Rehearsal Dinner Alternatives

Ask the venue for a private room and see the amount per person for buffet. That way everyone will be charged to their rooms and your covered to relax without leaving the building.

Look around other small restaurants to see if they can work with you to privide the number of people based on the evening.

Our venue is about 45 minutes out of the city, so I think we'll have to find a restaurant in town for supper, otherwise by the time we get back to the city for a low key BBQ or something, it'll be a bit late.

You'll have to ask your venue. I know ours doesn't allow rehearsal dinners.

I suggest the restaurant option as long as there aren't too many people - and if there are just make sure its a restaurant that can accommodate your party. I know that at least at Perkins (as non "classy" as that is - has party rooms so that you can be private too.

View quoted message That’s a really good idea! Yeah, all together we are over 20 people and we just don’t have the budget for it on top of everything else. Thank you

It’s an option for sure, but people would have to pay for their plates. Some people have said they’re okay paying for themselves, but I don’t know if that’s rude?

We do not have the budget to host a rehearsal dinner, and our core group of just parents, bride/groom, and bridal party (no significant others, other siblings, or out of town guests) is 17 people.

We are going to most likely book space for 18 people at a restaurant close to the venue, and make it an optional "outing" for everyone to go out for dinner after the rehearsal (which is booked for the 4-6pm window). It won't be mandatory, and people will have to buy their own dinner, but it will be fun to spend time together before all parting to separate homes (bride and groom splitting up for the night).

What about renting a space/room at a local restaurant? Or even just making a big reservation and not necessarily having a private room.

You could talk to the restaurant: some restaurants offer a specific menu for groups and it is a little bit cheaper than their regular menu.