Who to Invite
You should definitely invite everyone in the wedding party; that is, the bridesmaids and groomsmen (or bridesmen and groomswomen!) and the parents of both partners. You can also invite any children participating in the ceremony as flower girls or ring bearers and their parents, but if your fancy sit-down dinner doesn't seem like something the kids would enjoy, you can just invite the parents. If your rehearsal dinner is more of a dinner than a rehearsal, though, feel free to invite other friends and already-arrived out-of-town guests.What to Rehearse
If it's very important to you that every aspect of your ceremony go off without hitch or hesitation, or if you're planning anything complicated, you might want to opt for a full walk-through with the whole wedding party and officiant. If you're planning a simple ceremony, a quick run through of cues and places might be sufficient.The Dinner
The dinner can be as formal or informal as you like; you can use the same caterer you're hiring for your wedding reception, rent a room in your favorite restaurant or hold a simple potluck in your home.Here are some ideas for a unique rehearsal dinner:
Picnic: If the weather is good, there's nothing as nice as a picnic under the North Carolina sunshine. You can experiment with classic picnic fare; in addition to the traditional foods like deviled eggs, chicken salad and watermelon, why not try mini quiches, grilled veggie shish kabobs or sushi? Bring along a soccer ball or a croquet set, or even one of those ball-shaped ice cream makers that you kick around to mix, and relax!
Potluck: A great way to involve your friends and family and to taste a lot of different dishes is to hold a potluck. Why not pick a theme: have everyone bring a dish from their childhoods, a dish featuring something red or an Asian-inspired dish?
Fondue: Few meals are as fun as fondue; everyone loves spearing little morsels of meat, vegetable, fruit or bread on a fork and dipping it in broth, oil, cheese or chocolate. Look for a local fondue restaurant or pick up a few fondue pots (there are usually a couple at the thrift store!) and get dipping. You can even think of creative punishments for when your guests lose their morsels of food in the pot; maybe they'll have to tell a story about the bride or groom!
If you'd rather go the restaurant route, here are a few popular North Carolina spots that are used to hosting large parties:
La Residence (Chapel Hill): A locally-owned restaurant serving French-inspired gourmet cuisine, La Residence has hosted weddings, rehearsal dinners and receptions for years, are able to accommodate up to 300 people and offer the services of a wedding coordinator.
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern (Raleigh): Located in a restored historic home in Raleigh, the Second Empire offers a more down-to-earth tavern menu in addition to more upscale cuisine. The Second Empire also features special wedding packages and has a wedding planner on staff, and offers several private rooms, the largest of which can hold 50 people.
Crab's Claw Restaurant and Oyster Bar (Atlantic Beach): Located right on the ocean, patrons of the Crab's Claw can watch the porpoises while enjoying some of the freshest fish in North Carolina. The Crab's Claw can accommodate up to 150 people or cater outside events.
Balsam Mountain Inn(Balsam): The inn's award-winning restaurant, offering regional American cuisine, features a porch dining room with majestic mountain views.