Rehearsal dinner - how far ahead to book?

I don't want to go Without FiLs but I'm worried about this being put off too long due To FFiLs schedule. Am wondering if we should go alone or if I should make it a date with only FMil and myself to get it done sooner?

Once you find a place you want then book it. We signed our rehearsal dinner contract in January and our wedding was in August.

@Jennifer finding the place seems to be the problem. We feel really good about this place and like it better than our other option, but we don't want to book without testing the food and getting Both FiLs together is difficult. And with FMiL paying for half I don't want to pick without her.

If I read your OP correctly, you are wanting to schedule a dinner with your FMIL/FFIL at the one place, but it's been hard due to schedules/storms, correct?

I would pick 2 dates that work for you and your FH and invite your FILs to join you. Let them decide between the 2 dates what works best for them. If they cannot make either of the dates, you and your FH go. I think they would understand.

IMO, rehearsal dinners should be scheduled ASAP. The details can be worked out later but date and time need be put on the calendar. Because yours will be at a restaurant as opposed to a walk-in place/private residence, all the more reason to decide sooner rather than later.

ETA : that's nice that you want to include your FILs with the food tasting.

We booked our rehearsal dinner last October (2016) for our July 2017 wedding. We were in a similar situation with our venue being it the middle of nowhere and only bring able to have Thursday rehearsal dinners. Since we did not want our guests to take 2 business days off for our wedding. We decided to have it else where in a nearby city about 20 minutes away on Friday afternoon. Good luck with everything!

@Kathleen thanks! Sorry that My OP is a bit confusing, posting from mobile so can't easily back read until I hit post.

FFiL isn't really into the whole wedding planning so I don't think he would be upset if we went without him but I Know FMiL really enjoys being included. I'll try the two dates idea and hopefully one of them works For FiLs! We do already have a date and time because the actual rehearsal is scheduled by the venue when the contract is signed but I am definitely worried about the restaurant being booked for that night since it's a pretty popular place.

@Shana ours also has only Thursday rehearsals! But my Whole WP had been planning to take half days Thursday and off Friday anyway, since FH is going to spend Friday with his guys and I'll be with My BMs. Looks like I need to try and get this done ASAP then, feel so behind on this lol.

Ours is booked already. I would ask FMIL if it's okay to go without FFIL. I would just be honest and tell her it needs to be booked ASAP. If they can't go, maybe you and FH go to make sure it's good, book it, and then the four of you go later for another dinner.

@MrsSullivan I'm definitely going to ask her about that now. We'll see her this weekend and I'll talk to her then, see if she Thinks FFiL will mind us going without him. He hadn't input anything wedding wise so far so I'm not sure he'll mind but yeah I've been worried about us falling behind on this and now that I've got all this Input I'm sure I need to get this done soon.

@catlady oh no I didn't even think about that. This restaurant is in a popular hotel here and I don't think they do weddings but I'll bet anything that have many weddings using them for hotel blocks since they offer transportation to and from any local venue. They have more than one private room but still that makes me nervous about them having openings. Thanks for that advice!

How formal is the booking process? Is it something where you will need to sign a contract, give a deposit, etc? Or is it just a matter of getting a reservation for the restaurant's back room?

If it's something you can easily cancel I would go ahead and do it now. Then go with the in-laws to decide if you want to keep the reservation or keep looking. But if you are going to have to sign a contract, I would wait. If they are paying a portion and they want to be involved, it seems a little uncouth to go around them and book something without their input.

If this was the only possible place to do the rehearsal dinner you wouldn't be bothering with a tasting anyway since you would have no choice. If there are other options it's not super-mega-urgent to book this one right this minute.

@StPaulGal Yeah I'm not sure if there's a contract or not for this place, we haven't gotten very in depth in questions with them since we haven't even tasted the food. Was planning to ask them when we go to taste. Since it's a pretty big and popular place I think they'll have us do a deposit. We do have a few other options yes, places that won't require anything except a reservation. They're not as ideal as this place (more limited menus, a little further from the venue, less formal) but they'll work nonetheless.

We booked ours about 8 months out, but started doing research and getting pricing/proposals about a year out. When my brother got married my mom waited until 6 months before the wedding to book the restaurant and it was already taken.

I'd book ASAP. We're looking at place for our RD in December, the biggest hurdle has been my Mom saying I'm inconsiderate to consider a restaurant other than the one at the venue (FILs are paying for it)...ugh lol.

I'd try to go with them, like a PP pick a few days that work. But if you can't, go yourself and try the food. If you like it, discuss with the FILs and make a decision.

Every place I've looked at for an RD does a contract and deposit. I'd find out their process upfront by calling and seeing what their process is.

We booked our Rehearsal Dinner this past December for June 29. I would definitely do it asap june dates book fast

Need to book it sooner than later.