The dish on rehearsal dinners
Bernadette Foran
Nothing does a better job of uncorking the “party” of a wedding than a well planned, well executed, and utterly enjoyable rehearsal dinner. This is the one, big opportunity for the bride and groom to create a warm, convivial camaraderie among their respective families, the bridesmaids, and the groomsmen. Approach your rehearsal dinner in one of these two ways — You can: (1) choose the perfect restaurant and serve up special theme-related decorations along with the food, or (2) choose the venue - a botanical garden, an art museum, or some meaningful special place - and have a caterer or event planner take it from there. A full-service planner will handle food, beverages, bartenders, tables, tents, linens, decorations, music, entertainers and anything else you could possibly want. Taste sensations without blowing your budget There are lots of ways to bring together the most important people in your wedding (and your life) for a memorable night of mingling, and still do it within budget: • A wedding that falls near a holiday can make for an even more festive day - with very little cost for the details that go a long way. Consider a Valentine’s Day wedding for example. It can feature such romantic touches as red and white roses, a sexier bridesmaids dress, and hearts throughout the celebration - on the invitations, the confetti as you and your honey exit the ceremony, mixed into the floral centerpieces, for example. • Make the food the entertainment. Hire a sushi chef (about $300 an hour). Have a stir-fry buffet - let guests select their own combination of raw ingredients, then watch the chef create the masterpieces. Splurge on custom fortune cookies printed with your name and a lucky wish for love. Or offer a pasta bar (very affordable!) with a choice of designer sauces, plus Pinot Grigio and Chianti. • Do you really, really have your heart set on lobster or filet mignon? Go for it - but incorporate it as an hors d'oeuvre, not the main dish, and save money. The Theme’s the Thing If you’ve got a little more financial flexibility, consider a themed event. Some ideas can be very personal: Honeymoon Express - You can’t wait to get to your honeymoon destination - why not take your guests there at the rehearsal dinner? If you’re headed for Hawaii, light the night with torches, hire authentic hula dancers, and serve up a traditional luau complete with mai tai’s. Tiny Tiki gods on the table can hold place cards. Design the floral flourish with leis, exotic birds of paradise, and hot red ginger blossoms. Bound for Paris? Ooh-la-la! Set Edith Piaf on CD crooning in the background, or rent a giant monitor and loop “An American in Paris” to play continuously. Put a flower-festooned Eiffel Tower on every table, and give guests a gift of lavender from Provence — a drawer sachet, for example, or an essential oil-scented candle. A Fine Romance - Yours is one of the great love stories of all times, right? Celebrate it! Dot the room with posters from “Casablanca,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Moonstruck,” “Splendor in the Grass,” “My Fair Lady,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle.” Guest gifts: A copy of any of those movies, of course, a Barbara Cartland romance, or a literary classic like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Name the tables after great lovers to help guests find their place: Bogie and Bacall, Anthony and Cleopatra, Heathcliff and Cathy, Bonnie and Clyde. Personal Passion - What can’t you live without? Invite your guests into your obsession. Turn your rehearsal dinner into a country and Western bar, serve up some good ole barbecue, get your guests out on the floor for a little Texas two-step, and give them a CD by Shania Twain or Garth Brooks to take home. Avid gardeners: Scatter gummi worms on the table, and let stiffened gardening gloves “hold” the place cards. Serve rose petal ice cream for dessert, and cluster flowering potted plants as the centerpiece. Everybody can take one home. Childhood Sweethearts - If you’ve been in love since you were practically kids (or if you just make each other feel that way), tell the world. Go with Mickey and Minnie, Pooh and Piglet, or Peter Pan and Wendy. Bunch helium character balloons and streamers as the centerpiece, and tie place cards to lollipops. Hire costumed character actors (Cinderella, Prince Charming) to wander the room for the night. The ultimate guest gift: Mouse ears, of course, a little stuffed Pooh bear, or a glass slipper paperweight. If you're still children at heart, consider going to Disneyland, Disney World, or Universal Studios, all of which cater to couples for a themed party. That's Entertainment! Why not bring on some extra fun by renting these extras: · A champagne fountain. • An antique popcorn cart with supplies for 100 servings • Professional Hawaiian hula dancers • A deluxe Karaoke system with music • White wicker gazebo • A Margarita-making machine • Costumed character actors • Bubble machine • Disco ball • An Elvis impersonator (Be sure to book up to two to three months in advance). The Groom’s Cake This Southern tradition is meant to pay homage to the groom and symbolize a sweet life to come. It originally started out as a Bourbon-soaked fruitcake, then somehow evolved into chocolate. Today the sky's the limit, especially if the groom is a pilot. That’s because this trendy treat has become a creative representation of the groom’s occupation, favorite hobby, favorite sport, or just an aspect of his personality. Today a groom’s cake can be designed as a chess board, an airplane, a computer, or a comfy recliner chair, complete with sleeping kitty. Flavors and fillings? Anything you want - including fruitcake and chocolate. Try a variation on the trend: Individual desserts - for example, petit fours in the shape of little top hats or golf balls. Are They Catering to You? Here are some important questions to ask before you book a caterer: • Is the caterer licensed? If not, you might end up being liable for any kind of mishap. • Will they allow you to view the catering of another rehearsal dinner or wedding reception to see how they serve, display food, and organize the event? • Are menu choices pre-arranged, or can they be modified? Can you taste foods on the suggested menu? • What is the payment policy? Some caterers only accept cash, others take credit cards and checks. • How much are overtime and cancellation costs? • What is the guarantee requirement for the number of guests? Do you have to provide a final count? • Tip: Make sure to get all estimates in writing!