Dinner Boxes: The Cute and Easy Rehearsal Dinner Alternative

Weddings are stressful. There’s no denying it takes a lot of effort to pull one off, no matter how many people you have helping out. All you want to do is sit down and relax with your family and friends and chill. Especially the night before. You want to have a calm evening before your wedding day. The last thing you need is a big, fancy dinner party after the rehearsal adding to your stress levels.

You’d rather relax in the grass at a park with a picnic basket and a bottle of wine, right? Well, you can easily do just that with these awesome dinner boxes. Fill them with your favorite picnic foods a day or two before and they will still be delicious by the rehearsal dinner.

Of course, typical picnic foods are best, because they tend to last longer out of a refrigerator. You can throw these items together up to a couple of days before the dinner and store in the fridge in small containers or you can fill the boxes themselves and store those in the fridge for an even easier dinner.

For sides, think light and refreshing foods:
  • Crackers
  • Cherries
  • Berries
  • Grapes
  • Applesauce cups
  • Sliced veggies
  • Potato chips 
  • Watermelon cucumber salad
  • Salad on a skewer 


For the main course, you’ll want something easy to eat, prepare, and store:
  • Smoked meats and cheese
  • Finger sandwiches
  • Wraps
  • Grilled chicken salad
Caprese Sandwiches Picnic
Picnic Chicken Salad

Don’t forget dessert! Again, something easy to store and eat is ideal:
  • Cookies
  • Brownies
  • Cake
  • Cheesecake
  • Gummy candies
Easy Picnic Desserts

The best thing about all of these dishes? They are so easy. Not to mention they are sure to impress your guests and, depending on your packaging, there is net to no clean up required!

The Drinks
Drinks can be served from a glass pitcher or in personalized cups with lids or even mason jars with cute, custom labels. If it’s a warm day, you’ll just need to make sure you have ice available.
  • Lemonade
  • Cocktails
  • Punch
  • Wine
  • Beer
Personalized Stadium Cuo
Personalized Mason Jar
Bottled Lemonade
Source: Stadium Cup, Mason Jar, Lemonade

Get Fancy, the Easy Way
A simple way to wow your guests (other than with these fun personalized boxes and delicious, effortless dinners) is to pick the perfect drinks to complement your food.

Dish: Smoked meat (such as summer sausage) and hard cheeses
Wine: A medium-sweet Rosé with hints of berries and a marked acidity
Beer: Kolsch

Dish: Grilled chicken salad or wrap
Wine: A Chardonnay with strong nectarine and white peach flavors or a rich Pinot Gris
Beer: Hefeweizen (or a wheat beer)

Dish: Caprese sandwiches
Wine: a crisp Verdicchio or a dry Rosé
Beer: A light lager

Dish: Berries/fruit salads
Wine: Moscato d’Asti
Beer: Kolsch or a Belgian Wheat Ale

Dish: Fresh vegetables
Wine: A California Cabernet or a Malbec
Beer: A Pale Ale

Dessert: Chocolate-based
Wine: Port or Pinot Noir or Shiraz
Beer: A Stout, particularly an Imperial Stout

Wine and Chocolate Pairing
Source: Wine Pairing

You can set out display cards next to each food dish recommending a specific drink if you’re serving multiples of both. You could even have a “his and hers” drink choice for each dish to give your guests multiple options for pairings.

Don’t forget the utensils and personalized napkins!




Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

Easy & Affordable Wedding Favor Ideas You'll Fall For

If you’re having a wedding this Fall, it’s time to be thinking about favors! There are always tons of options for wedding favors; it can be overwhelming to decide what to give your guests. Thank yous are important, and you want your loved ones to remember your wedding day for a long time, so what can you give them to make sure that happens?

It may make your decision a little easier if you narrow it down by the season. Here are some great ideas for Fall wedding favors you can personalize.

Food 
Maybe one of the best things about Fall is the food. Pumpkin pie or bread, candy corn, s'mores, squash, pecan brittle, and everything apples – raw, roasted, pie, candied, caramel, cider – this list could go on forever. There are so many rich, savory foods this time of year, and many people will want to incorporate them into their wedding somehow. Fortunately, food favors are usually a big hit, especially if they're homemade!

Personalized Fall Clover Honey Favor Jars
Maple Syrup Wedding Favor
Source: Honey, Maple Syrup

The food itself might not last very long as a favor, but the personalized container you give it in could! Check out these awesome gift boxes.

Personalized Food Favor Boxes
Fall Themed Personalized Candy Boxes
Personalised Cupcake Favor Boxes
Personalized Candy Mason Jars
Personalized Pie Wedding Favor Boxes

Drinks 
Because the temperatures are dropping, it's probably a good idea to provide something warm for your guests to drink. Apple cider is a must for fall weddings, along with hot chocolate and maybe even a pumpkin beer. If you home-brew, this is an excellent time to show off your homemade cider! But what good is a drink without a cup or a beer without a bottle opener?

Personalized Wedding Stadium Cups
Wedding Favor Personalized Plastic Cups
Pumpkin Wedding Favor Bottle Opener
Fall Theme Wedding Favor Bottle Opener

And don't forget the bottle stoppers!

Fall Theme Wine Bottle Stopper
Leaf Wine Bottle Stopper Wedding Favor

Candles
Speaking of keeping warm – most of us enjoy a good bonfire on a fall evening, or a cozy fire in a fireplace indoors in the winter. Not everyone can have a fire, though, so they rely on candles for that warm glow. These candle tins can be personalized with your names, wedding date, colors, and more. Don't forget to include a box of matches, too!

