ugh...rehearsal dinner....

I think 30 min is fine! Do that, no need to spend money you don't have. Plus it's more personal at a house.

The only reason to not have it at your moms is because you have to clean up and then with everything going on the next day it makes your night longer when you all need rest.

This is the bane of my existence right now. Long story short, my FMIL is trying to plan it. UGGGGG. She keeps saying we can do what I want, and then in the next sentence is making contradictory suggestions.

We normally do birthday parties and other gathering at my moms house and my family is all really good at helping clean up the kitchen before they leave no matter what its for. The only other thing is should I order food from a resturant or should we prepare it ourselves. FH parents are not willing to help pay for anything and this is part of what they would be paying for so its making it hard.

There's nothing wrong with having a rehearsal at home and making BBQ. We're having our rehearsal at the pizzeria where FH and his best man work. You can have it at home and get some Little Caesars pizza if you want, no need to bust your budget.

We're thinking of doing one at home as well. Our WP is small, so we're looking at 10-12 total. We'll have it catered, just pick it up on the way home from the venue. And we'll do paper plates, plastic utensils, you name it... Throw EVERYTHING away.

We are doing a BBQ at the venue. Burgers and hot dogs. I don't see an issue with the rehearsal being at your mom's house.

No need for it to be expensive. My girlfriend made her house look like a pizzeria. We saved wine bottles for her and she put a candle in each one. Then she borrowed all a few card tables and chairs from people she knew. Pushed her furniture to the edges of the room and set up the tables in the middle. Went to the fabric store and bought red checkered patterned fabric which she covered the tables with. Put the wine bottle in the middle, lit the candle. Then she had 5 pizzas delivered using one an online code. One of the bridesmaids brought a box of wine and the groom brought a case of beer. Had a sheet cake with their picture on it made at the grocery store for $30. Since we weren't sitting at a restaurant table we could all actually talk to one another and hang out. The decorations made it feel like it was more special then just being in her dining/room living room. It was the BEST rehearsal I have ever been to! It was so much fun and very relaxed...$100 tops!!

Almost Mrs P- That sounds like it was amazing!

We will be having about 30 people total for the rehearsal thats why I dont want it at a reasturant and its WAY cheaper to buy a few cases of beer and other drinks then buying them at a reasturant. I'll talk it over with my mom to see what she says about doing it there because we are already doing the bridal shower there as well.

It really was an awesome rehearsal..about 20-25 people. Their thank you speech that night still makes me tear up when I think about it!

Another option that has been mentioned is a BBQ. I'm not sure where you live, but I live in the Washington DC Metro area so things are pretty expensive here. Despite the fact that catering is usually CRAZY expensive -- we looked into a catered BBQ rehearsal in my parents' backyard. It was going to be $9 a person and included 2 meats, 2 sides, all the paper/plastic wear, and staff (1 person) to set it up and take it down. Not bad! My family does NOT clean up so well after themselves though so we decided not to do that to my mom! Maybe call one or two places and see what the pricing is. Good luck! It will be wonderful no matter what you decide to do!

I live in Phoenix, AZ area so its pretty expensive in some areas near by. I called to a few mexican reasturants and it was around $200 to start but that is for 10-15ppl. So it will add up fast.

Our friends had pasta at her mothers house. It was great.

We are having pizza.

For my first wedding, my IL's hosted our rehearsal dinner in there home. I don't see anything wrong with it.

30 minutes is OK. Not the end of the world. Would people have an idea where it is? If not, you can always print directions and a map for them and hand them out during rehearsal or send it out prior via e-mail (make sure you have copies of the directions during rehearsal).

No need to be expensive at all.

With my first wedding, we had a RD at our friends house and had a pool party - I had some cold dishes catered. If I had more time avail, I could have even got the meat & sides cheaper at BJ's. You can have it as casual as YOU want.

I'm planning on doing my rehearsal dinner at my church... ironically I'm not getting married in my church lol and it's 30 minutes at least from my venue but we're just going to do a mock run through then and the day of we'll do a real rehersal before hair make-up and all that so I think a parents house would be fine

There is no need to spend a lot of money. After FFIL and his wife backed out on paying we were actually talking about doing it in our backyard here, but we will be moving before then. My MOH had said that we could have it at her place as long as we can provide tables for the backyard (I will be staying there that night anyway along with the other two bridesmaids). My brother and my parents offered their folding tables and picnic tables from their houses (to be picked up again the day after the wedding) and we were going to just get bulk BBQ from a local place, which is way cheaper than $12 and would be ready to go. My PA and her husband were going to pick it up since they will not need to be at the wedding rehearsal for the whole time. But FMIL and her husband stepped up when they found out about FFIL backing out and offered to cover it. And the flowers that they had originally said they would.

We had the bridal party/ parents over to my dh sisters house, we provided the wine beer, salad, and pizza. Everyone was happy and mingled and fed. As long as you are providing food people are happy.

Another option is bbqing things.

Mrs. Jones 2013 - absolutely NOTHING wrong with doing a Rehearsal Dinner at your mom's house. REMEMBER - THIS IS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FH. PERIOD! You guys have to do what works for you and your budget.

Fortunately for us... our church is allowing us to use a room already covered with serving space, tables, chairs, etc for a cost of $100. We are catering in barbecue from a local restaurant and are only inviting the wedding party and their spouse/guest.

We are keeping it very informal and simple.

I actually think it's pretty cool to have it at your mom's house. If my family lived here, that could definitely be an option for us!

Thank you everyone, All I need to do now is search places for the best catering price and also make sure my mom is ok with us doing it there. I really dont want to spend more then $300 for rehersal dinner for food and drinks. Alot of the places I looked at were at least $300 for the space. Its crazy how much it is for planning a wedding.

Yes...wedding costs are something special (to say the least).

I think you can do a lot with a $300 budget... I think someone may have already said this, but buy plastic plates, cutlery, cups.

Also - would you consider cooking or would someone else be willing to cook. Like a few pans of lasagna, salad, breadsticks, and Iced tea.

You can also order in Pizza make a large salad and serve iced tea and soft drinks. You could even order dessert from a local grocery store or make something.

Remember - keep it simple and FUN. Some people "do it up big" (translation - spend a lot of money --and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that) but if it's not in your budget, it's just NOT necessary. Keep in mind... your guests and wedding party are already getting to attend a reception the following day. The Rehearsal Dinner is just your time to bond with your wedding party and thank them for their support. You don't have to spend a lot of money to do that. Best to you!!