• A Christmas wedding rehearsal is unique in that there are expectations for both a wedding rehearsal and a holiday celebration. The rehearsal is the easy part, as most participants won't need much practice. Because of this, a significant amount of energy is put into planning the actual dinner. For a Christmas wedding rehearsal dinner, options range from the elegant to the casual, from Christmas Day classics to a few new adventures, all with the aim of good food and showing appreciation for those who are sharing in your special day.
  
  

Appetizers

• If you expect a large crowd for the rehearsal dinner, consider a buffet, offering several options. Martha Stewart Online offers "A Caroling Party" buffet menu that balances savory and sweet and offers a bevy of elegant options, including oysters with mignonette gelee, white crudites with buttermilk dip and a smoked salmon platter with fennel salad. For a young or fuss-free crowd, try cheese and chocolate fondue, cheeseballs, sugar glazed nuts and a seafood platter.
  
  

Dinner

• For the elegant crowd, there are many options. Consider a crown roast, pork loin, prime rib, goose or glazed ham as the main entree. Martha Stewart Online has a Glazed Ham with Apricot-Mustard Sauce for those wishing to forgo the traditional brown sugar and pineapple recipe. Consider an easy roast that you can make in advance and can dress up or down depending on the crowd. Or, if you'd like to forgo the Christmas theme altogether and aren't afraid of a little cold, pull out a grill, and ask a friend or relative to throw on a few of the old standbys. Steak, salmon, lamb shanks, hamburgers, hot dogs and skewers of shrimp are bound to please the fussy and the not-so-fussy alike.
  
  

Dessert

• Desserts are a great place to try favorites and a few new endeavors. Consider serving cherry-covered cheesecake, German chocolate cake, red velvet cake, apple and blueberry pie alongside a few more adventurous options. Try butterscotch pie from Delish.com or Martha Stewart's chocolate peppermint cake. For no-fuss desserts, try a no-bake cheesecake, sugar cookies from ready-made dough, a few festive bags of candy and one or two store-bought cakes.
  
  

Setting the Scene

• Nothing captures the mood quite like the right music. Like all other genres, holiday music offers in a wide variety of options. If an elegant evening with a Christmas feel is what you're after, consider holiday classical music such as that offered by Arthur Fielder and The Boston Pops on its "A Christmas Festival" CD. Or, a bit of jazz might be order. Try Dave Koz's "Smooth Jazz Christmas" or Boney James' "Christmas Present." There's Christmas music to suit every musical genre should you wish to play some at your rehearsal dinner.