The Case for Serving Family-Style Apps at Your Rehearsal Dinner

You've booked the B&B for your bachelorette trip, DJ for the wedding day, and transportation to the venue for your guests. But what about the food for your rehearsal dinner?

With all these vendors to book and events to coordinate, finding a way to make the planning process easier, while saving some money, is always a win-win. And there's no better way to do so than by serving family-style appetizers.

You can still have that elevated, sit-down experience, even with a family-style approach. Just let guests find their assigned seats, and place large, shared platters at the center of each table. For a more casual setup, use a large banquet table off to the side, complete with platters of appetizers, side plates, and napkins. This way, guests can come up and graze as they please.

When it comes to deciding on what to serve, don't get too fussy with it. Save the elaborate charcuterie spreads and coursed-out meals for the wedding day. For this intimate, rehearsal dinner setting, serve the food that you and your partner know and love, like the appetizers and party trays from Sam's Club.

The brand's Member's Mark selection goes beyond basic sandwich platters and fruit trays that you might see at an office happy hour. You can choose from items like sushi platters to Belgian waffles. Don't forget to call your favorite Sam's Club ahead of time to find out what's in stock.

After the goods are secured, revamp the store-bought party trays. Go to your local thrift store and purchase large vintage plates, tiered tea trays, and serving spoons, or save some time and rent a few additional serving platters from your tableware vendor. Then, spruce up the surrounding tablescapes with leafy vines, ribbons, and candles. With these simple tweaks, you might even trick your guests into thinking the food is homemade.