Dear Readers,
A wedding may have one main event, but the celebration often begins long before the ceremony and continues well after the last dance.
From welcoming out-of-town guests to gathering for one final brunch, wedding weekend events give couples more opportunities to spend meaningful time with the people they love. They also give guests a chance to experience more of Charleston, your story and, of course, incredible food.
Sometimes called wedding weekend shoulder events, these gatherings surround the wedding ceremony and reception. They can include a welcome party, rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, getting-ready meals and farewell brunch.
But every event doesn’t need to feel like another reception. In fact, it shouldn’t.
The best wedding weekends have a natural rhythm, with each gathering serving a different purpose. Here’s how to plan your wedding weekend events and what to serve at each one.
With love,
Candice Culbertson, President + Owner,
Hamby Catering & Events
1. The Rehearsal Dinner
What is a wedding welcome party?
A welcome party is a gathering held before the wedding, usually the evening guests arrive. It’s especially popular for destination weddings in Charleston, where many friends and family members may be traveling from out of town.
Unlike the rehearsal dinner, which may have a smaller guest list, a welcome party can be an opportunity to invite everyone to kick off the weekend together.
What should you serve at a wedding welcome party?
Think social, approachable and easy to enjoy while mingling.
Passed hors d’oeuvres, grazing displays, small plates and interactive food stations allow guests to eat without interrupting the flow of the evening. Signature cocktails can add another personal touch.
For a Charleston wedding, the welcome party is also a natural opportunity to introduce guests to Lowcountry flavors. Just remember that you have an entire weekend of meals ahead, so there’s no need to fit every Southern favorite into the first night.
Hamby tip: Give guests a taste of what’s to come without giving away the main event. Save some surprises for the reception.
2. The Welcome Party
Who attends the rehearsal dinner?
Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner includes the wedding party, immediate family and others involved in the ceremony. Some couples choose to expand the guest list, particularly when many guests are traveling for the wedding.
Because the gathering is typically smaller than the reception, it can feel more intimate and personal.
What should you serve at a rehearsal dinner?
This is a wonderful opportunity to choose a menu or service style that’s completely different from your wedding reception.
Consider a plated dinner for a more formal evening, family-style service for something warm and communal or chef-attended stations for a more relaxed atmosphere.
The menu can also tell a story. Incorporate family favorites, a cuisine you both love or dishes inspired by a special place or memory.
If Saturday’s reception is black tie, Friday’s rehearsal dinner doesn’t have to be. Creating contrast between the two can make each event more memorable.
3. Getting-Ready Breakfast or Lunch
Do you need to provide food while the wedding party gets ready?
Yes, and this is one of the easiest meals to overlook.
Wedding mornings can start early and stretch well into the afternoon with hair, makeup, photography and final preparations. Making sure everyone has something substantial to eat can make the day run much more smoothly.
What should you serve while getting ready?
Choose foods that are easy to eat, satisfying and low-mess.
Breakfast bites, fruit, pastries, sandwiches, salads, snack boards and plenty of water are all good options. Depending on your timeline, you may want breakfast delivered in the morning followed by a light lunch before everyone gets dressed.
This doesn’t need to be a full-service catered event. A thoughtfully planned drop-off from The Market at Hamby can keep everyone fed without adding another logistical layer to the morning.
Hamby tip: Don’t wait until the wedding day to figure out lunch. Add getting-ready food to your wedding weekend catering plan from the beginning.
4. The Wedding Reception
What should you serve at your wedding reception?
This is the centerpiece of the weekend and often the most elevated dining experience.
Your reception menu should reflect the type of celebration you want to create. That might mean an elegant plated dinner, chef-attended stations, family-style service or a thoughtfully designed buffet.
Start with cocktail-hour bites, then build the dinner experience around your venue, guest count, season and personal tastes.
And don’t forget about later in the evening. Late-night bites can be a fun way to surprise guests and keep the celebration going after hours on the dance floor.
Above all, your reception menu should feel personal. There is no single “right” wedding menu. The best one is the menu that feels right for your celebration.
5. The Farewell Brunch
Do you need a post-wedding brunch?
A farewell brunch isn’t required, but it can be a wonderful way to spend a little more time with guests before everyone heads home.
It can also be much more relaxed than the rest of the wedding weekend. Think of it as a final thank-you rather than another formal event.
What should you serve at a wedding farewell brunch?
This is the time for comforting, crowd-pleasing favorites.
Breakfast casseroles, biscuits, pastries, fresh fruit, breakfast sandwiches and plenty of coffee make for an easy Sunday morning spread.
A farewell brunch doesn’t necessarily require full-service catering, either. Drop-off catering or a spread from The Market at Hamby can make hosting simple, particularly after a late night of celebrating.
How Do You Plan Food for an Entire Wedding Weekend?
Our biggest piece of advice? Think about the weekend as one experience, not a series of unrelated meals.
Variety matters.
If Friday night’s welcome party features a Lowcountry-inspired spread, consider taking Saturday’s menu in a different direction. If your reception includes an elaborate plated dinner, Sunday morning can be relaxed and comforting. If one event is formal, let another feel effortless.
Consider the entire weekend when choosing:
Menus and cuisines
Service styles
Formal versus casual gatherings
Portion sizes
Timing between meals
Full-service versus drop-off catering
Not every gathering needs the same level of service. Some moments call for a full-service catering team. Others simply need delicious food delivered exactly when and where you need it.
That’s where planning the weekend as a whole makes a difference.
Charleston Wedding Catering for the Whole Weekend
At Hamby Catering & Events, we believe the best celebrations aren’t defined by a single meal. They’re made up of all the moments around the table, from the first welcome to the final goodbye.
Voted Charleston’s Choice Best Caterer for 10 consecutive years, Hamby brings award-winning food, thoughtful hospitality and decades of experience to every celebration.
Whether you’re planning a full-service rehearsal dinner, an unforgettable wedding reception or an easy brunch the morning after, our team can help you create a catering plan that makes sense for the entire weekend.
Because when your favorite people have traveled to Charleston to celebrate with you, one night together never feels quite long enough.
Did You Know? More Celebrations, More to Love!
Planning multiple wedding weekend events? When you book more than one fully catered event with Hamby, you may qualify for a special multi-event discount!
From welcome parties and rehearsal dinners to wedding receptions, our team can help you coordinate menus and service styles to make each gathering feel uniquely yours.
Multi-event discounts apply to qualifying fully catered events only. The Market at Hamby orders are excluded.
Planning your Charleston wedding weekend? Let’s create a menu for every moment.
This post’s vendors, in order of appearance:
Lead Photo: By Katie Bradham
The Welcome Party: Dana Cubbage
The Rehearsal Dinner: Franzi Annika
Getting Ready: Aleece Sophia
The Reception: Sarah Bradshaw
The Farewell Brunch: Aleece Sophia