Cheap and fun rehearsal dinner ideas

achiduck

FI and I are paying for the RD ourselves and are trying to find fun (and cheap) ideas. 

I've looked into pizza and bowling and of course the bowling alley in town where the church is located is booked that night by a church group that bowls every other Friday (it's a small alley and they can't accommodate both groups). The next closest alley is a 30 minute drive away. Is that too far to ask our WP to drive? FWIW, half of the group is from the town that is 30 minutes away and would have to go back there anyway.

The wedding is October 20th, so where I'm from an outdoor BBQ is probably going to be out of the question since it'll be a bit on the chilly side. 

Thoughts?

mkrupar

If they have to go the 30 minutes back to that town I don't see any problem with the bowling alley being over there. I think that sounds like a fun time.

The other option would be to just host something at the church after the rehearsal if possible.

Loopyseven

Any Italian restaurants nearby?  Would they do special group pricing and serve family style?  I'd try to keep it close to the rehearsal site.

achiduck

There isn't much to choose from in the town where the church is - it's super small with no movie theater or anything. Just the already-booked bowling alley. 

Going to a pizza place and skipping the bowling or for Italian, etc would still be a 25 minute drive. There's really no way to get around the driving. 

Edit - there is a kitchen/gathering room in the basement of the church so perhaps bringing in food and doing a board games night might be fun.

mkrupar

Achi I also don't think you need to make it about doing something other than having dinner. If going bowling, board games, etc. is too much it's totally fine for everyone to just eat together.

achiduck

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cheap-fun-rehearsal-dinner-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4a18c840-19bc-40d1-89a5-638d5a50021aPost:33880aee-3913-4627-b8b9-497311fb9def">Re: Cheap and fun rehearsal dinner ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]Achi I also don't think you need to make it about doing something other than having dinner. If going bowling, board games, etc. is too much it's totally fine for everyone to just eat together.
Posted by mkrupar[/QUOTE]
Ya, you make a good point. I guess we don't really need to do anything except feed them.

mica178

Before we found out that my ILs wanted to host an elegant RD, H and I were thinking about having it at a local beer garden where burgers were $4 and fries $2 and beer $3.  But if BBQ is out because it's too cold, biergartens would be out too.  But if you know of a local pub with inexpensive food, that might be a good option.

sharp0099

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cheap-fun-rehearsal-dinner-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4a18c840-19bc-40d1-89a5-638d5a50021aPost:33880aee-3913-4627-b8b9-497311fb9def">Re: Cheap and fun rehearsal dinner ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]Achi I also don't think you need to make it about doing something other than having dinner. If going bowling, board games, etc. is too much it's totally fine for everyone to just eat together.
Posted by mkrupar[/QUOTE]

Very true; great advice!

MrsHoward11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cheap-fun-rehearsal-dinner-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4a18c840-19bc-40d1-89a5-638d5a50021aPost:07e2e1ea-8b1c-4857-9dfc-146bdf176156">Re: Cheap and fun rehearsal dinner ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]Before we found out that my ILs wanted to host an elegant RD, H and I were thinking about having it at a local beer garden where burgers were $4 and fries $2 and beer $3.  But if BBQ is out because it's too cold, biergartens would be out too.  But if you know of a local pub with inexpensive food, that might be a good option.
Posted by mica178[/QUOTE]

<div><3 this idea! wish i had a beer garden close by. I def think a small dinner is nice.</div>

mollyehren

How about doing your plans a night earlier? Due to site availablity we are doing our rehearsal dinner on a Thursday nigth for a Saturday wedding

DramaGeek

We did pizza in the church fellowship hall.  It was nice and relaxed.  Presumably the wedding day is going to be busy and relatively formal, so I think everyone would appreciate a relaxed evening the night before.