?? Welcome / Rehersal Dinner or Lunch

[Donald'sGirl]

This may be a silly question but it is really making me crazy about how to do it!!

Ok so DF and I want to do a rehersal/welcome dinner or lunch (depending on price) at a restaurant at DTD or Boardwalk and we want/wish we could pay for everyone we are inviting but it is looking to be very expensive so... what is making me crazy is how do you book for a group of possiby 25-30 people but you won't know a headcount until later and you may be only paying for your wedding party and immediate family and eveyone else pays their own way? Do they pay the price of the meal that we pick on the catering/group menu or when they come they pick from the regular menu?

Also, when do send the invitation for the welcome/rehersal dinner? In the wedding invite? In the welcome bag information kit?

Can you please share your planning on this if you have done it? Any tips or tricks to get the price down?

I am sorry for all the questions, this one is really for some reason tripping me up!!

TIA!

 

[PrincessBride07]

I had my welcome/rehearsal dinner at Raglan Road in DTD. I called the restaurant directly to make the reservations. We gave our guests the regular menu to choose from. The prices weren't all that bad, and really only 1 item was a little more than are average per person spending. We told everyone before hand that alcoholic drinks would be there own expense, and no one had a problem with that. We had around 25 people (including 6 kids), and the tab was around $550 with the DDE discount.

We let our guests know through the newsletters we sent out. We also included it in a welcome letter in the welcome bags.

As for your guest list, call and give them the high estimate. Let whoever you talk to know that this is the high estimate, and that you may have less people. They will more than likely make the reservation with the estimate, and tell you to call back when you have a confirmed number (or at least you best estimate).

 

[sandysplayhouse]

We also did this for our DD's wedding. The rehearsal dinner turned into a Rehearsal/Welcome to California dinner. We had well over 100 people there including children. Because we were not sure how many were coming, we allowed everyone to choose from the menu as opposed to having a set menu. It was much less expensive that way.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

I had my welcome/rehearsal dinner at Raglan Road in DTD. I called the restaurant directly to make the reservations. We gave our guests the regular menu to choose from. The prices weren't all that bad, and really only 1 item was a little more than are average per person spending. We told everyone before hand that alcoholic drinks would be there own expense, and no one had a problem with that. We had around 25 people (including 6 kids), and the tab was around $550 with the DDE discount.

We let our guests know through the newsletters we sent out. We also included it in a welcome letter in the welcome bags.

As for your guest list, call and give them the high estimate. Let whoever you talk to know that this is the high estimate, and that you may have less people. They will more than likely make the reservation with the estimate, and tell you to call back when you have a confirmed number (or at least you best estimate).

Thank you so much for your input. Raglan Road is one of the restaurants we are considering because we have eaten there twice and love it. I called today and their set menu is like $53/pp. So, you think it is better to just let everyone pick from the regular menu? Hmm..never thought about doing that. I thought because of the group size you had to use the set menu. No?

We also did this for our DD's wedding. The rehearsal dinner turned into a Rehearsal/Welcome to California dinner. We had well over 100 people there including children. Because we were not sure how many were coming, we allowed everyone to choose from the menu as opposed to having a set menu. It was much less expensive that way.

Thank you! Hmmm..it is really making me think about doing that instead.

 

[lurkyloo]

Last time I checked, Raglan Road had a heavy appetizer menu for about $32 pp... dunno if that helps.

You could also be sneaky like we were and schedule the get-together in a public space that isn't a restaurant at a time when people don't expect to eat a meal!

Or you can do it at a restuarant but word the invite to say "We will be dining at Raglan Road at X:XX and you're welcome to join us. Entrees range from $-$$..."

I'd sent the invite to the dinner with or after your wedding invite, but not as late as with the welcome bags (maybe put a reminder in the welcome bags).

 

[PrincessBride07]

Thank you so much for your input. Raglan Road is one of the restaurants we are considering because we have eaten there twice and love it. I called today and their set menu is like $53/pp. So, you think it is better to just let everyone pick from the regular menu? Hmm..never thought about doing that. I thought because of the group size you had to use the set menu. No?

When I talked to them on the phone they asked if I wanted a set/specialized menu. This was last December, the most expensive thing was around $30. Majority of the entrees were around the $20 range. The quote they gave you most likely included appetizers and desserts. None of my guests ordered these.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

Last time I checked, Raglan Road had a heavy appetizer menu for about $32 pp... dunno if that helps.

You could also be sneaky like we were and schedule the get-together in a public space that isn't a restaurant at a time when people don't expect to eat a meal!

Or you can do it at a restuarant but word the invite to say "We will be dining at Raglan Road at X:XX and you're welcome to join us. Entrees range from $-$$..."

I'd sent the invite to the dinner with or after your wedding invite, but not as late as with the welcome bags (maybe put a reminder in the welcome bags).

Ooh all really great ideas Carrie! Hmm...I am thinking our wedding invite is going to be packed with a ton of invites between the wedding, welcome/rehersal dinner, tea party (select people)and golf outing (select people)!! Maybe some of those will have to go out seperatley!

When I talked to them on the phone they asked if I wanted a set/specialized menu. This was last December, the most expensive thing was around $30. Majority of the entrees were around the $20 range. The quote they gave you most likely included appetizers and desserts. None of my guests ordered these.

Thanks for the info! When I talked to the manager today he didn't mention anything about picking one. I will have to call back since he did tell me we could make a reservation now if we wanted. I wonder if you can do a personalized menu like some of the other Disney restaurants and have our guests pick from 3 choices from the regular menu?!?!? Anyone know??