Rehersal Dinners

Army Wife'79 · #1 02-23-2008, 11:19 AM

What's the latest trend in Rehersal Dinners? I've seen everything from: At the house buffets, to casual restaurants to fancy restaurants.

Regarding liquor: everything from no booze, to beer and wine only; full bar all night; full bar for the first hour then it's cash bar (except champagne toasts); cash bar all night; and finally one place we each got 2 free drink tickets then after they were gone it's cash bar.

and the guest list: everyone who came to the wedding from out of town was invited; just the official bridal party or the bridal party and dates?

Tell me about YOUR rehersal dinner and your thoughts. Thanks.

Benzgirl · #2 02-23-2008, 12:14 PM

I don't know that there is such a thing as a trend for rehearsal dinners. BUT, DO NOT HAVE A CASH BAR OR "DRINK TICKETS". It's tacky. These people are your guests. If you can't afford the booze, don't have any or have just beer and wine.

Do invite your out of town guests. They have traveled a long way, bought you a gift and typically are renting a hotel room for the weekend. Same goes for a day-after brunch.

One of my "friends" was always complaining about her "budget" for her wedding. My advice: you can't be on a budget when you invite 600 people!

texas*princess · #3 02-23-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I don't know that there is such a thing as a trend for rehearsal dinners. BUT, DO NOT HAVE A CASH BAR OR "DRINK TICKETS". It's tacky. These people are your guests. If you can't afford the booze, don't have any or have just beer and wine.

Agreed 1000000%

PhoenixAzul · #4 02-23-2008, 02:26 PM

I'm not sure of what we're doing for ours. It's either going to be bridal/grooms parties, parents, and grandparents at my house with ridiculous amounts of pizza, some wine and beer, and wii/monopoly/balderdash, or we're going to go to a restaurant and have something similarly casual. We've got wayyyy too many people from out of state to invite them all, it'd be a second wedding.

All I know is that I want the rehearsal to be CASUAL and FUN. I don't give a damn if it's classy, we'll be spending all Saturday being classy and formal. Let the night before be fun and relaxed.

That all being said, I've got no say in the matter (thankfully). I'm letting my FH and his mom think of something, and whatever they come up with I'm sure it will be fine.

SWTXBelle · #5 02-23-2008, 03:03 PM

My rehearsal dinner was at The Oaken Bucket in Houston, where we had family and the wedding party. We had prime rib and chicken, and wine. The only remarkable thing was that my (now ex) mother in law managed to throw food on the jacket of her ex-husband, my (ex) father in law. It was splattered all on one side. fun times . . . .

bejazd · #6 02-23-2008, 03:47 PM

I heard some bridal consultant suggest that if you are not going to wear your mother's wedding dress at your wedding, and she's bummed out about it, to wear her dress to the rehearsal dinner.

That sounded so bizarre to me! would anyone really do that?

PhoenixAzul · #7 02-23-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejazd

I heard some bridal consultant suggest that if you are not going to wear your mother's wedding dress at your wedding, and she's bummed out about it, to wear her dress to the rehearsal dinner.

That sounded so bizarre to me! would anyone really do that?

Ha! considering my mom is barely 5'2 and I'm 5'10...hell no, I'd never fit into it! I'm all about the re-waring and re-purposing of clothes, but my mom's dress is not exactly my style. That and wouldn't it be weird to be wearing a wedding dress while you do your rehearsal?

Someone on another board I'm on used a piece of her mother's dress as a ribbon in her bouquet, another one used her mom's dress fabric for a ring pillow. I think those are cool ideas.

WhiteDaisy128 · #8 02-23-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejazd

I heard some bridal consultant suggest that if you are not going to wear your mother's wedding dress at your wedding, and she's bummed out about it, to wear her dress to the rehearsal dinner.

That sounded so bizarre to me! would anyone really do that?

I actually do know someone that did that...they looked stunning too! Here is my friend Melissa in her mom's gown (she had it cut to the knees) for her rehearsal.

