I know rehearsal dinners have been brought up a lot recently, but it has been the one planning aspect that has caused me the most trouble. 
Most rehearsal dinners I've been to have been the wedding party as well as out of town guests. Being in the Outer Banks, everyone's an out of town guest...
Has anybody had a welcome dinner?  BBQ for me is out because it is part of my reception dinner the next night. I'm tempted to just have people in my party then tell anyone else that is around that we can meet at ____ restaurant/bar for drinks. I don't want a second wedding, and I don't have a rental house to just have a barbecue in the back yard.
I can't decide if that's tacky.
I tried to find a pavilion in a park or something where I could get cheaper-catered food but I can't find any!
Ideas? 
I'm paying ~$40/head for reception dinner so was hoping to be (well) under that for the night before (whatever I end up calling it)