WR help: Rehearsal Dinner Menu

maratea

So. My mom and I are hosting the rehearsal dinner at my parent's house for my brother's wedding. I need help with the menu. The rehearsal is going to be relatively small and pretty laid back. The dinner will be in my parent's barn, so I want the food to kind of match the atmosphere--my mom and I, with the help of a caterer friend, are preparing everything. I know brother and FSIL will be serving chicken, some sort of beef and a variety of veggies at their reception, so I'm trying to avoid duplicating items.

What would you want to eat and drink at a laid back, outdoorsy rehearsal dinner?

barbara1312

Pulled pork and a variety of salads?

lbarr088

I'd say anything that I'd normally find at a backyard BBQ.

SarahPLiz

How about doing a fish fry or seafood boil?

maratea

Pulled pork was my first main dish choice. I was also thinking German potato salad, maybe a type of macaroni salad or bean salad.

Do you think a hog roast is doable? My mom and I wouldn't be doing that cooking, it'd be my H and my dad.

cheeseandrice

booze.

ZombieNates

Are you worried about serving a variety in case people don't like pulled pork or do you know the crowd well enough that it's not an issue? 

I like the idea of a backyard BBQ vibe--I don't know if you're doing decor, but hanging paper lanterns in the wedding colors could be really cute.

maratea

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-help-rehearsal-dinner-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:bcd94d78-1d32-4347-8f98-2ea278d92f21Post:c8c63439-5e7d-44a2-8ebe-6fcd328dd761">Re: WR help: Rehearsal Dinner Menu</a>:
[QUOTE]booze.
Posted by Steph+J[/QUOTE]
Obviously. :) The wedding party consists mainly of 21 and 22 year olds.

Nates, I know the group well enough that they'll eat whatever is in front of them, I just didn't want to serve stuff too similar to what's going to be at the reception.

Peekseviltwin

You could do pulled pork, baked beans, and salad things.  Is their reception formal or is it casual as well?

kmmssg

I'm with duds, especially on the mac and cheese.  I do think the pig roast would be a lot more work than necessary with all the other wedding stuff going on and would be far more food than you would need.  At the end of the evening do you want to clean up after a roasted pig?

anna.oskar

i received some good  ideas here: http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_i-need-food-help_.0

ZombieNates

Cole slaw seems like it would be a big hit and I saw an article in Rachel Ray about different, fancier slaws you could pair with different foods, so that might work.  Also cornbread.

dumdumfroggie

I like the idea of pulled pork/or pulled chicken.

For salads, I recently made this pasta caprese salad (<---clicky).  It was a huge hit, and really quite good.

LetsHikeToday

Love the pulled pork idea. You could also do a pulled chicken as a choice. 

Any pasta, potato, or macaroni salad always gets a thumbs up from me. 

cheeseandrice

The wedding we went to this weekend had two buffets. One was ribs with corn on the cob, cole slaw, cornbread, red potato salad, and baked beans.

I vote for all of those. It was delicious.

cheeseandrice

If you wanted something a little different, do a cold citrus quinoa salad.  Then you've got a vegetarian option if you're worried about that at all.

gurrlballa10

I always love a good low country boil (clicky).

Blueyed228

I dont eat pork that way so I would  maybe have another meat choice like chicken?

I would love anything BBQ. 

brandichamberlain

We are doing something very similar. We went with a package through a BBQ place here. We will have pulled pork, brisket, and then cole slaw, baked beans, and regular salad. I'm going to bring in some hot dogs and burgers for the kids and a veggie and fruit tray for the. Vegetarians. So far it will make everyone happy and is very cost effective!

kmmssg

The good thing with pulled pork is you can prepare it days ahead of time and freeze it.  If you make it ahead of time a lot of your mess will already be done and all you have to do is throw it in a pan.