#1) Have a rehearsal picnic outdoors.

#2) If your family is a little more informal, a rehearsal "barbecue" can be very memorable.

#3) If you want to try something really different, a Hawaiian luau instead of a rehearsal dinner is something your guests will not soon forget.

#4) Holding a "rehearsal buffet" in someone's home can be an inexpensive option and a more intimate alternative all at the same time.

#5) A "pot luck" where all of the guests bring a dish can save money and can be a lot of fun.

#6) A very creative idea if you live near the beach is to have an old-fashioned clam bake.

#7) A dinner based on your heritage is a particularly meaningful idea if your families put a lot of emphasis on those things.  It can be a subtle way to communicate to your families that you are not forgetting the past as you look forward to the future.