Your rehearsal dinner is more than just a meal—it’s the kickoff to your wedding weekend.
After months of planning, it’s the point where you finally the the opportunity to slow down, gather the people you love most, and actually enjoy being together before the big day arrives. And when you’re planning a wedding weekend at a rustic barn venue in the Pittsburgh area, there are so many ways to make your rehearsal dinner feel just as personal as your wedding day.
Here at Armstrong Farms, we want to make planning the entire wedding weekend easier. From a relaxed cookout on the farm to dinner at a local restaurant, here are four rehearsal dinner ideas to consider.
Host your Rehearsal Dinner at the Farm
One perk of a weekend wedding venue is having more time to enjoy the property—including your rehearsal dinner!
At Armstrong Farms, couples have the opportunity to use the property for a small rehearsal dinner following the ceremony rehearsal. When everyone is already together at the venue, there’s no need to coordinate transportation, rush to another venue, or say goodbye after dinner.
Instead, you can enjoy the eve of your wedding weekend together. grab a drink, play some yard games, and soak in every moment leading up to your big day. And the best part? Your rehearsal dinner can look completely different from the next couple’s. There’s no one-size-fits-all.
Have it Catered On-Site
Hiring a caterer is a great way to make sure your rehearsal dinner is stress-free. There’s plenty of catering options locally, allowing you to create a menu to fit the vibe your going for.
Mission BBQ is a fun option. Their party pack allows you to choose from several meats, sides, sauces, and breads, making it easy to feed a group without a lot of extra planning.
Pro Tip: If you have leftovers, put them in the refrigerator at the groom’s house so everyone can heat them up for lunch the next day while getting ready!
Old-Fashioned Farm Cookout
Want to keep things even more casual?
Both of our venues have grills on property, making a simple cookout an easy way to kick off your wedding weekend. Bring a few picnic sides—think pasta salad, potato salad, fresh fruit, or corn on the cob—and let the dads or groomsmen take over the grill.
And if you want the full farm to table experience, why not serve beef raise right here on the farm?
Armstrong Farms Beef is a venture of our family-owned farm, which has been raising cattle for more than two centuries. Armstrong Farms Beef was started by Jay Allen, the seventh generation of our family to carry on the farm.
The Black Angus beef is raised right here on the same property where you’ll be beginning the next chapter of your life.
Want to make it even easier? We’re happy to have the beef waiting in the fridge when you arrive for your wedding weekend. It’s about as local as it gets!
Bring in a Food Truck
Looking for something different?
Food Trucks are a fun way to make your rehearsal dinner casual, memorable, and uniquely yours. They also take some of the pressure off hosting and give your guests something fun to look forward to.
There are plenty of great food truck options around Pittsburgh. Just a few to explore include:
Whether your craving pizza, hibachi, seafood, or something completely different, a food truck can turn dinner into part of the experience.
Plan a Rehearsal Dinner at a Local Restaurant
Not every couple wants to host dinner at the venue—and that’s completely okay!
If your planning a larger rehearsal dinner, an off-site restaurant can be a great option. Because of the work that goes into preparing the property and ensuring your wedding weekend runs smoothly, we limit on-site rehearsal dinners to 30 guests.
For larger groups, we’re happy to share our recommendations for local restaurants and venues where you can gather with your family and wedding party.
A few options to explore include:
An off-site rehearsal dinner also give you a chance to explore a little more of the area while enjoying a meal with your closest family and friends.
Make the Rehearsal Dinner Part of the Wedding Weekend Experience
One of our favorite things about a weekend wedding is your celebration doesn’t begin on your wedding day. Your rehearsal dinner is the first chapter of the weekend.
If you’re staying on property, you can arrive, settle into the lodging houses, have your ceremony rehearsal, and then spend the evening together without worrying about what comes next.
Add a Few Personal Touches
Don’t forget the little details that can make the evening feel even more special.
Give a toast. Have you, your partner, or your parents say a few words about the people who helped you get here.
Give your wedding party their gifts. A rehearsal dinner is the perfect time to thank your bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, or anyone else who has played an important role in your story..
Add lawn games. Cornhole, giant Jenga, horseshoes, or a simple game of catch can keep guests entertained while dinner is being prepared.
Take advantage of the property. At our Westminster Preserve venue, guests can take advantage of the pond ceremony site and grab the fishing poles off the deck to see if they can get anything to bite!
Most importantly, don’t overthink it.
There is no “right” way to host a rehearsal dinner. The perfect rehearsal dinner is one that feels like you—and gives you time to be present with the people you love before the wedding day begins.
Start your Pittsburgh Wedding Weekend at Armstrong Farms
Planning a Pittsburgh-area barn wedding? Your wedding day is only one part of the celebration.
At Armstrong Farms, our weekend wedding experience gives you more time to gather with your favorite people, enjoy the property, and celebrate everything leading up to “I Do.”
From a farm cookout to a food truck or a night out at a local restaurant, we’ll help you to create a rehearsal dinner that fits your wedding weekend.
Ready to see what your wedding weekend could look like? Schedule a private tour of Armstrong Farms and come experience the farm for yourself!