Rehearsal Dinner

Could you order pizza and have it at someone's house?

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I thought about just having everyone back to the suite we have for the weekend, we're all at 45-60 mins away from home so a house is not an option. Only issue is I don't think our suite would comfortably fit 30 people.

You can do a casual rehearsal dinner. It doesnt have to be a fancy restaurant.
I don't know how you feel about Chinese Buffets but those are typically cheap.

We hosted daughter's RD at a BJ's restaurant. Most have a space they can use for large groups/private parties. Their buffet prices start at about $18 pp for unlimited pizza, salad and nonalcoholic beverages, and they'll let you bring in a cake. We did an upgraded menu and covered a full bar, and we had about 45 guests (included all OOT guests), and including bar, tax and a generous tip, it was about $1700. (Also, during November-December, they had a deal where if you bought $100 gift cards, you got an additional $25 gift card free and a discount coupon, all of which could be used after January 1. So, we bought a $1000 in gifts cards in December, to use for the RD in January, and that saved us $250 with the extra gift cards and I think the discount coupon was another 15 or 20% off. And, they were very easy to work with. You could likely do something similar for a much smaller group.

Another option would be to do take-out from some place like Pollo Loco or something similar, and have the dinner at someone's home or maybe a common room at an apartment or condo complex.

EDT:

A few years ago, we had daughter & her then BF (now husband's) college grad party at BJ's and just did the basic pizza buffet, with more limited alcohol (just beer & wine, and people didn't drink nearly as much as at the RD), for about 35 people and I think it was around $600. They do a nice job of making it a nicely hosted event for a relatively lower price.

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Yeah I think it will have to be very casual, which I am alright with. Most everyone would love a Chinese Buffet, but a few would not and those few are some of the most important people to me so I want them to be happy.

Does the hotel where you suite is have a conference room or another space that they could let you use to host a pizza and salad dinner? I agree it doesn't have to be something fancy - people love pizza and will probably love that it is casual and laid back.

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For sure an option. Our biggest issue is cost. Because is wasn't in our budget to start with, keeping it as low as possible is our top concern. I might just tell everyone to wear jackets and get pizza and have it in a park. Or is that tacky?

Were doing Publix catering. They deliver and it’s cost us about $10/person

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I think the only issue with this is that weather can be such a crap shoot in So Cal in the winter. It POURED for six days straight prior to daughter's January wedding last year, then we totally lucked out had an absolutely gorgeous, 78 degree day for the wedding (the only sunny Saturday, in a six-week run; it rained for all the others). February could be beautiful, or it could be crazy rain, wind, etc. For that reason, I think you really need to have a weather related plan B. What about a more low-key pizza place, where they typically host kids' sports team groups? I don't know if you have them in La Verne, but in OC we have Ballpark pizza and other similar places where the food will be pretty cheap and they might be able to accommodate you. Good luck!

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We don't have Publix, but that's a good idea to check through markets.

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Costco pizzas are also very reasonable, if there's one close.

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Yeah I am really rolling the dice with the weather, last year was insane! That's another good idea smaller pizza place. I think that would be enjoyable for everyone. Most of our friends and family would rather have a good time than a fancy dinner anyway!

We had ours at a restaurant and we met with the manager in advance to basically make up our own menu. We told him our budget was $25 per person and what could he give us for $25? He put together a menu of basically every entree that he could do for that amount, and added in some appetizers for the table too. Worked out really nicely because people got to order their own dishes but we knew it was going to be a flat fee no matter what. Maybe you could work something like that out with a restaurant?

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That could be an option.

Thank you everyone, I think I might go with Round Table pizza, they have reasonable prices and hopefully will be able to accommodate 30 people on a Friday evening!

We are having our rehearsal dinner in the breakfast area of our hotel. We are having pizza and snacks and drinks. 25 people approximately.

I am so sorry you are having this change to your plans. Would they consider splitting the cost ?


I would also adjust your guest list - if you haven’t already invited people ... if you haven’t already invited people then only invite wedding party and immediate family.

I am actually in the same boat as well. I’m not sure if you are staying in a hotel or not, but if there is a courtyard, the hotel should let you host it there. Also, some hotels will have grills available and you can make it like a barbecue! That’s our plan. Sorry to hear they took back their offer, I know how frustrating that can be!