We Need to Practice Dinner?

We Need to Practice Dinner?

May 27th, 2011 @ 9:17 am by Mrs. Snow Cone
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For whatever reason, shortly after getting engaged, Mr. Snow Cone and I sat down to dinner one night and hashed out where we wanted to hold our rehearsal dinner. We knew with our relatively large bridal party (14 attendants), our relatively large immediate families (a combined total of 12), and whatever ceremony participants needed to be included, our dinner guest list would probably add up pretty quickly. Johnstown doesn’t offer a plethora of restaurants that have spaces large enough to hold our group. Aside from the space restrictions, neither of us was smitten with the idea of having all of us squeezed into a room, plopped down around tables, trying to tiptoe around the restaurant staff to socialize with everyone else at the dinner.

We wanted something that was more relaxed, with all of our loved ones able to cross paths casually, chit-chatting with familiar faces and being introduced to new ones while genuinely enjoying themselves. Thankfully, we knew just the place:

My house.

Image via Raising Figure Skaters

My house is the ideal rehearsal dinner setting for us—it’s free, it won’t get double-booked, and the owners aren’t too bad to work with. All joking aside, we decided to have the dinner in my backyard because it’s logistical gem for us—sizable enough for everyone to mingle comfortably, grab a bite to eat, and just soak in the last moments of pre-wedding craziness without being too overwhelming. Plus, my house is about 45 seconds, give or take, from our caterer’s shop, so that should help the event go off without a hitch.

Beyond the logistics, this rehearsal dinner site just works for us. It’s a great blend of familiar, comfortable, formal, casual, and fun. My sentimental side loves that we’ll be eating our last meal as an unwed couple in the same location we’ve watched so many movies, inhaled so many pizzas, and just spent so many hours together, working to the ultimate goal that’s just around the corner.

getting our prom on in my backyard, 2006

To be honest, having our nearest and dearest within arm’s reach at the rehearsal dinner is one of the moments I’m most excitedly anticipating over our wedding weekend. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to take in the scene of my soon-to-be husband, our friends, and our families mingling on the eve of our wedding!

Where are you having your rehearsal dinner?

Tags: pittsburgh, rehearsal |

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9 Responses to “We Need to Practice Dinner?”

Member

azure6700 (message) 175 posts, Blushing bee

Awesome plan! We did this and we’re so glad we did. We wanted to include guests other than the wedding party–a lot of my parents’ brothers and sisters are scattered all over the country and don’t get to see each other often, and we had friends coming that we hadn’t seen in years. We really wanted a chance to catch up with everybody and to give them an opportunity to be together as well. This was the only way we could invite everybody and it worked out so well. It was such a great way to kick off the weekend and guests got to know each other in advance so that, by the time the reception came around, people were all talking to each other like old friends and there was no awkwardness. Plus the reception really flies by and there’s no way we would’ve had quality time with everyone without the rehearsal dinner!

5/27/11 @ 9:58 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Pony (message) 4,175 posts, Honey bee

This sounds like a great plan! It’ll feel like a big family/friends reunion!

5/27/11 @ 10:17 am (reply)

Member

LisaBee (message) 358 posts, Helper bee

We had a rehearsal brunch in my parent’s backyard! It was wonderful - very low key, semi-homemade, lots of love and sunshine. Great idea to have it at home!!

5/27/11 @ 1:44 pm (reply)

Guest

Courtney

Ours is going to be large as well….so we’re having it at my family’s cottage on the beach. Lots of hot dogs, hamburgers, smores, beach games, bonfires…..I can’t wait!!!

5/27/11 @ 1:58 pm (reply)

Member

MrsShamrock (message) 11 posts, Newbee

We are doing the same thing for the same reasons! It is a great decision!

5/27/11 @ 2:07 pm (reply)

Member

thefunkyjunkie (message) 18 posts, Newbee

Hey there! I’m right down the road from ya in State College, PA! We have a huge bridal party too (20 people…mmhmmmm) and just wanted to do something laid back and casual that wouldn’t cost a fortune. We actually thought about having it at my house too, but logistically for my parents, it just would have been too much. So we decided to have the rehearsal dinner at Rey Azteca, a new Mexican restaurant that just opened up around here. Super cheap, super fun…I’m excited for it.

So exciting! Can’t wait to read about your big day!

5/29/11 @ 10:22 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Elephant (message) 6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

I think that’s awesome that you’ll be having your rehearsal dinner at your parents house!

5/29/11 @ 3:04 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Snow Cone (message) 1,026 posts, Bumble bee

@azure6700: I’m glad to hear you had such a great experience with yours

@Miss Pony: I certainly hope so!!

@LisaBee: if our rehearsal were earlier, I’d love to have a rehearsal brunch! so cool!

5/30/11 @ 8:47 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Snow Cone (message) 1,026 posts, Bumble bee

@Courtney: any party with s’mores is a party I want to attend!!

@MrsShamrock: hooray for at-home rehearsal dinners!

@thefunkyjunkie: OMG. They have a Rey Azteca in Johnstown, and it is hands-down one of my fav restaurants. Seriously. It’s mind-blowingly awesome and I am drooling just thinking about their food. I whole-heartedly approve of that choice