What To Eat the Night Before Your Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and what you eat the night before can significantly impact how you feel the next day. A well-thought-out dinner can help you wake up energised, avoiding bloating, and ready to say, “I do.” So, let’s get straight to it, what is the best thing to eat the night before your wedding?

Opt for light, protein-packed dishes like salads, lean meats, and whole grains the evening before your wedding to help you feel full without any bloating. Steer clear of greasy, spicy, or overly salty foods to avoid puffiness or feeling sluggish the next morning. Don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Here’s a guide to choosing the right foods for your pre-wedding meal, what to avoid, and tips to ensure you feel your absolute best on your big day.

What Should You Have For Dinner the Night Before Your Wedding?

When planning your dinner, focus on balance. The goal is to fuel your body with nutrients that will promote restful sleep and provide sustained energy for the day ahead. Here’s a few of our favourite pre-wedding day meal ideas:

Salads & Roasted Veggies

Veggies are a light, easy-to-digest food that are perfect for reducing bloating ahead of your big day. Ensure you incorporate lots of roasted veggies into your dinner, or enjoy a hearty salad with a protein source of your choice.

Looking for delicious salad inspo? Try these recipes:

• Green Goddess Orzo Salad
• Salmon & Egg Potato Salad (super high in protein!)
• Brussels Sprout, Apple & Cranberry Salad
• Prawn Fruit Salad
• Chicken Satay Salad
• Greek Orzo Salad
• Courgette & Butter Bean Salad
• Grilled Courgette & Feta Salad

 

Veggies on their own won’t keep you satisfied. Pair these delicious salads with a lean source of protein and some wholegrains for a complete meal!

Lean Fish & Meat

Incorporating lots of protein into your dinner is essential for feeling satisfied, whilst keeping the number of calories consumed low. Great protein options include:

• Steak (particularly if you’re celebrating!)
• Grilled chicken
• Steamed salmon
• Cod or sea bass
• Eggs
• Tofu or tempeh 

Enjoy your fish or meat with wholegrains such as rice, cous cous, quinoa, burglar wheat, or roasted potatoes to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Sandwiches 

If you’re craving something light but satisfying, sandwiches can be a great choice – just try and keep them on the healthier side. Opt for whole-grain bread and fill them with your favourite fillings – my go-to is pesto, mozzarella, and tomato or coronation chicken!

Sandwiches are also a great choice if you’re short on time the evening before – you can order them from a local caterer, and enjoy a bite here and there whilst finishing off any last-minute wedding prep!

Grazing Platters

Cheese and charcuterie grazing boards are a fantastic option for a relaxed-vibe meal the night before your wedding, plus, they can be made well ahead of time. They are filled with a selection of cheese and cured meats – which are both high in protein – as well as fruit, nuts, crudites, and delicious jams and chutneys. They also give you full control over portion size – you can make it a full meal, or just have a light bite if that’s all you fancy!

What Food Should You Avoid the Night Before Your Wedding

While it’s essential to know what’s best to eat, avoiding certain foods is just as important. Here’s what you might want to stay away from to decrease your chances of bloating or feeling sluggish the next day!:

Greasy and Fried Foods

Greasy foods, such as fried chicken or even fast food like McDonalds, can lead to bloating, indigestion, and sluggishness. They’re also more likely to disrupt your sleep, due to their high sugar content, which is the last thing you want before your big day.

Spicy Dishes

As much as you may love a fiery curry or spicy Mexican feast, these foods can irritate your stomach and cause discomfort, maybe even some tummy troubles! Avoid anything overly spicy to ensure your night sleep isn’t disrupted, and you don’t have unnecessary bloating the next morning.

Sugary Foods That’ll Keep You Up

Eating sugary foods the night before your wedding risks keeping you up, especially when combined with pre-wedding nerves! Sugary foods mainly come in the form of pudding and dessert, but some main meals may be high in sugar, too. I’d recommend avoiding BBQ ribs, sweet-and-sour dishes, and teriyaki chicken/salmon.

Excessive Salt

Salty foods like chips, processed snacks, or heavily seasoned dishes can cause water retention, leading to puffiness in your face the next morning. Keep sodium levels in check to wake up feeling your best.

Boozy Desserts

While desserts with alcohol can seem indulgent and celebratory, they’re best avoided right before your big day. Alcoholic sweet treats can also interfere with your sleep cycle and leave you feeling dehydrated (especially when paired with a glass of fizz!). Common desserts to avoid include:

• Tiramisu
• Black forest cake
• Brandy sauce (usually served with sticky toffee pudding or Christmas cake!)
• Sherry trifle
• Boozy sorbet

Final Top Tips For the Night Before Your Wedding

Here are a few of our final top tips for eating and drinking the night before your wedding:

1. Don’t Eat Too Late 

Have your last meal, or your evening snack, at least 3 hours before you plan to head to sleep. Not only will this ensure a better quality of sleep overall (helping you feel refreshed in the morning!), but also allows time for digestion and reduces the risk of heartburn or discomfort as you lie down. 

2. Stick To Familiar Foods

Whilst it may be tempting to try a dish you’ve never had before, especially if you’re eating out at a restaurant, we wouldn’t recommend it the night before your wedding – particularly if it’s a completely different cuisine to your usual! Whilst you’ll probably be absolutely fine, you don’t want to risk any chance of an upset tummy. Spending the night over the toilet is not something you want ahead of your big day.

3. Ensure Your Morning Food is Ready To Go

If you’re having a catered breakfast or snacks in the morning, ensure they’re arranged and ready to go. This eliminates stress and ensures you start your wedding day right.

Looking for healthy breakfast ideas for the morning of your big day? Read our helpful guide: What To Eat the Morning Of Your Wedding

4. Treat Yourself, But Don’t Overindulge

It’s okay to enjoy a treat on the evening of your wedding (like a few squares of dark chocolate or your favourite dessert), but keep portions small to avoid feeling overly full or sluggish – there’ll be plenty of time for treats tomorrow and on your honeymoon!

5. Ensure You Stay Hydrated

Ensure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day and in the evening (doing so keeps you looking glowy and feeling energised!), but taper off closer to bedtime to avoid middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom, which may disrupt your sleep. If you often forget to drink water when you’re busy, much like myself, keep a water bottle on you at all times, or, set regular reminders on your phone!

Pre-Wedding Catering With Savery Grazing

At Savery Grazing, we specialise in making your wedding day (or weekend!) stress-free and delicious. Whether you need a balanced, elegant dinner spread for the night before or a beautiful bridal brunch platter for the morning of your wedding, we’ve got your wedding catering covered.

Get in touch with our team to book your graze, or explore what we have to offer on our Products page.

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