinner, the wedding reception hell yes, but not the rehearsal.

We did a buffet set up at our rehearsal dinner, and I've been to rehearsal dinners with the limited menu option as well. I think both sound great! I agree with a previous poster to look into a consumption bar. I don't think people drink as much at the rehearsal dinner as they would at the wedding since the next day is a long day so it might be less expensive, or just host wine and beer.

Eh I don't know much about rehearsal dinner etiquette on alcohol but I assume it is like any hosted event. So maybe just do consumption with beer/wine.

But buffet or not, as long as there is food you are good to go.

I am on the fence too about alcohol at the RD. We are doing a buffet but I think we are leaving it at- if you want a beer, order one but otherwise we won't be supplying wine on tables or anything. We ARE having something like cocktails and desserts back at the hotel after the RD so I don't feel stingy not having a private bartender or anything because we are hosting a 2-hour consumption bar afterwards.

I also have been to a RD with drink tickets. It really didn't bother me because 2 free drinks with dinner at a restaurant (that we couldn't stay at for HOURS like a wedding would be), seems generous enough.

Do a consumption bar. Some people will drink, others won't, but either way it's rude to make a guest pay for their drink whether it's alcoholic or not!

The very first thing a waiter asks a restaurant patron is, "Can I get you something to drink?". Call me old fashioned, but I think the guest has the right to order whatever they want without worrying about drink tickets or a bill being handed to them at the end of the night. They kind of "have to" attend your RD, and that dinner is their thank you for sharing their money and their time on another aspect of your wedding. If you were going to do casual pizza, beer, and wine, that's one thing. If you're planning a restaurant experience, and that restaurant features a fully stocked bar, I think you should pay for their drinks.

Something to consider: would the fixed menu option accommodate all dietary restrictions of those attending the rehearsal dinner? I agree that all alcohol should be hosted on a consumption basis. If your RD is the night before the wedding, people probably won't be wanting to drink too much.

@Runawaybride that's something that has crossed my mind as well. I'm not aware of any strict dietary restrictions (i.e. celiac, vegan, etc.) there are a handful of people who may prefer a large salad over fettucini alfredo. I've thought about sending invites with r.s.v.p's choosing their meal so it gives guests an opportunity to make us aware of any restrictions? Thoughts?

I feel like a buffet is a better way to go for RD than collecting meal options. It would have driven me nuts to collect that info for the RD on top of the wedding. You'll find out any important dietary restrictions when your VIPs RSVP to your wedding, right?

A buffet is great! Just make sure it accommodates everyone. I agree with a consumption bar. Most people aren't going to drink more than 1-2 anyway.

At the rehearsal dinner drink tickets are more than fine. It's only at the reception that you shouldn't do such

Either buffet or fixed menu is fine. I would side-eye drink tickets really hard. Maybe they have another option...consumption bar may work great in this situation.