is this mean to DF's family?

[PrincessBrideKatie]

My mom and I were discussing having a family meal, just my side of the family since the wedding will be the first time that we will all be together since my sister (who is 22yrs older than me) got married. Plus there are alot more kids now. So if we had a meal just for my family either before or after the wedding could it be misconstrued by DF's family as being an insult? It would just cost so much more to include everyone and it wouldn't be like a big family meal. What do you think? Should I just not do it at all?

I was thinking Ohana, or maybe Chef Mickey's.

 

[pooh98378]

We are having several family meals with both sides of our family, separately. We'll be eating w/ my side of the family at the MK, then we're eating at the Contemporary and MGM w/ DF's family, then we're doing a rehearsal dinner w/ both families. I don't think it would be an insult -- just ask them if they would like to eat w/ you guys at a different time so they have the option of doing the same thing.

 

[4luvofthemouse]

My Df and I struggled with this decision for awhile. We are very close to my family and not so much to his. He has had some trouble with his mom & sisters. We really wanted to have a family dinner without causing any trouble or hurting anyones feelings.
We decided to schedule a dinner for my family around the time that his family will just be getting into Orlando. We figure this way we can eat with mine and then later just hang out with his downtown or something.
I think that if you want to have a family dinner then go for it. You can explain it to his family about how you haven't seen each other for awhile, then set something up with them for later, like go out for drinks or desert.

As far as the restaurant choices...I LOVE them both!But they are completely different. It all depends whether or not you want characters.

 

[lurkyloo]

I don't think it's an insult at all - in fact, I think it's pretty normal. We're doing dinner with my side of the family two nights before the wedding, and we'll probably organize something with his side the following day.

 

[DisBride2007]

I would suggest asking your DH what his opinion is. Traditionally the night before the wedding is more of a rehearsal dinner and his family might expect to be included in something.

I'll give you a background on my situation... my family also wanted to have something for our side only. We didn't have a problem with DH's family or friends attending, we just didn't want to pay for so many of them (my parents were going to pay, and they had already put so much toward the wedding). When I suggested to DH that my parents pay for something for "their" guests, he hit the roof. So unfortunately it did come across as an insult. I would ask him for his opinion - maybe he doesn't think they will expect anything - but my guess is that if you want to do something for your family, you might at least want to set aside some time to spend with his.

GL with your decision. I know it's tough!!

 

[PrincessBrideKatie]

Thanks everyone for the input.

We are having a rehersal dinner, but its just with the bridal party and intimate family (his parents, my parents, his two brothers that live with his parents, and his grandmother) So i think its 15 in total. I was thinking more like a family breakfast with my family, since it seems like alot more of his family is being included in the rehersal dinner... however DF's parents are paying for it so I won't say anything about who they want as long as its within reason. I didn't mean it to sound like a rehersal dinner without his fam.

Its just gonna be hard to do many group meals cause so many people have different schedules.

I've done Ohana before, but with only a party of 3. I think the kids in my family would love the characters at Chef Mickey's... and Crystal Palace didn't seem to have too much room for large groups.

Any other ideas for where I could take a group of 20-25 people and everyone have fun for a meal???

 

[4luvofthemouse]

I know it's not usually one of the first picks, but if you want to have fun and kids are going to be there, I would try the Whispering Canyon.
We had such a blast there. . It's full of dry sarcastic humor, all the CM's are great and you never really know what you are going to get! Some people say it's a little too noisy, but we always enjoy it.
We had a party of 18 about 2yrs ago and honestly everybody still talks about it!

 

[lpizzuro123]

My recommendation for a location would be 'Ohana over Chef Mickey. We love both places but 'Ohana is family style and everything is delivered to your table. At Chef Mickey's people will continually be getting up to get their food. Not sure if you are having small kids or not but if so the parents will be getting up with them also to get their food. 'Ohana would be a much more relaxed atmosphere. Everyone can just sit and enjoy.

Linda