Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

Hi, I was wondering how the rehearsal for the ceremony worked if you are getting married at the WP. Do you do the rehearsal there? Or a different location? Is it the night before the wedding? I'm just wondering how this works because I know a lot of people get married there, so I'm thinking we wouldn't have the rehearsal there, but I don't know.

I also have a question about the rehearsal dinner. Where did you have/are you having your rehearsal dinner? We are trying to keep ours small because we have almost 100 guests coming for the wedding, and we don't have a lot of money in our budget for some big dinner. Our original plan was to have the dinner at my DF's parents' house, but the house is in a different part of Orlando, about 20-30 minutes away, so we would end up going to the rehearsal, driving to the house, then driving BACK to Disney, and that's way too much of a pain for us and anybody else. So now I'm thinking we could just go to some regular restaurant, not a Disney restaurant, something like Olive Garden. I mentioned the budget thing to my MOH and she said that since it's just the bridal party and parents and g-parents, then she thinks it would be ok if everyone just paid for themselves since it's not going to be a big thing. I don't know what the etiquette is on this stuff, so any tips are greatly appreciated. TIA!

 

[pezaddict231]

You can let them know which day you want the rehearsal, ours is the day before the wedding and will be in the Wedding Pavilion. I told my planner that I would prefer it to be there and she worked out the time, but I guess if they were booked that day it would be in the convention center. So it definitely is possible to have it there, but it depends on if it is available.

I think for the rehearsal dinner generally the groom's parents or the couple pay. Of course, you know your family and friends and if they would mind paying for themselves or not. You could always have the rehearsal earlier in the day and do a rehearsal brunch or lunch. Like maybe a morning rehearsal and everyone goes to Kona Cafe afterwards for some Tonga toast? That would probably be a lot easier on the budget. Or what if you didn't do a rehearsal "dinner" but more of a "hey we're all going to this restaurant afterwards and come if you want" type of thing. This way people don't feel obligated to come but those who want to can.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I would have a hard time asking my attendants and the groomsmen to pay for the rehersal dinner after they spent money renting tuxes, buying dresses, having parties, giving gifts, and paying to attend a destination wedding. If the groom's parents can not pay for the affair, then I would try and find some type of a less expensive event. Travelling 20-30 minutes to their house is really not that much different than travelling to an offsite restaurant. I know an onsite restaurant can be pricey, but I would try and scrounge up the money from somewhere if you really do not want to leave property. Perhaps you could have something small at your hotel pool? Keep in mind you probably will receive some money as gifts. Good luck

 

[girli565]

There are some very inexspensive offsite restaurants in Orlando that you could have the rehearsal dinner at. On theknot.com they have lists of restaurants and prices broken down by city and price.

I would not have my bridal party pay for their own meal, they've spent enough in getting heir dresses/tuxes and travel to the destination, the least you can do is pay for their meal. Just make sure it's something inexpensive that fits your budget. They'll appreciate it even if it's something on the cheaper side

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

Thanks for the tips everybody. This is NOT a destination wedding for us, we all live here in Orlando, so no travel fees or anything to that extent for anybody. But, it does make me uncomfortable to have them pay for a rehearsal dinner. I talked about it with DF and we think it will be a good idea to have the rehearsal brunch/lunch/dinner at his parents' house before the rehearsal, which will eliminate driving back and forth, and make it sort of a "come if you want to" thing, and just have some food catered.

 

[geek+nerd]

Thanks for the tips everybody. This is NOT a destination wedding for us, we all live here in Orlando, so no travel fees or anything to that extent for anybody. But, it does make me uncomfortable to have them pay for a rehearsal dinner. I talked about it with DF and we think it will be a good idea to have the rehearsal brunch/lunch/dinner at his parents' house before the rehearsal, which will eliminate driving back and forth, and make it sort of a "come if you want to" thing, and just have some food catered.

If you are looking for something more casual (and more affordable), you might want to try Panera. They can put together some really lovely packages for you.