Personalized Wedding Candles
Personalized Wedding Favor Matchbox
Source: Candles, Matchbox

Placecard Holders
One way to stick to your budget is to use things that have a dual purpose  -- but they don't have to look like they're budget friendly! These picture frames, bells, and pumpkins are super cute ways to help guests find their seats and serve as a useful favor.

Tree Branch Picture Frame Placecard Holder
Fall Theme Wedding Kissing Bells Placecard Holder
Mini Pumpkin Escort Cards
Source: Picture Frame, Leaf Bell Holder, Mini Pumpkins

Gift Bags 
You can’t forget something for your guests to carry their favors in! If you need ideas for how to personalize your favor bags or boxes, look here.

Burlap Wedding Favor Bag
Personalized Fall Wedding Gift Bag

Now it's your turn to do us a favor and share what you gave your Fall wedding guests!
 




Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

53 Phrases for Your Wedding Welcome Bags

So you've decided to personalize your gift bags for your wedding. Now you need to decide how to personalize them. Whether you're using the bags for hotel welcome bags, bridal party gifts, favors, or anything in between, it can be tough to know what to write on the bag. More and more, couples are coming up with cute puns based on their names, but not everyone is that creative -- or has the names for the puns! If you want to say something other than a simple "thank you," here are some ideas for how to personalize your bags.

Welcome
1. Welcome To Our Wedding Weekend
2. Welcome to Our Beginning
3. Our Story Begins Here
4. From [location] with love
5. It means the world to have you here

Gold Welcome To Our Wedding Guest Gift Bags
White Welcome To Charleston Wedding Guest Gift Bags


Thanks
6. Thank you for being a part of our happily ever after
7. Thank you for joining us
8. Thank you for coming all this way to help us celebrate our special day

Clear Thank You Wedding Guest Gift Bags
Black Thank You Message Wedding Guest Gift Bags

General
9. Live well, laugh often, love always
10. And so our adventure begins
11. Love, laughter, and happily ever after
12. Forever starts today
13. Love is a song that never ends; thanks for dancing with us!
14. We decided on forever; thanks for seeing us through the first step
15. Together is a beautiful place to be
16. Today and always
17. Here's to good times and great friends

Canvas Darling Lets Be Adventurers Gift Bags
Clear Let The Adventure Begin Wedding Guest Gift Bags

Beach
18. With sandy toes and salty kisses, we became Mr. & Mrs.
19. Anchored in love
20. Waves of love and thanks

Sandy Toes Salty Kisses Canvas Bag
Colorful Beach Canvas Bag
Photography Source: Canvas Sandy Toes Salty Kisses Bag, Canvas Colorful Beach Bag

Hunting/Fishing/Outdoors
21. Hook, Line, Sinker. Catch of a lifetime!
22. I'd rather be fishing married
23. The hunt is over!

Canvas Fishing Themed Wedding Gift Bag
Photography Source: Fishing Themed Wedding Gift Bag

Homemade
24. Something old, something new, something from us just for you
25. Made with love

Black Something For You Frosted Gift Bags
Made With Love Favor Tag
Photography Source: Black Something For You Gift Bags, Made With Love Tags

Food
26. Hugs & Kisses from the new Mr. & Mrs.
27. A sweet ending to a new beginning
28. Sweets from the sweethearts

Kraft Gift Bags Filled With Apples
Sweets From The Sweethearts Favor Bags
Photography Source: Natural Kraft Apple Bags, White Sweets Favor Bag

Hangover Kits
29. You partied hard when we were wed. Use this kit and go to bed!
30. In sickness and in health

Natural Kraft Hangover Kit Bags
Photography Source: Natural Kraft Hangover Kit Bags

Spring
31. Let flowers bloom while our love grows
32. Let love grow

Let Love Grow Seed Packets
Photography Source: Let Love Grow Favor Bags

Summer
33. Good Times and Tan Lines
34. Summer lovin' -- let's have us a blast!
35. I do BBQ

Good Times Tan Lines Canvas Bag
Enjoy The Ride Treat Bags
Photography Source: Good Times Tan Lines Bag, Tandem Bike Treat Bags

Fall
36. Fall In Love
37. I love you a bushel and a peck
38. This fall, we're harvesting blessings

Brown Wedding Guest Fall Gift Bag
Berry Red Fall Welcome Gift Bag
Photography Source: Brown Fall Guest Gift Bag, Berry Red Welcome Fall Leaves Bag

Winter
39. Our Warmest Thanks
40. Snow In Love
41. Some people are worth melting for.

To Have and To Hold
Berry Red Fall Welcome Gift Bag
Photography Source: Winter Gift Tags, Silver Snow In Love Gift Bags

Holidays
42. Eat, Drink, & Be Merried (Christmas)
43. Merry Everything, Happy Always (Christmas)
44. Wed, White, & Blue (4th of July)
45. We'd like to thank the red, white, and you (4th of July)
46. Ringing in the New Year and our new beginning! (New Year's Eve)
47. New Year, new last name (New Year's Eve)
48. Welcome to our Hallo-wedding! (Halloween)
49. Love is a boo-tiful thing! (Halloween)

Monograms
If you can't decide on a phrase or saying, or are looking for a more simple option, a monogram may be the way to go! Use block, script, casual, formal, or mixed fonts to fit your personality or wedding theme. 
50. Large last name initial
51. Two first name initials
52. Two first name initials with the last name initial in the center
53. Two first names with the last name initial in the center

White Monogrammed Gift Bag
Purple Monogrammed Gift Bag
Photography Source: White Gift Bag with Window, Purple Monogrammed Gift Bags

After choosing a saying or a monogram, you'll want to decide on a layout and a font. Try combining your saying, design, or monogram with your names, date, and/or location for a completely custom personalized bag. 

Do you need some suggestions for how to fill your beautifully personalized bags now? Check this out.

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.
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