Wedding Allergies, Part 2: Rehearsal Dinner, Cocktail Hour, and Reception
Rehearsal Dinner, Cocktail Hour, and Reception
Welcome back to Part 2 of my series on navigating food allergies at my wedding! In Part 1, I shared how I handled food allergies during hair and makeup prep. Today, I’m diving into three of the most food-filled moments: the Rehearsal Dinner, Cocktail Hour, and Reception.
Rehearsal Dinner
I feel so lucky that our wedding was at Franklin Plaza, a venue with an incredible catering team who went above and beyond to make sure I could safely enjoy most of the food. We met with the staff multiple times to review menus, ingredients, and service procedures so the servers were allergy-aware.
There were absolutely no peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds in the building all weekend. Since I’m lactose intolerant (not severely allergic, though I usually say “dairy allergy” at restaurants to be extra cautious), the venue did still serve some dairy dishes—but they were extremely careful to ensure nothing made for me contained any dairy at all.
Our rehearsal dinner was held upstairs, buffet-style, with tables full of fruits, vegetables, hors d'oeuvres, carving stations, and more. The setup was beautiful, but even with all the planning and communication, I still made it a point to ask questions and confirm ingredients when I arrived.
Pro tip: It’s always worth double-checking in the moment, no matter how many conversations you’ve had beforehand. Plans can change, substitutions happen, and peace of mind is priceless.
Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour is always one of the most exciting parts of a wedding—it’s buzzing with energy, food is being passed left and right, and everyone is eager to celebrate. But with allergies, it can also be one of the most stressful times to eat since you’re busy greeting guests while trays are constantly moving past you.
Still, I carved out a moment to a few things, including the lamb chops, one of our longtime favorites with this caterer, and I’m so glad I did. I also worked with the team to make sure Josh (my husband) had plenty of his favorites that were allergy-friendly.
Beyond just us, I was thrilled that the 10–15 guests with allergies or dietary restrictions also had safe options and felt comfortable eating. That was something I really cared about—making sure no one felt left out or stressed about food on such a special day.
Reception
Dinner was a sit-down meal where guests could choose from four entrée and side options. For anyone with restrictions, the caterer seamlessly provided customized safe dishes without hesitation, which was such a relief. Josh and I both went with the braised short rib—absolutely delicious! He paired his with creamy mashed potatoes, while I opted for roasted potatoes to keep things dairy-free.
By this point in the night, I was able to relax and actually enjoy the meal knowing that everything had been handled ahead of time. That’s the beauty of planning and working with a team you can trust—it frees you up to truly celebrate.
A Few Tips (Even on Your Own Wedding Day!)
Over-communicate. Even if you’ve planned thoroughly, ask again when you arrive—peace of mind is worth it.
Think about your guests. Work with your caterer to accommodate friends and family with allergies too—it makes a big difference.
Make time to eat. Between dancing and mingling, it’s easy to forget. But you deserve to enjoy the food you worked so hard to plan!
Wrapping It Up
Looking back, I’m so grateful for how smoothly everything went—from the rehearsal dinner through the reception. Was it a lot of planning and communication? Absolutely. But it was worth every conversation and email to know that not only I, but also our guests with allergies, could enjoy the day without stress.
