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BANQUETS, RECEPTIONS, SHOWERS & PARTIES
20 | FALL & WINTER 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMFall has overtaken summer as the
‘it’
wedding season
.
Here’s what you need to know to throw the wedding of your dreams during peak season!
By Renee Lee Wege, CTW Features
With all that time (and money) being
spent on planning a wedding, a
rehearsal dinner may seem like an
afterthought. After all, how do you
strike that balance between starting off
the wedding celebration with a bang
but also not upstaging the main event?
Here are four fun, unique rehearsal
dinner ideas to do just that.
1.
HOST A BACKYARD BBQ
BLOWOUT.
Who says a rehearsal dinner has to
be at a restaurant? While a sit-down
dinner might be traditional, couples
are going more casual with backyard
bashes. Invite your family and friends
home and let the creativity flow. Bring
out the buckets of beer and cue up
the ‘cue (go for a potluck to get guests
involved and to save a bit of cash, or
hire a caterer or food truck).
2.
IT’S MEXICAN FIESTA TIME!
There’s a reason folks go crazy for
make-your-own taco or burrito bars
at restaurants. Let your guests get
their grub exactly how they want it
with a Mexican-themed taco bar, like
the one Heather and Charlie Hagy set
up for their summer rehearsal dinner.
Because their wedding was casual,
with a tented reception serving burgers
and brats, the suburban Chicago
couple also wanted a casual rehearsal
dinner to match.
The couple included a variety of
homemade taco fixings along with a
themed photobooth complete with
sombreros.
“I think the best part about the
rehearsal dinner was all the thought
that went into making it so unique,”
says Heather Hagy. “Our guests loved
it, too and said it was a breath of fresh
air compared to other rehearsal dinners
they’d been to in the past.”
3.
BREAK OUT THE ACTIVITIES,
FROM BOCCE TO BOWLING TO BAGS.
Whether you’re thinking backyard
BBQ or restaurant affair, don’t forget
about the activities and games. Set
up cornhole or bags in the yard, bring
out the beer pong table, or look into
restaurants that offer all that and more.
Think venues like bowling alleys or
adult arcades, or other “eatertainment”
venues that combine food with
games and fun.
4.
MAKE IT WINE OR BEER
O’CLOCK.
Make alcohol the star of your rehearsal
dinner by looking into venues like
neighborhood breweries or area
wineries. Since many already offer
them, you can always include a tour or
tasting to begin the night.
© CTW Features
4 Modern Ideas
For Rehearsal
Dinners