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Melinda
Expert March 2022

Rehearsal Dinner Nightmare

Melinda, on February 4, 2022 at 10:41 AM Posted in Planning 0 12
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I’m so stressed out about this.
We are 100% paying for our wedding ourselves and are pretty much maxed out on our budget. Since I work at a bar as my second job, about six months ago my bar manager offered for us to close down the bar for a few hours and have our rehearsal dinner there. Since we already had friends catering it for us we felt pretty blessed for such a generous offer. Invites for the rehearsal dinner have gone out and decor has been purchased (our wedding is March 12th and the rehearsal the 11th).
Last night we stopped by there so I could get my schedule for the month and my manager was asking me about it all and mentioned that there is a no one under 21 policy since it was a bar. This was never shared with us and as it was an outdoor patio private party we assumed it would be fine. I have five nieces and nephews coming from 5 hours away to be part of the wedding. The only solution I was given by the manager is that the kids can have a table in the parking lot… No way! So I walked out pretty upset.
So now we are scrambling with a 1,000 dollar budget to find a space for the rehearsal. Since we are in Central California I’m stressed that we can’t find one and I will have to hold it at my house.

Sorry this is a rant more than anything. I’m so stressed out!

12 Comments

Latest activity by Pat, on February 5, 2022 at 6:38 PM
  • Amanda
    Devoted May 2022
    Amanda ·
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    A lot of parks will let you rent out gazebos and pavilions with tables, for a budget friendly option. I’ve seen that done before and it’s cute.
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  • Melinda
    Expert March 2022
    Melinda ·
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    Unfortunately since we live on the ocean I have to find somewhere with heaters or rent them. But I will be looking at a park today.
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  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Honestly, there is nothing wrong with doing it at your house. Rehearsals are low key. You can quite honestly just skip the rehearsal (and subsequent meal) all together. Unless you have a very complex ceremony, you can just spend a few minutes morning of the wedding practicing or just trust that people can walk in a straight line.
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  • Melinda
    Expert March 2022
    Melinda ·
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    As 99 percent of our guest list is traveling in a rehearsal dinner is a mandatory thing for us.
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  • Pat
    Rockstar May 2023
    Pat ·
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    Does it have to be a big dinner thing? We will have many out of state people flying in for our wedding as well. We are having a "welcome dinner" (about 30 - 35 people) and we are having a big salad, charcuterie boards and pizza on the patio of our favorite Italian restaurant. We will provide the soft drinks - any alcohol purchases will be the guests responsibility. It will run us roughly $650 (depending on number of guests) (we are on gulf coast of Florida)

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  • S
    Savvy May 2022
    Sara ·
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    Are your out of town guests staying at the same hotel? They may have a meeting space you could rent fairly cheaply
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  • R
    Rockstar
    Rosebud ·
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    Oh man that is a bummer! How many people are you planning on having at the rehearsal dinner? If you are getting married at a church sometimes they have halls/small event spaces you can rent out usually pretty cheaply. Any local VFW's you can rent for the evening? Are our out of town guests staying at a hotel, would the hotel have an space you can use? If you have everyones emails I d just send a change of location message/evite once you get the figured out. Good luck

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  • Melinda
    Expert March 2022
    Melinda ·
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    Thanks for everyone’s comments! My wedding planner came in clutch and found us a lovely heated outdoor patio for $200
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  • Candace
    Super March 2022
    Candace ·
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    Oh that's great!! I was reading this all stressed out for you lol. I'm planning my rehearsal dinner for March 18 and really looking forward to it. Good luck!
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  • R
    Rockstar
    Rosebud ·
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    Awesome! Yay!

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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle Online ·
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    Every rehearsal dinner we have attended was pizza and sodas/beer, either at a local restaurant or delivery from the couple’s favorite chain. We had never heard of anything fancier or more expensive prior to WW.
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  • Pat
    Rockstar May 2023
    Pat ·
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    Yay! So glad to hear things worked out for you. One less thing to stress about!!
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