Rehearsal Dinner?

A rehearsal dinner can be anything as long as you are hosting those who participated in the rehearsal and the rest of your guest list. There really isn't a standard other than the guests should not have to pay for their meal/drinks.

Some have a casual bbq, pizza and beer, or they rent out areas at restaurants, book a hall and have professional catering and decor. The options are endless

Casual rehearsal dinners are completely fine! Lots of people just do pizza and beer. But, it should be a place you both agree on. Was he envisioning everyone going there to eat, or rather getting take-out to serve later at your home or rehearsal site?

I'm not very familiar with that restaurant, but from what I see online, it looks like a casual burger restaurant? Why do you think is not appropriate for a rehearsal dinner? The rehearsal dinner can be as formal or as casual as you'd like. If you think it's too casual for what you were looking for, or just not what you envisioned, you could maybe compromise and see if you can organize a lunch meetup at Fuddruckers for the day after your wedding instead, and go somewhere else for your rehearsal dinner?

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He wants to go there to eat. I think the vibe there is more for like.. after a kid's baseball game? It makes me feel like he's thinking of the wedding as just another day if that makes sense. Like this is something that doesn't happen every day, so I'd prefer something with more variety. I don't even like hamburgers.

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I think it's way too casual. Thank you for putting it like that because I couldn't find the right words. I feel like since it's thanking our friends and family, and then our families really meeting each other, that it should be a little more than just Fuddrucker's.

Is pizza and beer an acceptable compromise? Many rehearsal dinners are very casual and it has no bearing whatsoever on the formality of the wedding day itself.

Casual is fine. But if you don't like burgers, then you shouldn't have to go to a burger restaurant the night before your wedding

Just looked them up online and I certainly understand your trepidation as it just seems like a super casual fast food joint. I personally wouldn't want my rehearsal dinner to have that vibe and think doing it somewhere less casual would be more appropriate - like you said, it's a once in a lifetime thing so make it special and fit your vision

Honest opinion- what does it really matter? If its some place your people can have FUN rather than being all stuffy, and its what he wants to do, then whats the harm in agreeing?


My MIL had always suggested a local bowling alley for our rehearsal dinner. For the longest time I was like "I'm not having a $30k wedding with a rehearsal dinner in a bowling alley." As it turns out, my now-husbands grandpa got diagnosed with cancer last November so we did a "mini-mony" so he could be there. Having a wedding day that was purely about love and family, and cut out all the bells and whistles, REALLY made me realize that *none of it matters.* I'm now 100% down for our rehearsal dinner at the bowling alley when our reception comes around this fall. Your wedding will be full of love and family regardless of where your rehearsal dinner is. Embrace the less than perfect aspects.

View Quoted Comment I wouldn’t mind a bowling alley, you can have fun there! I don’t like burgers, so why would I want to go to a place I don’t like? The Fuddruckers in the city is disgusting, unclean, and in general it’s just not a place I would want to have a rehearsal dinner.

It doesn't sound like the best place to go for a dinner and especially if you don't even like hamburgers. Is your fiance flexible at all or is he just totally set on going there even though it makes you unhappy?

View Quoted Comment While super casual is totally fine, you should definitely do food that you actually like to eat. Can you talk to him about it? Explain that you do not like hamburgers (which I imagine he should know) and that you also don't want to invite your guests to eat a place that isn't clean and sanitary. Mayne suggest a casual alternative, like a local pizza place or something. To be honest, I didn't even know Fuddruckers was still in business lol. The one in my town closed about 15-20 years ago.

We might have mission bbq cater our rehearsal dinner that’s located where our venue is or we might just go to a restaurant near by .. Still not sure as my soon to be MIL is in charge of that! I don’t think anything is wrong with going casual BUT you guys should agree on something together for sure !

I mean, it's not *inappropriate* a lot of people go super casual for the rehearsal dinner - it gives some variety to the weekend and sets up for a more formal event the next day. HOWEVER - if it isn't clean and you don't like hamburgers (which I would think your fiance should know) then it shouldn't be where you have the dinner. I agree with PPs - what about a local pizza place and have pizza and beer?

When it comes to a rehearsal dinner it can be as casual or fancy as you want it to be. Personally I enjoy when they are laid back and casual but it should absolutely be food you enjoy too. Hopefully you can come up with a nice compromise you both like. Happy planning!