I cut my mom's dress up to make a ring bearers pillow, so I couldn't do that.

My rehearsal dinner was wedding party (their dates), and family (my dad and uncle, his mom, dad, his dad's fiance, her three adult children and their dates). In all it was about 30 people. We had it at a nice restaurant. His dad paid for everything (including alcohol). There was a special menu where we could pick from 5 dinner choices, etc. It was really nice. We had our own room.

Benzgirl · #9 02-23-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

I'm not sure of what we're doing for ours. It's either going to be bridal/grooms parties, parents, and grandparents at my house with ridiculous amounts of pizza, some wine and beer, and wii/monopoly/balderdash, or we're going to go to a restaurant and have something similarly casual. We've got wayyyy too many people from out of state to invite them all, it'd be a second wedding.

One of the most fun rehearsal dinners I ever went to was the most casual. It was my brother's, back in the 80s.

Our uncle was a chef most of his life and his gift to the couple was to prepare all of the food for the rehearsal dinner. The problem was that he had just retired and sold his restaurant.

We actually had the dinner at his house, on the back porch. The food, was fabulous and the alcohol was minimal: Wine, Beer and Champagne. Everyone wore shorts and golf shirts.

I think, because of the casual setting, everyone got to meet a lot more people than they would have at a sit-down dinner. It was like a big party (about 80 people).

SWTXBelle · #10 02-23-2008, 05:26 PM

The most fun one I have ever been to was my baby brother's - held in the Elvis Room at Chuy's - Richmond (that location is now, alas, closed). Think pink room, Elvis on black velvet oil paintings, photos, kitchy decor - the bride's family from Connecticut was FLOORED!!!! Yeah, Chuy's margaritas!

RaggedyAnn · #11 02-23-2008, 06:31 PM

We had ours at out favorite restaurant-that happens to be Chinese. They had a catering menu that we were able to order platters off of. It was so successful that 4 years later my brother had his at the same restaurant. Immediate family, grandparents, bridal parties and their significant others were in attendance both times. At both events the groom's parent paid for everything...drinks and food.

I went to a friend's sister's and they had a clam bake. That one was really fun...but you have to live by the shore.

As far as the drink tickets idea, my brother gave each guest at his wedding a drink ticket at their place setting instead of having an open bar at the wedding. I thought it was a great idea if that is something you do-since people tend to over do it and waste the alcohol in open bar situations.

LeslieAGD · #12 02-23-2008, 07:23 PM

Our rehearsal dinner was at a restaurant/martini bar. We served salads, pizzas, and bread, and guests could buy their own alcoholic beverages if they wanted.

We included immediate family, the whole bridal party (including readers, etc), and all out of town extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins).

trojangal · #13 02-23-2008, 07:29 PM

My parents sponsored our rehearsal dinner since DH parents are deceased. We wanted a casual get-together with all the wedding party members and family members in town as well as those out of town people who arrived early. It was sort of an open door policy. We had a buffet set up with all kinds of different foods from BBQ and potato salad and coleslaw and baked beans as well as baked chicken, mixed vegetables, salad. We had the opportunity to visit with almost-family friends who flew in from the state and spend that time. It was definitely low-key, casual, and most important, FUN!

texas*princess · #14 02-23-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteDaisy128

I actually do know someone that did that...they looked stunning too! Here is my friend Melissa in her mom's gown (she had it cut to the knees) for her rehearsal.

that is actually really cute. i think it could work if you change it up as long as the mom didnt have a crazy wedding dress.

Fleur de Lis · #15 02-23-2008, 08:41 PM

We had a buffet dinner in a Maggiano's special event room with family, bridal party, and out of town guests. We had a slide show there of pictures of us growing up and from our engagement shoot. People still rave about how good the food was, and we ate on the leftovers for weeks! I think we had a bottle of red wine per table (there were a lot of non-drinkers) and a dessert. It was relaxed and Maggiano's did a great job. I highly recommend going with a venue that will do all of the work for you!