Can we talk rehearsal dinner, What is everyone doing for theirs?

FILs are throwing a get together for our "rehearsal dinner". We technically do not have a rehearsal and we gave them the option, however, both families agreed since its a DW we should get everyone that is already in town together for the evening before.

We are going to a restaurant on the beach and having a buffet dinner so we can visit and hang out. I am unsure of the booze situation here, I might have a glass of wine but wouldnt want to break the bank for the FILs. I will likely have booze in my hotel room. We will have an unlimited open bar for the wedding the following evening.

Since it is a DW, everyone is invited. Everyone is from out of town except for 2 families that live down there, so we will just open it up to everyone. Our wedding is only 70 people or less so we would expect around 50 at the rehearsal because of travel and various other reasons.

Great feedback, I feel much better now. THANK YOU!

Ours will be at our church, and we are having meatloaf, mac & cheese, and green beans. Wedding party/their spouses and immediate family is invited. I think we have 25 people total.

We aren't doing a formal rehearsal dinner. Our wedding is out of state, so we're basically just renting out a small banquet room in our hotel and ordering pizza and inviting everyone who is in from out of town. Include everyone and not break the bank either.

We did ours at a Mexican restaurant. It was in the afternoon since the rehearsal was at 2:30. It was relaxed and fun. We had the restaurant make us a little menu and everyone enjoyed margaritas and tequila of course! We did open bar. We had 23 adults and 10 kids and the total was about $1,000 with tip.

We had ours and a Pizza place/bar and had pizza, wings, toasted rav, salad and drinks.

We invited our wedding party, parents, siblings and their kiddos.

@Erin what restaurant did you use? I know you are an Aptos Bride as well!

Where are you doing yours? - My mom rented a house at the venue that is designed to be a rehearsal dinner space as well

How many people are you inviting? Who is invited? Just Wedding Party and family? -Immediate family, BP, and their dates. Most immediate family is Bridal Party

Is this usually an open bar thing? - I will provide a few bottles of wine and some beer

Anything else important to know about them? - Because we didn't invite all OOT guests staying at the venue, we are having a sip and s'more party after the dinner, which everyone is invited to, but certainly not obligated to attend.

ETA: FH wanted BBQ for the rehearsal dinner. It was one of very few things he cared about. Also, we are paying for it ourselves.

We were going to go to a restaurant, but my lovely mother decided to invite all her OOT siblings (all 7)

So we opted to have catering brought into the fellowship hall of the church we're getting married at

We are having 10 people. My parents FILs best man and maid of honor( I don't have a bridal party) and my uncle from out of town. We are eating at the restaurant attached to the venue.

We are doing pizza and beer at the venue after some set up, I'm looking forward to some time in between the craziness to just sit back with my closest-WP and family and relax a bit before the wedding ! I did not want another event added with a formal dinner etc and all the weddings I have been to/in the RD with pizza or Mexican and laid back were the best!

Not a rehearsal dinner but we did a welcome diner. It was just family- my family flew from Puerto Rico and his family drove from NJ/NY. His parents rented a small room at a restaurant (artisan pizza place)- we serve apps, pizza and desert...and plenty of booze. Lasted 3ish hours.

We had ours at a restaurant near our venue. The IL's paid but my SIL on my side planned it because MIL refused to plan. She just wanted to pay. Cause I didn't have enough to plan... We had our BP, dates, and grandparents come. Plus H's OOT guests.

FILs are paying/planned ours. We're having it at maggiano's (they picked) and I'm super excited because I love Italian lol. We're doing a family style in one of the banquet rooms on the lower floor and are just inviting immediate family, bridal party, and SOs but that puts us at about 40 people.

My FILs are paying, but they are having us choose what we want. Unfortunately they have not given us a budget. We are planning to reserve a banquet room at Old Spaghetti Factory for immediate family, the wedding party and the significant others. We are trying to keep it low key.

Private room in a restaurant across the street from our hotel. Inviting BP (including their guests/children) and our immediate family. Plans are pretty casual and we won't do anything decor-wise.

My cousin recently got married and had Chipotle catered at her FILs house. Super casual and still a great time!

Our's is at the venue. We are having Italian catering such as lasagna, chicken parm, Caesar salad, garlic bread, and drinks.

ETA: We are inviting BP, parents, siblings with SO, and officiant.

Going to our favorite pizza spot with immediate family and BP. After RD we'll be hosting a meet and great for all of our out of town guests and serving pie

We are going to a family owned Italian restaurant that is just down the road from the venue. We are having about 25 people attending consisting of bridal party, immediate family, and out of town family members. We are keeping it really light and casual

@SoonToBeMrsCrush- We had it at Rio Del Mar Mexican Cuisine. Nothing fancy but the food was good and they were so nice and accommodating. We pretty much had the entire restaurant to ourselves at 3:00 on a Friday. For something nicer you could do Palapas Restaurant. It's really nice and has a beautiful view of the ocean. They have private rooms but they weren't big enough for our group. Good luck!