 

[ckpoodge]

Here's what we're going to do:

We're going to have the rehearsal dinner at Giordano's. I know there's one near Disney. I figure, if I buy 10 pizzas (which is more than plenty), I would spend about $200 ($20 each). That should feed an army.

It's going to be a destination for everyone involved in our wedding, so our problem is who do we invite? Of course our BM, BMen, and our parents. But how far out do you extend (spouses of BM, etc). So we went the cheap route.

We are just going to pack people into cars and drive out.

I'm also interested in hearing anyone's experience with the rehearsal. I don't know if my mom and her husband are going to take the day off so they can make it to rehearsal the night before the wedding. How late do they do the rehearsal? Can we have it the morning of the wedding, if we have a 2:30 wedding?

 

[Sccrmnky2005]

Here's what we're going to do:

We're going to have the rehearsal dinner at Giordano's. I know there's one near Disney. I figure, if I buy 10 pizzas (which is more than plenty), I would spend about $200 ($20 each). That should feed an army.

It's going to be a destination for everyone involved in our wedding, so our problem is who do we invite? Of course our BM, BMen, and our parents. But how far out do you extend (spouses of BM, etc). So we went the cheap route.

We are just going to pack people into cars and drive out.

I'm also interested in hearing anyone's experience with the rehearsal. I don't know if my mom and her husband are going to take the day off so they can make it to rehearsal the night before the wedding. How late do they do the rehearsal? Can we have it the morning of the wedding, if we have a 2:30 wedding?

I don't think I would be a good idea to do the rehearsal the morning of the wedding day as you will be rushed enough getting ready, taking pictures, let alone doing a rehearsal before the wedding... I would still do it the night before the wedding.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

If you are looking for something more casual (and more affordable), you might want to try Panera. They can put together some really lovely packages for you.

That's actually a really good idea! Especially for a brunch or lunch! And Panera is really good. Thanks so much!

Here's what we're going to do:

We're going to have the rehearsal dinner at Giordano's. I know there's one near Disney. I figure, if I buy 10 pizzas (which is more than plenty), I would spend about $200 ($20 each). That should feed an army.

It's going to be a destination for everyone involved in our wedding, so our problem is who do we invite? Of course our BM, BMen, and our parents. But how far out do you extend (spouses of BM, etc). So we went the cheap route.

We are just going to pack people into cars and drive out.

I'm also interested in hearing anyone's experience with the rehearsal. I don't know if my mom and her husband are going to take the day off so they can make it to rehearsal the night before the wedding. How late do they do the rehearsal? Can we have it the morning of the wedding, if we have a 2:30 wedding?

This is also a really great idea that I love! I think I can't get out of the mindframe that we need to do some kind of elaborate thing, even though I'm trying to keep it low budget because they will be around 35 people at the rehearsal and dinner, so I never even thought of pizza. And who doesn't love pizza?

I agree with the above poster, I do not think it's a good idea to have the rehearsal the same day because there is sooooo much to do before the ceremony. Unless you feel like getting up at 5 am.

 

[Kellpooh]

You tell them the day and time you would like for a rehearsal at WP and your planner will write it down. However, they do not firmly schedule rehearsals until 30 days from your wedding date. We had said we wanted one at 4pm the day before our wedding which was Feb 27th 2010..and we got it!

They run through everything with you..walk down the aisle, bridal party placement, readers, etc.

Rehearsal dinner was a pain to plan cause WDW restaurants are so expensive. My mom picked Wolfgang Puck cafe..the food was so-so..deserts were really good though. Mom did say they were very nice to work with. But the place was open for regular business..and they stuck us in a side room with other patrons since there were like 30 of us for RHD.

 

[NicknNancy]

We decided to do our rehearsal with everybody who is in the wedding in the early afternoon and then take them out to dinner (this is usually the custom) we are then inviting the rest of our guests to a Dessert/Welcome Party to watch Illuminations.