A web release notes that the days of sit-down dinners the night before a wedding day are so over. They believe that couples are getting prepared for their weddings with all sorts of different activities and in all sorts of different places. Exciting! Most of these activities can take place at home or in a restaurant, and are versatile enough to please all from Grandma to your grad school roomie.

This web release suggests that if you are going somewhere tropical or french or wherever, for your honeymoon you could fly your preparation celebration over to this destination by creating the theme around the honeymoon destination. The release goes on to suggest certain things that would alter preparatory dinners into something special. Be sure to catch the marvel of your evening with wedding cameras. Suggestions in the web release range from having bbqs wth all the trimmings to tropical themed parties, to oriental evenings, to a golf or bowling themed parties. The evening is really only restrained by your imagination and the knowledge of how to create such evenings. Below are some of the ideas and tips from the web release.

Details of the web release follow:
“1. BBQ Bash Especially if the wedding is superformal, relax at the rehearsal dinner. What better way to introduce two families than over burgers, dogs, and Aunt Jessica’s famous baked beans? Picnic tables allow everyone to interact casually as they pass food cooked up by the dads bonding over grill duty. Get potlucky by asking each member of the bridal party to bring a favorite dessert. Decorate tables with wildflowers in galvanized tin pails and jars of homemade jam laid out on red-and-white checkered tablecloths. For favors, give out BBQ sauce, “Kiss the Chef� aprons, or personalized ketchup bottles. Knot note: Avoid unwelcome guests with anti-mosquito candles.

2. The Orient Express Think fusion: Have a Chinese restaurant cater dinner, hire a sushi chef to make rolls, and serve mini-pad thais as an appetizer. From colorful paper lanterns and parasols to ornate origami, festive décor is just one trip to Chinatown (or a visit to an online supplier) away. For centerpieces, try exotic and fragrant orchids, colorful lotus blossoms or just fanciful origami creations. Fried bananas or mango ice cream bring a sweet finale to your gathering. Consider ornate fans or personalized fortune cookies as favors.

3. Go for a Dip From buffets to multicourse served meals, fondue adds fun to any meal. Start with toast points and various cheese pots: blue cheese or Gruyere are good starters. Move on to meats, potatoes, and veggies, which can each be dipped in sauces (like teriyaki, red wine, and ginger) and cooked right on the table. For dessert, dip fresh fruit, squares of firm cake or brownies, bananas, and marshmallows in pots of melted chocolate, caramel, marshmallow, honey, and yogurt. Give guests a take-home version of one of the dishes or even a monogrammed fondue fork.

4. Let the Good Times Bowl A themed bowling party is big fun -- and sends a clear “casual attire� message to your guests. Some alleys have private rooms where you can serve food -- the menu is easy: microwave pizza (or delivery), nachos, pretzels, and other foods from the snack bar. Stage competitions between the two families, or do boys vs. girls, and give awards at the end of the night (don’t forget to honor “Most Gutter Balls�!) Winners receive a bowling shirt embroidered with “Team Chris & Sara,� while everyone else takes home sugar cookies iced to look like bowling balls.

5. Feelin’ Lucky? Send out invitations on customized playing cards for your casino night, and decorate surfaces with chocolate poker chips. Let your bridal party take turns dealing blackjack, poker, and other card games (or hire a real dealer), and consider, bingo matches and having raffle prizes. No casino is complete with out lots of chic sips, so keep the champagne flowing as gambling guests spend the evening toasting the bride and groom.

6. A Party You Can Really Dig Serve up fresh seafood with all the New England fixin’s at a traditional clambake. For a feast with an authentic setting too, go to the beach and dig a two- or three-foot deep pit lined with rocks and build a wood fire top. For an easier, landlocked version, steam clams and provisions on a stovetop and haul them to a beachier locale. Fill buckets with shells and seafood-shaped candies at each table for fun favors.

7. Welcome to the Big League Proclaim the wedding festivities officially underway with an excursion to a local stadium or baseball field for some hoots and dogs. Many ballparks offer group packages, complete with a congratulatory message on the scoreboard. Personalized baseball caps or plastic beer steins make perfect souvenirs after guests have eaten their fill of Cracker Jacks and peanuts. For your own memories, have all the guests sign a “game ball.�

8. Toast of the Town Let your guests explore their inner oenophile by throwing a wine tasting party. Select six to eight different wines of all the same grape varietal (do all Shiraz, or all chardonnay, etc.) so guests can really taste the difference a winemaker and a vineyard makes. Start by presenting the different wines with the cheeses they complement, or invite a local vintner to do the honors. For décor think grapes, grapes, and more grapes. You can hang, stream, and strategically place bunches of fresh red and green grapes, vines, and berries on tables with beautiful results. And for favors? Mini wine bottles, of course.

9. Destination Theme Going somewhere tropical for your honeymoon? Give guests a little sneak peek and transform your dinner into your destination. Hang hammocks from trees in your backyard, serve dinner buffet-style on long surfboards, blend pina coladas and daiquiris, and let Jimmy Buffet blast. For fun favor ideas, try personalized messages in glass bottles, flip-flops, or gift certificates for a spray tans.

10. Tee Time If you and your fiancé share a love of the links, let your guests in on your spare-time passion. Have your rehearsal dinner at a country club or golf course, and let everyone spend cocktail hour perfecting their swing at the driving range. Get creative with your gift ideas and personalize golf tees or golf balls. For a pared-down version, set up a putting area in your own yard and build an obstacle-laden mini-golf course. Fore!